Michigan Task Force Proposes Child Legal Aid Reforms

A statewide task force in Michigan has proposed significant reforms to improve legal representation for parents and children in child protective proceedings, revealing widespread disparities across counties. The Child Protective Legal Representation Task Force's report calls for the establishment of a statewide office to standardize attorney contracts, compensation, and training, addressing the inequitable treatment faced by families depending on their county. Justice Megan Cavanagh highlighted the challenges of maintaining a sufficient number of court-appointed attorneys, emphasizing that inadequate legal representation can lead to negative outcomes for families involved in the foster care system. Recommendations include creating mandatory training for attorneys, implementing caseload caps, and enhancing access to resources such as expert witnesses. The task force's findings stem from a year-long inquiry, including input from the community, and are expected to appear on Michigan's legislative agenda next year. The report underscores the urgent need for legislative support and funding to enact these changes.