Court keeps 1-year-old in foster placement, orders family-team meeting and paternity follow-up

Lenawee County Probate & Juvenile Court held a review hearing in file 24097 concerning a 1-year-old identified in court as Kenzie (case shorthand KW), where the presiding judge admitted the court report and directed a family-team meeting to set details for expanded parenting time and for follow-up on paternity and Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) inquiries.

The guardian ad litem, Nicole Underwood, reported that the child "is in the least restrictive environment and continues to thrive there," and recommended continued placement with the current foster family. Underwood said the child is meeting developmental milestones and is well adjusted at the placement.

Foster-care worker Macy Moore of Catholic Charities testified that the child is "very happy," nearing walking, enjoys books and interactions with other children in the household, and that parenting-time with the mother, Christina Lemley, has been "going really well." Moore told the court that father Matthew Wright has had "very minimal" compliance with his case service plan and "has not…