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Cases in the state of Michigan only

  • Reunifying a Family is Hard Work, But it’s Worth it! (Part 1)

    For all of the controversy and monstrous errors that have haunted Michigan’s CPS for decades, there is another side to that coin. A side that rarely gets talked about, and doesn’t often make the news. A side that strives to solve the problems faced by families who’ve been torn apart by CPS, and make right…

  • Does Being in Foster Care Mess up a Kids’ Future? (Pt. 2)

    Welcome back and thanks for joining us again for this discussion on the long-term effects of foster care on a child’s life. In the previous article in this two-part series, we looked at how hard being in foster care is on kids, and why they often struggle emotionally later in life. However, losing everything meaningful…

  • Does Being in Foster Care Mess up a Kids’ Future? (Pt. 1)

    For many kids, foster care isn’t optional. With parents in prison, or wrestling with major substance abuse issues that keep them from being able to parent children properly. In these cases, there is nothing to do but put a child in foster care and hope for the best outcome. But for many Michigan children, foster…

  • Pontiac Mom Accused of Intentionally Burning Baby With Hot Water

    When emergency responders first showed up at Carmen Ann Smith-Portee’s house, responding to a call about a burned baby, she told them the 1-year-old had climbed into the tub by himself. Shortly after that, when deputies from the Oakland County Sheriff’s department arrived at the scene, Smith-Portee told them the same story – that she…

  • There’s no Evidence That CPS Managers Manipulated Caseload Data!

    According to a Lansing State Journal article, published in May of 2017, they had uncovered evidence of at least three Michigan counties where CPS supervisors allegedly intentionally logged inaccurate data about active, ongoing abuse cases. Why? Because, according to a number of current and previous employees the LSJ interviewed, supervisors were trying to make it…

  • Michigan’s Child Welfare System is STILL in Need of Major Overhaul!

    Ten years ago Michigan’s Department of Health and Human Services settled a federal lawsuit, and promised to overhaul their system. More staff, more effective trainings, greater resources. It was going to be better. The system put in place to protect Michigan’s kids was going to improve. And here we are, a decade later, and the…

  • CPS: Investigation Essentials For Michigan Families (Part 2)

    Welcome back, and thanks for joining us for this discussion on basic CPS investigation essentials for Michigan families. We’ve been looking at the basics involved when a CPS worker shows up on your doorstep. What do you do? What should you say? How do you respond? There are so many questions, and so few obvious…

  • CPS: Investigation Essentials For Michigan Families (Part 1)

    Whether your family has had several run-ins with CPS in the past, or you have no experience with the agency whatsoever, the prospect of a CPS worker on your doorstep is scary! What do they want, and are they being honest with you? Are you required to do what they tell you to, or do…

  • Are CPS Services Enough For Parents With Drug Abuse Problems?

    People who struggle with substance abuse problems need a lot of help. Not some help, or occasional help. A LOT of help. Why? Because addiction takes over. It infiltrates every aspect of your life, and directs your thought patterns. It becomes a routine part of your daily activities, and affects how you think and feel…

  • Is Free Range Parenting The Answer For Michigan as Well?

    In the wake of Utah’s decision to institute a policy protecting free range parents from prosecution, parents around the country are speaking up in favor of free range parenting in their own home states. And Michigan is joining in the fight. In an article entitled Why I’m proud to be not hands on, a free…