Here we go again with the State of Michigan taking on as much federal money and any federally directed mandate it can find. Michigan continually sells out its' own citizens to grow their own bureaucracies as much as possible in exchange for managing as many federal mandates as possible that of course do little to nothing in the way of a social good. I mean seriously Michigan should just allow Congress to take on the roll of Michigan government, because the only laws that Michigan passes are 1. License/Regulation Fee Generating Statutes 2. Statutes to comply with federal grant programs 3. Statutes to comply with federal mandates and incentives. At least having Congress just do it directly would save us a layer of government bureaucracy.
Baby Court? As defined by the Saginas News as "Baby Court aims to make changes for abused and neglected children from newborns to age 3, said Jerry Kole, Midland County trial court administrator. He said 15-20 Midland children per year are involved. Often the court terminates or releases parental rights, while other parents learn parenting skills, he said."
What does a specialty "Baby Court" really mean? It means first and foremost that a federal grant enabled this program under a poorly thought out federal mandate. Secondly for each removal of a child or children that occurs it generates immense alternative federal revenue for the state in the way of allowing multiple child support orders where there is more than one parent involved (Federal Title IV-D Grant Money), additional food stamp, medicare, and cash benefit participation counts, and ancillary fees generated from the poorly administered foster care (Federal Title IV-E Grant Money) grants and incentive monies when the child or children are placed temporarily or permanently in alternative living environments.
The entire article can be found in the March 5, 2009 Saginaw News under the article titled Midland's "Baby Court" focuses on bad parenting skills. The real name of the article should read something to the effect of "Midland 'Baby Court' takes aim at generating more federal revenue to state bureaucrats."
Bullent points from the article are:
- Midland County Commissioners have approved the first contracts under a pilot project grant of $299,607 for Baby Court.
- Probate Judge Doreen Allen oversees the program and two part-time specialists.
- The county will pay $5,000 per year to Legacy Center for Student Success for data collection and analysis.
- It will pay $63,456 to Community Mental Health of Central Michigan for infant mental health services and $20,000 to Mid-Michigan Community Action Service for home visits and reports.
I am looking forward to seeing how much money Genesee and Wayne County wastes on this project as well. Nearly every one of the federal programs associated with these courts have serious deficiencies in their administration, especial the foster care system. This is a classic occurrence where exceptions become the rule to abide to poorly thought out federal government mandates instead of maintaining there are a few exceptions to a real properly thought out rule. Who sets up an exclusive court for 15 - 20 cases a year anyways?
Say no to these "specialty courts" because they are designed for revenue generation not for the proper administration of justice.
