Gov. Rick Snyder has issued an executive order creating a more streamlined Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect to evaluate and make recommendations regarding Michigan’s handling of child abuse cases.
“We have an obligation to ensure the safety and well-being of our children, and I look forward to the thoughtful, innovative suggestions for improvement from these dedicated individuals,” Snyder said. The order reduces the task force from 34 to 18 members for greater efficiency and effectiveness. The members, appointed by Snyder, are:
• Kenneth Tacoma of Cadillac, who will serve as the chair. He is the chief judge of the Family Division of the Wexford County Probate Court.
• Maura Corrigan, director of the Department of Human Services, will serve a three year-term that also expires at the end of 2015.
• Dan Adams of Allendale, a detective with the Grand Rapids Police Department who has 16 years of experience in law enforcement, including more than 10 in child abuse and neglect investigations.
• Jennifer Pintar of Tawas City, who 19 years of experience in law enforcement and currently serves as a trooper with the West Branch Post of the Michigan State Police.
She also works on a local task force to confront the problem of sexual assault in the rural community.
• Oakland County Probate Court Chief Judge Linda Hallmark of Bloomfield Hills, who has served in the family division of the court since 1997.
• Robinjit Eagleson of East Lansing. As the owner of Eagleson Law, she is independently contracted as a lawyer-guardian ad litem for Ingham County, representing upward of 280 children at a time.
• Robert of Ionia, an Ionia County Probate judge who also serves on several councils including the Ionia County Council for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect.
• Julie Nakfoor Pratt of Hastings, an attorney for almost 25 years and a prosecutor for 20 years who currently serving as the Barry County prosecutor.
• Lisa Wenger of Grosse Pointe. After developing and managing the Washtenaw County Prisoner Release Project, she now volunteers with the Center for Urban Youth and Family Development and for the Michigan Children’s Law Center.
• Fred Gruber of Riverview, the co-founder and executive director of the Michigan Children’s Law Center.
• Terrance Gilsenan of Warren, who currently works as an attorney in private practice and has experience as a professional guardian.
• Gary Anderson of Okemos, director of the Michigan State University School of Social Work who also directs the social work education portion of the National Child Welfare Workforce Institute.
• Shannon Lowder of Jackson. She serves as a clinical therapist at Arbor Hills Psychological Services and as adjunct faculty for Spring Arbor University.
• Susan of Oxford, who currently serves as the child welfare director for Oakland County DHS. With nearly 40 years of experience, she previously worked in Ingham, Washtenaw, Livingston, Genesee and Macomb counties.
• Lori Budnik of Rogers City, the Children’s Protective Services supervisor for Alcona, Alpena and Montmorency County DHS. She recently helped establish a Children’s Advocacy Center in Alpena.
• Danielle Loupee of Cassopolis, an investigator/ongoing worker with Children’s Protective Services in the Department of Human Services. Previously, she served as both a child behavior specialist and a program support specialist at the Juvenile Justice Center, and as a youth coordinator for the Edison Neighborhood Association.
• Lani of Hastings, who serves as the executive director of the Barry County United Way & Volunteer Center as well as a medical lieutenant in the Freeport Fire Department.
Previously, she worked with at-risk families as the community relations and development director for Building Block Inc., an inner-city child care center.
• Betsy Boggs of Ada, the executive director of Adoptive Family Support Network.
––––––––––––––––––––
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
