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DADS and MOMS of Michigan : January 2006

Please find attached a brief report of some of the many activities going on around the state and country. There is a lot more to report so check the DADS and MOMS web site Message Forum for the latest news.

for information call 248-559-DADS(3237) or 517-437-9547

DADS Monthly Meeting, Tuesday, January 3, 2006

Location
THE BIRMINGHAM COMMUNITY HOUSE
380 South Bates Street
BIRMINGHAM, MI 48009
Located in Downtown Birmingham, call for directions-248-644-5832.

To host a meeting in your area, contact the DADS of Michigan business office, 248-559-3237.

Web Site Updates

If you have not looked at our web site lately, take a look at the many revisions to the Home Page, Key Issues, PAC News, and Publicity and News. The Code of Ethics and Business Conduct has been added to the Home Page. Many revisions will be added over the next month. With the volumes of information we are receiving, we will work to make the web site easier to use and help you find information. Our objective is to keep you informed and help you manage your issues without expensive legal counsel.

DADS and MOMS of Michigan 2005 Accomplishments

DADS and MOMS of Michigan is proud of the accomplishments in 2005 and looks forward to an even better year in 2006. This includes the work of DADS of Michigan, MOMS of Michigan, and DADS of Michigan PAC.

• Conducted monthly education programs featuring notable authorities of family court and services, family law counseling, and education.
• Expanded the DADS and MOMS University education series of programs to include the Family Court Basics program and recruited Directors to expand the program.
• Completed a major revision of the web site to include many more resources for the members.
• Co-Sponsored the Fathers and Families Conference 2005 featuring leading authorities from around the country on family issues and programs.
• Increased and exceeded our fund raising goals.
• Introduced several pieces of legislation including paternity, equal parenting, unwed parents, custody, and child support. See Legislative Update.
• Provided expert testimony and position papers at numerous committee hearings in Lansing.
• Lobbied legislators and candidates and the state and national level to provide education on family issues.
• Completed vital research on child support, custody and visitation, and parenting.
• Conducted two Legislative Forums in Lansing to educate legislators and policy makers.
• Launched and supported the equal parenting bicycle marathon.
• Worked on national programs including updates to VAWA to make it gender neutral.
• Cosponsored the effort with Michigan and National groups to educate PBS regarding the documentary, "Breaking the Silence” on domestic abuse.  PBS ombudsman supported the view that the show was flawed reporting on gender issues and committed to an unbiased report in 2006.
• Cosponsored efforts with Michigan and National groups to provide balanced reporting on child support. As a result of the coordinated efforts, support was withdrawn and companies such as Domino's pizza withdrew support.
• Revised and updated the bylaws to increase the scope and management of the organization, and increase the number of affiliate organizations around the state.
• Increased the membership of PAC Delegates representing the 83 counties in Michigan.
• Increased the council of experts of the DADS of Michigan PAC Policy Teams.
• Joined the coalition of organizations in Michigan supporting family court reform.
• Conducted an Equal Parents Week program in September.
• Provided numerous radio, television, and newspaper interviews.
• Serviced an average of 200 calls per month at our hotline.
• Provided support to members at court hearings.
• Launched an eNewsletter to inform members of developing events and legal tips.
• Became the national sponsor of the ACFC Military Issues forum.

Thank you very much for your continued support in 2006.

Legislative Lobby Update

DADS of Michigan PAC has engaged in negotiations with a professional lobbyist in Lansing to press for support of the equal parenting bill, HB 5267. The estimated cost is $1,000 per month for 2006. The Family Rights Coalition and Citizens for Parental Rights are also committed to a $1,000 per month contribution. This represents an obligation and commitment of $36,000 in 2006. This compares to a petition drive at an estimated cost of $250,000. DADS of Michigan PAC urgently requests your monthly commitment of $25, $50, $100, or more per month payable via credit card or our Paypall recurring service to engage this professional service. Contact 248-693-0558 or email info@dadsofmichigan.org with your committed pledge or more information.

Annual GALA and Awards Banquet, Saturday, February 11

The Annual Gala and Awards Banquet is scheduled for Saturday, February 11 at the Westin Hotel in Southfield, Michigan. This premier event will recognize the many individual outstanding contributions to our mission, strategy, and goals. Several members of the legislature, judiciary and state agencies have committed to attend and we will recognize outstanding contributions. The cost is $40.00 per person and $300.00 for a table of eight via check or credit card. Contact 248-559-3237 and register today. Look for details and agenda coming soon on our web site.

Legislative Update

Several people have participated in several campaign fund raisers of candidates. We need you to take an active role to meet the candidates, help them understand the issues, and provide campaign support. Legislators are in your home district until January 8. Call and stop by their office and discuss the following issues.

Here is a summary of some recent legislation in progress. The strategy is to call your Senator AND Representative to get them to sign up for a bill or take action.

1. Military Custody Bills HB 5100 and SB 0714 – Passed the House and Senate unanimously and signed by the Governor on December 27, 2005.
2. Pass HB 5267 (equal parenting) – Hearings began December 19 and several people provided expert testimony at the hearing. DADS filed several reports in support of the bill.
3. Pass HB 4161 (eliminate presumption of Mom custody in unwed situations). Has been introduced to the Senate Families committee and is moving forward.
4. Pass SB 436 and HB 5088 (paternity). Is moving forward. DADS participated in media covered at the state and national level.  DADS Policy Team is actively working the issue.
5. Introduce legislation to eliminate the Strict Liability law MCL 750.165 on child support.
6. Veto/modify the US Bradley Amendment USC 666 at the federal level - child support
7. VAWA (Domestic Violence) to include language for gender neutrality. Approved at the federal level to include gender neutral language. It is still called the Violence Against Women Act (?).
8. Repeal SB 263 (Hearsay evidence allowed for domestic violence).
9. Re-Introduce legislation to require update of child support guidelines based on SER, Cost Shares, or foster care guidelines. DADS Policy Team is currently working the issue.
10. Enforce FOC to follow child support guidelines when you loose your job, disabled, activated in the military (Michigan FOC frequently will not modify support)
11. Pass legislation to provide for Parenting Plans. The package of bills was passed by the legislature and the Governor failed to sign them December 21, 2004. The bills have been reintroduced.

