Court adopts case plan for Dustin King’s children, suspends parenting time pending trauma evaluation

The Lenawee County Probate & Juvenile Court on record in file 24177 adopted a case service plan for the children of Justin King, continued the three youngest children in relative foster placement and left the oldest child with a nonrespondent parent, and suspended the father’s parenting time pending review of a trauma evaluation (referred in the hearing as the CTAC evaluation).

The court said it would enter an order reflecting the case service plan and set a parenting-time hearing for Monday, Feb. 10, at 2:30 p.m., so attorneys and parents could review the CTAC evaluation and, if needed, allow cross-examination of that evaluator. The court also set a next regular review for April 15 at 2:30 p.m.

Why it matters: The order formalizes services the court says are necessary for reunification and leaves parenting-time decisions temporarily suspended until evaluative recommendations are considered. The ruling affects four children: three younger children placed with a relative and an oldest child placed with a nonrespondent parent.

Court and agency presenters described the children’s current placements and the concerns that led to continued out-of-home care. Nicole Underwood, guardian ad litem for the minors, told the court the younger three “are doing very well overall” in the relative placement and were adjusting to routines, including learning utensils and potty training. Ashley Beach, the foster care supervisor assigned to the case, summarized the department’s primary concerns for Mr. King: “emotional instability, inappropriate housing, and relationship stability.”

Beach told the court the department had circulated a trauma assessment for the oldest child (the CTAC evaluation) that morning and asked the court to suspend parenting time for Mr. King until evaluative recommendations could guide a safe structure for visits. The department reported that parenting time had been suspended since Dec. 20 because past visits had been disruptive and the children exhibited troubling behavior after visits.

Mr. Brooks, attorney for Justin King, said he had not received the CTAC evaluation before the morning of the hearing. The court acknowledged late production and scheduled the Feb. 10 hearing “so that the parents and their attorneys have time to look through the CTAC evaluation and prepare.” The court left in place prior parenting-time orders pending that hearing.

On placement and services, the court directed the department to pursue enrollment of the oldest child in school and to implement services recommended by the CTAC evaluation. The court also accepted the department’s court report and ICWA documentation into the record and noted that the CTAC evaluation would be subject to objection and cross-examination at the scheduled parenting-time hearing.

During argument and comments, defense counsel and caseworkers discussed housing needs for Mr. King and the family’s progress on services, including a psychological evaluation completed Jan. 24 (results pending) and a bonding assessment scheduled for the 6th (date in the record). An attorney who identified housing as the primary barrier told the court that until housing is resolved, other issues will remain outstanding. The department acknowledged housing as a concern but said it was only one of several barriers.

The court entered disposition consistent with the department’s recommendations: the younger three children remain with the relative placement, the oldest child remains with the nonrespondent parent pending additional contact and possible CPS follow-up, the case service plan is adopted and incorporated into the court’s order, and parenting time for Mr. King remains suspended until the Feb. 10 hearing. The court set Mr. King’s next regular review for April 15 at 2:30 p.m.