Jackson resident receives lifetime achievement award

Marilyn F. Stephen of Jackson, the former director of the Office of Child Support for the Department of Human Services, and Thomas M. Haskel of Grayling, a longtime juvenile officer and court administrator are the 2012 winners of the Daniel J. Wright Lifetime Achievement Award. DHS and the Michigan Supreme Court present the Wright Award to recognize exemplary, long-time service to Michigan children and families. Haskel and Stephens were honored Nov. 20 at the Michigan Adoption Day ceremony at the Michigan Hall of Justice in Lansing. DHS Director Maura D. Corrigan said that Haskel and Stephen "are fitting recipients of this award for their lives of service to Michigan families. Like Dan Wright, they are people of intelligence, tenacity, and compassion - and they are extraordinarily effective." Stephen served as director of the DHS Office of Child Support for 10 years before her retirement earlier this year. A former Jackson County assistant prosecutor, Stephen helped lead the effort to upgrade Michigan's automated child support payment processing system by federally-mandated guidelines. The successful upgrade helped the state avoid $140 in federal penalties. Stephen co-founded the Program Leadership Group, a collaborative effort of DHS, the State Court Administrative Office, the Friends of the Court Association, and the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan, which continues to meet twice a month on child support efforts and policy. According to Pamela McKee, planning and evaluation manager for the Office of Child Support, "the PLG operates in the spirit of consensus ... together they developed many significant child support policy and system enhancements, striving to be the best in the nation." McKee, who nominated Stephen, praised Stephen for her "inclusive, global leadership style" and as "a strong advocate for responsible parenting." While OCS director, Stephen oversaw over 2,300 child support workers serving over one million Michigan families annually. Over $14 billion in child support was distributed to Michigan families during her tenure. Stephen has served on the board of the National Child Support Enforcement Association and on the National Council of Child Support Directors. A past president of the Michigan Family Support Council, she has testified at Congressional committee hearings on child support issues. The Wright Award was established in honor of the late Daniel J. Wright of Grand Ledge, now known as the Phoenix Program, an anti-truancy program for middle school students. At the courthouse, Haskel created the "Read to Kids" area, stocked with children's books, where parents and caregivers can read to children during visits to the courthouse; each child is permitted to take a book home. Stephen served as director of the DHS Office of Child Support for 10 years before her retirement earlier this year. A former Jackson County assistant prosecutor, Stephen helped lead the effort to upgrade Michigan's automated child support payment processing system by federally-mandated guidelines. The successful upgrade helped the state avoid $140 in federal penalties. Stephen co-founded the Program Leadership Group, a collaborative effort of DHS, the State Court Administrative Office, the Friends of the Court Association, and the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan, which continues to meet twice a month on child support efforts and policy. According to Pamela McKee, planning and evaluation manager for the Office of Child Support, "the PLG operates in the spirit of consensus ... together they developed many significant child support policy and system enhancements, striving to be the best in the nation." McKee, who nominated Stephen, praised Stephen for her "inclusive, global leadership style" and as "a strong advocate for responsible parenting." While OCS director, Stephen oversaw over 2,300 child support workers serving over one million Michigan families annually. Over $14 billion in child support was distributed to Michigan families during her tenure. Stephen has served on the board of the National Child Support Enforcement Association and on the National Council of Child Support Directors. A past president of the Michigan Family Support Council, she has testified at Congressional committee hearings on child support issues. The Wright Award was established in honor of the late Daniel J. Wright of Grand Ledge, an attorney and longtime leader in child support and child welfare reform. Wright was a former director of SCAO's Child Welfare Services Division and the Friend of the Court Bureau. Published: Mon, Nov 26, 2012

––––––––––––––––––––
 Subscribe to the Legal News!
 http://legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available