|
Quote Of The Month
To accomplish great things we must not only act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe.
~Anatole France
Chief Judge Robert J. Colombo, Jr. & Carol Hanson,
Mental Health Therapist in LHJ.
|
|
In honor of Parent Awareness Month, Third Circuit Court's Supervised Treatment for Alcohol and Narcotic Dependency (S.T.A.N.D) program would like to take a moment to salute the parents of our program participants.
The parents that participate in our program are dedicated and involved. In an effort to increase parental education and involvement in the community, the S.T.A.N.D. program offers a host of services. The program provides weekly parent meetings where there is over a 90% participation rate. The topics vary and include drug use; understanding changes in your child and identifying triggers. S.T.A.N.D. educates parents on drug, alcohol, and tobacco use so that they are more informed. They are also provided with literature and handouts that are designed to increase awareness.
S.T.A.N.D. parents are provided with a network of ancillary services, parenting classes, transportation assistance, housing assistance, just to name a few. They are assisted with locating schools for their youth, as many of our participants are in need of non-traditional educational environments. Tutors are available to guide the youth on their educational journey.
Involved parents interact with the team of jurists, probation officers, and treatment providers to give guidance to the participants. S.T.A.N.D. supports the parents and is there to walk with them through this often difficult phase in their teenager's life.
Divorce Videos Are Now Available
The
Divorce
videos
may be
accessed
directly by
logging
onto
the
Court's
website
www.3rdcc.org.
In
the future,
the
video
may
be
available
through the
Michigan
Legal
Help and
Michigan
Judicial
Institute
website.
|
Chief Judge Colombo and the Judges of the Third Circuit Court appreciate and celebrate the Social Workers on our staff. Third Circuit Court Social Workers help make a positive difference in the lives of families.
|
On March 10, 2016 at the after-work Champions Reception, the Student Advocacy Center's Peri Sotne-Palmquist Honored Judge Frank Szymanski, Wayne County Third Circuit Court Juvenile Division as one of the leaders in fighting the school-to-prison pipeline.
Two students from Crestwood High School were presented Monday evening with an award of Exceptional Academic Achievements. These awards were presented by Chief Judge Colombo, Executive Court Administrator Zenell Brown, and Judge Szymanski of the 3rd Circuit Juvenile Court, founder
of KKIS-Keeping Kids In School. The program has grown interest from other school boards and leaders within the county. Crestwood Principal, John Tafelski, was also presented an award for his involvement with KKIS. Both students have demonstrated what hard work, diligence, and a vision can accomplish. Both are planning in pursuing college after graduating from High School.
|
|
In an effort to strengthen ties and spread information between the Wayne County Friend of the Court and inmates currently serving sentences in Michigan Correctional Facilities, the Wayne County Friend of the Court and Oakland County Friend of the Court accepted an offer from the National Lifers of America to give a presentation to inmates at Chippewa Correctional Facility in Kincheloe, Michigan regarding Friend of the Court. Suzanne Hollyer, Oakland County Friend of the Court Director, and Erin Lincoln, Wayne County Friend of the Court Legal Director, presented to approximately 45 inmates regarding child support, parenting time, and custody issues. The inmates had a chance to ask questions regarding the Friend of the Court policies and procedures.
Those who attended the informational session sent a thank you card for receiving the valuable child support info.
There is hope that this is the first of several presentations to help prisoners with their Friend of the Court issues.
|
The Wayne County Friend of the Court is located at 645 Griswold, Detroit, MI 48226. Parents may sign up for MiCase to get child support information online,
https://micase.state.mi.us/ssoapp/login
.
If you need further assistance, the Wayne County Friend of the Court Call Center may be reached at
(313) 224-5300.
|
|
Visit Our
Family Division-Juvenile
Website
|
24 Hour Support
Friend of the Court offers 24 hour access to your account through MiCase.
Click the photo above to visit our website or visit
www.MICASE.STATE.MI.US
|
Online Jury
Questionnaires
Are Available
|
|
|
|
Greetings,
Governor Rick Snyder has proclaimed March 2016 Parent Awareness Month in Michigan. The proclamation acknowledges the important role of parents as they teach children the importance of honesty and respect and they guide children to be responsible and contributing citizens.
