Foster Care Review Board seeking citizen volunteers
The Foster Care Review Board (FCRB) program, administered by the State Court Administrative Office of the Michigan Supreme Court, is seeking citizen volunteers for membership on review boards located throughout the state. The FCRB reviews cases of children placed in foster care to ensure they receive needed services while in out-of-home care and that they are placed in safe, permanent homes as quickly as possible. The FCRB also hears appeals by foster parents who believe that children are being unnecessarily moved from their care. There are currently more than 11,000 children in Michigan’s foster care system.
Recruitment for board membership is year-round, but volunteers are encouraged to submit their applications by May 1. Interviews and background checks are required for all applicants.
Volunteers are urgently needed in Northern Michigan, the Upper Peninsula, as well as Washtenaw, Jackson, Monroe, St. Clair, Macomb, and Lapeer counties.
Each board includes five citizen volunteers who attend regularly scheduled review meetings one day each month. Board members read written case materials and surveys, and interview interested parties to the case. Their recommendations are then provided in a report to the court and child welfare agency.
Volunteers selected must reside within the region of their local board and are appointed to a three-year term. See the SCAO-FCRB regional map online at https://courts.michigan.gov/Administration/SCAO/Resources/Documents/other/ct_admin_regions_map.pdf.
Citizen volunteers should demonstrate an interest in child welfare and strengthening families. Younger volunteers are encouraged to apply. The program values diversity among board members to ensure various perspectives and life experiences positively inform decisions about the most vulnerable children in Michigan.
Michigan’s Foster Care Review Board Program helps ensure safe and timely permanency for children in the state foster care system.
For additional information on becoming a volunteer board member, visit https://courts.michigan.gov/Administration/SCAO/OfficesPrograms/fcrbp/Pages/Volunteering-for-FCRB.aspx.
State Bar major award nominations moved to 2022
Nominations for major State Bar of Michigan awards for 2021 are being moved to 2022 so that the SBM can properly celebrate our 2020 award winners. The Board of Commissioners made this decision after last year’s awards celebration was canceled due to the pandemic.
Anyone interested in nominating an individual for a major State Bar Award should wait until the nomination process opens early next year. Anyone, however, seeking to nominate an individual whose nomination is extremely time sensitive should contact Marge Bossenbery at mbossenbery@michbar.org for more information.
In addition, for someone who was nominated in 2019 who was not chosen for a 2020 award, that nomination will now be extended to the 2022 cycle for consideration.
Information regarding this year’s Inaugural & Awards Celebration will be announced soon.
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