Michigan Laws 722.925a – Child advocate; powers
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Terms Used In Michigan Laws 722.925a
- advocate: means the individual appointed to the office of child advocate under section 3. See Michigan Laws 722.922
- Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
- Child: means an individual under the age of 18. See Michigan Laws 722.922
- Child caring institution: means that term as defined in section 1 of 1973 PA 116, MCL 722. See Michigan Laws 722.922
- Child placing agency: means an organization licensed or approved by the department to receive children for placement in private family homes for foster care or adoption and to provide services related to adoption. See Michigan Laws 722.922
- Department: means the department of health and human services. See Michigan Laws 722.922
- Investigation: means either a preliminary investigation or a full investigation. See Michigan Laws 722.922
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Probate: Proving a will
- Residential facility: means a facility that provides juvenile justice services and is state operated, county operated, public, private and contracted, secure, or nonsecure. See Michigan Laws 722.922
The child advocate is authorized to do all of the following:
(a) Pursue all necessary action, including, but not limited to, legal action, to protect the rights and welfare of a child under the jurisdiction, control, or supervision of the department, the Michigan children’s institute, the family division of circuit court under section 2(a)(1) of chapter XIIA of the probate code of 1939, 1939 PA 288, MCL 712A.2, a child caring institution, a child placing agency, or a residential facility or a child who is the victim in a child protective services maltreatment in care investigation. A court’s placement decision is not subject to the child advocate’s authority.
(b) Pursue legislative advocacy in the best interests of children.
(c) Review policies and procedures relating to the department’s or a residential facility’s involvement with children and make recommendations for improvement.
(d) Subject to an appropriation of funds, commence and conduct investigations into alleged violations of the foster parent’s bill of rights law.
(e) Mediate issues and educate the public regarding complaints dealing with certain county and private agencies serving children, maltreatment in care investigations, and investigations of lack of or insufficient services regarding a residential facility.