Michigan Votes Forum

Introduced in the Senate on February 21, 2007, to revise the law that authorizes regulations for group homes for emotionally disturbed or developmentally disabled children so as to create a separate category of children's group homes in which restraint or seclusion of residents would be prohibited, which makes them eligible for Medicaid. Currently, in some cases restraint or seclusion is used to ensure the safety of a resident or others during an emergency safety situation. The bill would require more comprehensive criminal background checks for adults in family day care or group day care homes, slightly broaden the definition of “children’s camp” in the law that establishes state regulation of “child care organizations,” and make other revisions to the law related to these

The vote was 37 in favor, 0 opposed and 1 not voting

(Senate Roll Call 320 at Senate Journal 84)

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As easy as it is to constructively criticize our policy makers, it is much more difficult to commend actions of obviation. I would like to take this time to stand up and applaud Senator Gilda Jacobs for taking the first, ceremonial steps in bringing accountability to the area of child welfare. In order to properly enforce and administer law and policy, there must be uniform definitions. I would like this moment to be the beginning for concrete uniform definitions so that there are no disparities in the carriage of justice. Who is bold enough to succinctly define the term "reasonable efforts" in child protection proceedings? Any takers? Beverly Tran