Foster Care Review Board Program
Child Welfare Awards
Each year the Foster Care Review Board provides a forum for recognition of the excellent work that is performed by child welfare professionals who work diligently to overcome systemic barriers and go above and beyond policy, court rule, and statutory standards to help ensure the safety, well being, and timely permanency for children and families served by our foster care system.
TRANSLATION TO REALITY: Each year the Foster Care Review Board makes no recommendations to the Michigan Attorney General's Office for suspected violations of law and policy, nor does it make recommendations of civil rights violations or fraud within its child welfare system.
The annual awards are presented to those on the “front lines” who have displayed a commitment to excellence and integrity in serving the needs of our states most vulnerable children and families. One nominee from each of the following categories – jurist (judge or referee), foster care caseworker, lawyer-guardian ad litem (LGAL), foster parent(s), and parent attorney – will be recognized for their exemplary service to abused or neglected children in the Michigan foster care system. All other nominees will receive a congratulatory letter from the Foster Care Review Board, informing them of their nomination and thanking them for their service.
TRANSLATION TO REALITY: The annual awards exclude anyone who has fought on the front lines against the nefarious indolence of administrative buffoons like Steve Yager and Bill Johnson.
TRANSLATION TO REALITY: The annual awards exclude anyone who has fought on the front lines against the nefarious indolence of administrative buffoons like Steve Yager and Bill Johnson.
Finalists are chosen by a panel of Foster Care Review Board members and award winners are chosen by a panel of child welfare professionals and advocates, including award winners from the past year. Award recipients are recognized at the FCRB annual training conference in early November.
So, please, if you know of someone who is doing outstanding work in any of these categories, take the time to submit a nomination. This will not only recognize their efforts, but will help to highlight to the public the important and often excellent work that is performed within our state child welfare system.
TRANSLATION TO REALITY: In this nomination process, there are, but of course, limited categories, from which to choose.
Let us examine these categories.
Nominations for the Child Welfare Awards are accepted each year from June through mid-September. Criteria descriptions, deadlines, and forms are available at the links below:
- Jurist of the Year: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Jurist2016
- Foster Care Worker of the Year: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FCWorker2016
- LGAL of the Year: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LGAL2016
- Foster Parent of the Year: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FosterPar2016
- Parent Attorney of the Year: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ParentAttny2016
TRANSLATION TO REALITY: Notice that there is no category for community advocate, family member, or even a foster child.
There is no option to nominate anyone who has made substantial efforts to end fraud, waste and abuse of Medicaid funding and the horrors of privatization.
There is not even an option for a birth parent who has successfully advocated for their own child.
Why, one may ask. Well, it would be quite an awkward situation to acknowledge the child welfare system has flaws due to the fact the state is still under federal monitoring.
So, it is at this point I ask for everyone who cares about providing equal justice to the poor, or just to give a voice to a child who is in the foster care system screaming, silently, writhing in seering physical and emotional pain, to give recognition to the work of an individual who has dedicated her life to illuminating the injustices of foster care.
Therefore, it is with the greatest of pleasure that I nominate Debbie Williams, for her work with Families and Children's Justice.
There is no option to nominate anyone who has made substantial efforts to end fraud, waste and abuse of Medicaid funding and the horrors of privatization.
There is not even an option for a birth parent who has successfully advocated for their own child.
Why, one may ask. Well, it would be quite an awkward situation to acknowledge the child welfare system has flaws due to the fact the state is still under federal monitoring.
So, it is at this point I ask for everyone who cares about providing equal justice to the poor, or just to give a voice to a child who is in the foster care system screaming, silently, writhing in seering physical and emotional pain, to give recognition to the work of an individual who has dedicated her life to illuminating the injustices of foster care.
Therefore, it is with the greatest of pleasure that I nominate Debbie Williams, for her work with Families and Children's Justice.
Debbie Williams travels the country, building coalitions for the purpose of forcing "the elected ones" to understand that the time has come to open public discussions on how we treat the poor and their children who cannot afford access to justice.
To nominate Debbie Williams for the Michigan Foster Care Review Board Child Welfare Advocate of the Year, please contact:
Kathy LohrAdministrative Assistant, Foster Care Review Board313-972-3288
Remember, there are no civil rights in child welfare. So, when Kathy tells you there is no category to nominate a community child welfare advocate, remember, ask her why, then let me know what she says.
Oh, and make sure you tell Jim Novell that Beverly Tran is still on a mission...
Oh, and make sure you tell Jim Novell that Beverly Tran is still on a mission...
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