Gov. Whitmer recently signed two new pieces of legislation into law, both of which will have a meaningful and positive impact on children’s lives. The newly signed laws provide the advocacy children need when navigating Michigan’s juvenile justice and child welfare system.
• House Bill 5393 extends the amount of time juvenile offenders have to complete the juvenile consent calendar case plan from three months to six months. The extended time aligns with a recommendation from Michigan’s Juvenile Justice Reform Task Force.
• House Bill 5429 will allow courts to establish a court-appointed special advocate (CASA) program. CASA volunteers work directly with children, advocating for their best interests and helping them navigate difficult and often confusing legal proceedings. The entire team at the Office of the Child Advocate looks forward to building a strong working relationship with CASA staff and volunteers as we work together to improve outcomes for abused and neglected children.
On behalf of the entire staff at the Office of the Child Advocate, we want to thank Gov. Whitmer and state policymakers for their efforts to help children in incredibly vulnerable situations and improve the state’s juvenile justice system.
