2008-2009 - Saginaw County

FUND: 215 FRIEND OF COURT
ACTIVITY: 14100 FOC-ACT 294
SAGINAW COUNTY 2009 BUDGET
DESCRIPTION:
THE OFFICE OF THE FRIEND OF THE COURT IS AN ARM OF THE CIRCUIT
COURT CREATED BY STATUTE IN 1919. DUTIES INCLUDE MAKING
RECOMMENDATIONS IN DOMESTIC CASES INVOLVING MINOR CHILDREN, ENFORCING
ORDERS, AND PROVIDING PARTIES AN AVENUE TO MODIFY ORDERS. THIS OFFICE
CONSISTS OF A STAFF OF "PUBLIC SERVANTS" ASSISTING THE COURT,
COOPERATING WITH AND ASSISTING MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL BAR WHO DEAL WITH
THIS OFFICE ON DOMESTIC CASES, AND SERVING THOSE MEMBERS OF THE
COMMUNITY WHO HAVE CASES THROUGH THIS OFFICE. IT IS IMPORTANT NOT
ONLY TO INSURE THAT FINANCIAL SUPPORT REACHES THE FAMILIES, BUT TO
HELP IN ANY WAY TO LESSEN THE ADVERSE EFFECT OF DIVORCE ON FAMILIES.
SERVICES PROVIDED:
1 TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COURT ON ISSUES RELATED TO DOMES-
TIC CASES, INCLUDING CUSTODY, PARENTING TIME, DOMICILE, SUPPORT,
MEDICAL SUPPORT.
2 TO PROVIDE CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAWS IN
ACCORDANCE WITH OUR COOPERATIVE REIMBURSEMENT CONTRACT WITH THE
STATE OF MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.
3 TO PARTNER WITH THE STATE DISTRIBUTION UNIT IN COLLECTING AND
DISTRIBUTING CHILD SUPPORT MONIES IN A TIMELY MANNER.
4 TO PROVIDE AND ASSIST PARTIES WITH AN AVENUE TO ACCESS THE COURT,
TO RESOLVE THEIR DISPUTES AND MODIFY THEIR ORDERS REGARDING CHILD
SUPPORT, CUSTODY, PARENTING TIME AND MEDICAL SUPPORT.
5 TO COOPERATE AND COLLABORATE WITH OUTSIDE AGENCIES AND OTHER
FOC'S IN AN EFFORT TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC IN DOMESTIC ISSUES AND
LESSEN THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF DIVORCE ON FAMILIES.
6 TO PARTNER WITH MICHIGAN WORKS IN REFERRING NON-CUSTODIAL PARENTS
TO THE PROGRAM IN ORDER TO ASSIST THEM IN FINDING EMPLOYMENT TO
ULTIMATELY BRING CHILD SUPPORT TO FAMILES.
7 TO ACTIVELY AND AGRESSIVELY ENFORCE ALL COURT ORDERS WITH REGARD
TO CHILD SUPPORT, MEDICAL REIMBURSEMENT, PARENTING TIME, CUSTODY,
ETC.
ACTIVITY REPORT: 2006 2007 2008 2009
ACTUAL ACTUAL PROJECTED ESTIMATED
TOTAL COLLECTIONS 32,587,350 32,851,606 33,000,000 33,300,000
MEDIATION SESSIONS 98 98 130 140
BENCH WARRANTS ISSUED 1,419 1,863 2,000 2,200
TOTAL ACTIVE CASES 29,586 28,581 28,000 28,000
FOC RECOMMENDATIONS 824 2,093 2,100 2,200
FOC PETITIONS FILED 287 104 200 230
FOC CONSENT ORDERS 382 1,976 2,000 2,100
GOALS OR OBJECTIVES:
MORE ACCESS AND EFFICIENT SERVICES TO CLIENTS, LOCAL BAR, OUTSIDE
AGENCIES; INCREASE USE OF ENFORCEMENT REMEDIES; COLLABORATION WITH OUT
SIDE AGENCIES TO PROVIDE PARENT EDUCATION SERVICES; ALTERNATE DISPUTE
RESOLUTION; JOB RELATED EDUCATION FOR STAFF; IMPLEMENTING WAYS OF
INCREASING REVENUES THROUGH THE CHARGING OF FEES AND ASSESSING COURT
COSTS; INCREASING METHODS OF KEEPING STATS USING STATE COMPUTER SYSTEM.
140