In recognition of Parent Awareness Month, the Third Circuit
Court salutes parents and recognizes its own, Roberta Wright. Roberta truly exemplifies all of the important attributes and characteristics for which Parent Awareness Month stands. You may have read the story in the February newspapers about Roberta's nephew, Anthony Wright. He received a standing ovation for rounding up $770 in loose bills in a parking lot and turning them into the police so the rightful owners were able to claim the money. Roberta nurtures, loves, and guides her family, and the Third Circuit Court Judges, Administrators, and Staff give her a
standing ovation.
Happy Parent Awareness Month, Roberta Wright.
JURY SERVICES DIRECTOR
As Chief Judge, I am pleased to announce that effective April 1, 2016 Yvette Blackmon will assume the position of Jury Services Director.
Yvette brings a wealth of customer service, technology, and managerial expertise. Yvette most recently served as the Third Circuit Court's IT Call Center Manager. Prior to that assignment, Yvette was the manager of the Friend of the Court's Call Center for over 11 years. The FOC Call Center responded to over 20,000 citizens a month, providing child support establishment, and enforcement information. Yvette earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Marketing from Eastern Michigan University. She furthered her education at Central Michigan University where she earned a Master's degree in Human Resources Management.
|
|
The mission of the Wayne County Friend of the Court is to ensure children receive emotional and financial support, as these are critical foundations for the children's physical, mental, social, and economic well-being.
Parenting can be tough, but navigating through the child support system should
not
be. One way the Friend of the Court tries to fulfill its mission is by reaching out to support parents in the community. We have organized a semi-annual event at the Detroit Public Library called the
Wayne County Child Support Help Program. Every April and October the library hosts this FREE workshop sponsored by the William Booth Legal Aid Clinic to assist parents with child support, custody, or visitation issues. On Saturday, April 16th from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., the workshop will be open to anyone in the community who would like to meet with one of our many volunteer attorneys to address child support questions and concerns. Child support professionals will be on site to help with sign up for MiChildSupport, which will allow access to case information from your computer at any time. Staff will be available to assist in completing Michigan State Arrearage Forgiveness Program packets. Other resources at this workshop include an entire room devoted to our Third Circuit "Specialty Courts" where you will learn about special Court programs in the areas of juvenile drug and mental health, veterans' issues, and juvenile probation programs. We will offer free government cell phone assistance, various educational services, as well as assistance from the Michigan Legal Self-Help Center in English and Spanish.
Those parents who would like specific case information are encouraged to bring current court orders and financial information. You may contact our Customer Service Call Center at (313) 224-5300 to request account printouts. You may also visit our Information Services Department located on the 2nd floor of the Penobscot Building.
|
Top Five Tips for Parents in Dealing
with the Friend of the Court
The Friend of the Court is easier to use if one follows some simple tips. Here are five tips for successfully dealing with the Friend of the Court.
Do not assume that the Friend of the Court knows where you live, or whether you are working or not working. Keep the Friend of the Court informed of your situation. You can find an address update form at
http://tinyurl.com/hnzs2to.
If you change jobs and need your child support changed, you must file a motion with the Court. The Motion to Change Child Support can be found at
http://tinyurl.com/zq32ym5. There are many forms available on the Court's website at
www.3rdcc.org
that you can use to keep the Friend of the Court updated.
Knowledge is power! There is a lot of information on the Friend of the Court's website at
http://www.3rdcc.org/FOC.aspx#/list. The Friend of the Court handbook is also a great resource for information and can be found at
http://tinyurl.com/j6fjtnu. You can also stop by the Friend of the Court's customer service window to ask questions specific to your case or call the Call Center at (313) 224-5300.
Did you know you can check your child support case online at
https://micase.state.mi.us/ssoapp/login? Similar to a bank account, you can see payments and amounts due. There are many programs to give people more knowledge about the Friend of the Court and allow them to ask questions about their cases. Information regarding these outreach events can be found at
https://tinyurl.com/zu546a4. There is also information about these outreach events on the Court's website.