Check this site for the bills: www.legislature.mi.gov

Additionally
1.  Tell 2 people every day.
2.  Attend and meet legislators campaigning for office
 
What I want to EMPHASIZE is that DADS and Moms of Michigan is not a Fathers Rights organization.  Our message is one of gender neutrality and that the Best Parent is Both Parents. 
 
We will need your financial support to get these bills passed.

DADS and MOMS of Michigan PAC 2006 Agenda and Policy

DADS and MOMS of Michigan PAC is updating the 2006 agenda to further our strategic plan and this will be posted on the web site under PAC News. If you have updates, please send a note to info@dadsofmichigan.org.

Equal Parenting Reduces Divorce Rates
The following link provides strong evidence that equal parenting legislation strengthens marriages. www.gocrc.com/research/spcrc97.html


MiSDU - Michigan State Disbursement Unit – Electronic Payments
www.misdu.com/Secure/Default.aspx?tabid=1

MiSDU has initiated a program to accept electronic child support payments which are processed in 24 hours. DADS of Michigan PAC has lobbied for this for 4 years. Future improvements expected are web access to child support history. This site provides information about MiSDU and how it will affect you. Read the "Frequently Asked Questions" (FAQs). The MiSDU is part of the total Child Support System for the State of Michigan.

Numbers to call for further information and key DHS contact persons can be found under General Information.

Michigan Courts

The following is a list of many of the reports produced and distributed by the SCAO.
courts.michigan.gov/scao/resources/publications/reports/statistics.htm#focb

The following 2004 Executive Summary has some interesting items.
courts.michigan.gov/scao/resources/publications/statistics/2004/2004execsum.pdf

Some of the excerpts follow.

Mediation
Domestic relations litigation is known to have a traumatic effect on families, especially children. In 2004, the Supreme Court initiated two pilot projects to encourage families to use mediation as an alternative to litigation. Chief Justice Maura Corrigan instructed the Community Dispute Resolution Program Centers to mediate post-judgment parenting time disputes. The goals of the project are to help parents resolve their conflicts and to encourage cooperative parenting. Seven counties were selected to participate in the pilot project and SCAO provided training to over 80 volunteer mediators.

The second mediation pilot project initiated by Chief Justice Corrigan makes use of some unique interactive websites. The websites encourage parents to establish a co-parenting relationship and to focus on their children’s needs. Indiana attorney Charles Asher, creator of the websites and an experienced domestic relations mediator, has worked closely with SCAO staff to establish this pilot project in Kent County.

Other Activities
Grievance reviews. FOCB reviews all grievances that customers file with FOC offices. In 2004, FOCB developed an internal procedure for tracking those grievances and responses. The process will help FOCB to both address individual complaints and determine whether the grievance reveals a problem that requires policy modifications, either within an individual FOC office or for all FOC offices statewide.

Work First funding cut. The State of Michigan’s budget problems and the federal government’s new restrictions on Welfare to Work dollars drastically reduced funding for the Michigan Works! Agencies and their Work First Non-Custodial Parent Program. As a result, in 2004, Michigan Works! Was forced to discontinue several grants that county FOC offices had used to refer unemployed non-custodial parents to Work First, which provides employment counseling, training, and placement services. The funding cutbacks also made it difficult for county FOC offices to provide meaningful statistics on Work First referrals. Because of this, as of October 1, 2004, SCAO relieved the FOC offices of reporting this data.

Access and Visitation grant. SCAO administers Michigan’s federal Access and Visitation Grant, which provides federal funding for state programs to improve non-custodial parents’ access to their children. In 2004, 21 Michigan FOC offices received a total of $281,813 in Access and Visitation grant funding. In 2004, a total of 1,316 individuals received services from Access and Visitation Programs. Many of the counties combined a supervised parenting-time program with counseling and/or a parent education program.

Support DADS and Moms of Michigan With These Financial Services
www.dadsofmichigan.org/fin.html

Value Select Plus Benefit Plan
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MACRO TRANS - Transcription Services
Transription Services

Macrotrans uses Digital Voice Recorders (DVR) to assist clients with their dictations. Our DVR are user friendly and demonstrations on their use will be provided on-site. Our support team will always be available for those who need a help with their DVR devices or a replacement DVR. All DVR devices will be provided at no charge.

Upon completion of dictation, the notes will be transmitted from the DVR through the Internet, via a secure encrypted transmission. Staff from Macrotrans will immediately begin processing the dictations. Macrotrans guarantees all transcriptions will be completed within 24 hours. When a provider is ready to pick up a transcription, they simply login to our secure site with their unique username and password and print the report. Because our applications are Internet based, clients can recover their records from anywhere in the world. Now, the office is conveniently located only as far as the nearest Internet enabled computer terminal. For more information, contact Jay Reddy at 734-337-3262 or jay@macrtrans.com or siva@macrotrans.com or www.macrtrans.com

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