Juvenile court orders change to adoption goal, suspends father’s parenting time in Hamblin case

Lenawee County Probate & Juvenile Court on May 19 granted the Department of Health and Human Services’ request to change the permanency goal for a nearly 6‑month‑old child to adoption and suspended the father’s parenting time, the judge said at a review hearing.

The court said the child will remain in a licensed foster home where he has lived since birth. The judge also continued supervised parenting time for the child’s mother while the department pursues a termination petition and set a combined review and potential termination hearing for May 19 at 2:30 p.m.

Court reports and testimony by the department’s caseworker documented repeated domestic‑violence incidents involving the parents, limited engagement by the father and mixed progress by the mother. The caseworker testified that the department had received screenshots showing post‑hearing contact between the parents after an earlier assertion there would be no contact, and said the father was arrested following a February incident in which, the caseworker said, the father allegedly threatened to kill the mother and then choke her. The caseworker told the court the father was arrested on Feb. 4 and the mother had petitioned to drop a protective order on Jan. 30.

The department asked the court to change the permanency goal to adoption, suspend the father’s parenting time and set a termination petition. During closing argument, the department said: "We're asking that it be changed to adoption." The court accepted that request, citing the continuing risk of harm and what the court described as the parents’ longstanding, unresolved issues.

The caseworker testified the mother has participated in therapy, completed parenting classes and tested negative on recent drug screenings, and that she is on waiting lists for housing. Mother’s counsel, Ariel Berger, asked the court for another standard review period, arguing the mother has made substantial progress and needs more time: "At this point, we are asking for another standard review period and that a petition for termination not be filed," Berger said. The court denied that request and approved the department’s proposed next steps.

The father, Dakota Hamblin, appeared by jail video. His attorney said Hamblin had seen a psychiatrist while jailed and had limited ability to engage in services; Hamblin said he hoped to post bond soon. "I am hoping to get out this week," Hamblin told the court.

Parenting‑time history in the record showed both parents were offered two supervised visits per week of two hours each. The caseworker testified the mother attended all but four visits (two of those later excused and made up) while the father attended two of 22 scheduled visits during the review period. The department asked the court to suspend the father's parenting time because he had been largely absent, had not engaged in services and was incarcerated.

The court also addressed Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) notifications. The record shows certified inquiries sent to multiple tribes, with denial letters received from the Cherokee Nation and others; the court directed the department to follow up on one outstanding tribal inquiry before the next hearing.

The judge explained that, although the mother had made some progress on sobriety and other services, the court could not offset what it described as ongoing, significant risk to the child from the parents’ relationship and the mother’s continued contact with the father. The court said the child’s current foster placement is the safest and least restrictive option under the circumstances and ordered the department to proceed with paperwork to support a termination petition and adoption planning.

A next combined review/permanency‑planning and potential termination hearing was scheduled for May 19 at 2:30 p.m.; the court instructed parties to serve any termination petition timely so the matter can be heard at that date.