Know how to make a payment:
There are many options for paying child support. There is a cashier's window at the Penobscot Building, 645 Griswold in Detroit. There is another one at the Coleman A. Young Municipal center. These windows accept cash, money order, certified checks, MasterCard, Visa, American Express, or Discover. Payments can also be made by phone at (888) 604-7888 or online at
https://www.govpaynow.com/gps/user/plc/8463.
Address child support arrearages:
There may be options for you even if you owe a large amount of back due child support. If you have a hardship and owe money to the State of Michigan because the child was receiving state assistance, you may be able to have some or all of your back support canceled. Fill out this application to see if you qualify:
http://tinyurl.com/ho4lqls.
If the money is owed to the party who had custody of the child and that party is willing to cancel or reduce the back support, all Friend of the Court forms are also available at the Friend of the Court Offices at 645 Griswold, Detroit, Michigan. You may attend a consent hearing at the Friend of the Court. Information about the consent hearings can be found at
http://tinyurl.com/hmgx7lq.
Following these tips will help you to use the Friend of the Court.
|
Being a parent has many highs and lows. The responsibility of raising and guiding a child to becoming a well-adjusted and happy adult can be both rewarding and daunting. Many things can steer the child off course. When divorce or parental separation occurs, depending on the age of the child, children often feel responsible, they feel fear, and they may not talk about what they are feeling.
Fortunately for parents, experts have researched how children respond to divorce. We now have good programs to help parents successfully navigate through divorce. The Third Circuit Court through
Michigan State University Extension
(MSUE) offers two such programs:
Kids First
explores the effects of divorce on children of all ages. Parents learn the importance of a child having a healthy relationship with both parents, and the role that communication has in developing strong relationships. Here's what a few parents had to say:
"It was helpful hearing other people's situations, having the presenter answer so many different questions, and not feeling alone."
"The class was great. Have lawyers and the Court recommend it so families can work out their differences."
Co-parent Communication and Coaching (3C) Program
: 3C is a
six-hour course designed to empower parents with new knowledge, skills, and strategies for co-parenting children living between two homes. The program is interactive and includes discussion, activities, and lessons to promote positive co-parenting skills, increase effective communication, and reduce inter-parental conflict. Here's what a few parents had to say:
"I found this class very helpful. It made me take in some of the ways I look at my relationship with my children and my co-parent. It needs more time."
"I think this class should be offered when the divorce process is just starting. It would eliminate a lot of court dates and proceedings."
For further information contact:
Lisa Tams, LMSW, ACSW
tams@msu.edu
Michigan State University Extension - Wayne County
33030 Van Born Road
Wayne, Michigan 48184
(734) 727-7236
(734) 716-2185
|
FREE HELP PREPARING DOCUMENTS
FOR A
WAYNE COUNTY
DEFAULT JUDGMENT OF DIVORCE
Attorneys from the Clinic help
qualifying, low income, self-represented
parties prepare all necessary court documents for Default Judgment of Divorce
First Thursday of Each Month
Doors open at 10:00am. Must arrive by 11:30am.
No late arrivals.
Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
2 Woodward Ave.
Courtroom 1901
Detroit, MI 48226
Parties must bring valid photo Identification, all documents related to the case; including the Complaint for Divorce, Friend of the Court Final Recommendation (DM only), and Fee Waiver
(if applicable)
|
|
Join Our E-mail List
Join our E-mail List and receive our monthly E-mail newsletter from the Third Judicial Circuit Court and stay informed.
Please send us your name and email address to:
3cce-news@3rdcc.org
|
|
|
Coat Donations Are Needed
The Court's Clothing Closet is housed at the Lincoln Hall of Justice located at 1025 E. Forest Bldg. B, Room 118. Donations are accepted on Tuesdays - Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Currently donations of coats are needed for the upcoming winter season.
Please direct questions to Roland Smith, the CASA Director, at 313-833-3507.
This closet is open to everyone and no one will be turned away.
All donations to Friends of CASA are tax deductible.
|
|
Like Us On Facebook
We are on Facebook and want to connect with people in the county through social media. Our weekly and monthly programs can now be viewed on our Facebook Fan Page.
Search for -
Third Judicial Circuit Court
or just click on the "Join Us On Facebook" button above and like us.
We want to stay connected and current with the
communities
and citizens we represent.
|
|
|
