Caseworkers and attorneys at a Lenawee County Probate & Juvenile Court permanency-review hearing described mixed progress from parents of five children and outlined steps needed before reunification.

Amber Richardson, the foster-care specialist who prepared the court report, told the court that two children live with their father and two middle children remain in licensed foster care. Richardson said the father, Mark Kamen, has expanded parenting time and is "doing a great job" supporting the twins and the older child, and that staff would be working to help him with custody and guardianship paperwork.

Richardson reported that Christopher Carter has an approved Housing Choice Voucher and was meeting with potential landlords; the department indicated it could assist with a first month’s rent and security deposit once a landlord that accepts the voucher is identified. Carter told the court he is seeking housing and said, "I shouldn't have done it. I know that it's not gonna happen again," when asked about past conduct. The court ordered a psychological evaluation for Carter and indicated it will review that evaluation before making further placement decisions.

By contrast, the caseworker described Rebecca Whitten’s barriers to reunification as housing instability, lack of employment, and inconsistent participation in substance‑abuse treatment and mental‑health services. Richardson said Whitten had missed outpatient treatment after leaving a facility and had not entered an intensive outpatient program with Catholic Charities as expected. On drug-screen results, Richardson noted positives for THC and buprenorphine and said that, per a psychological evaluation, abstinence from substances other than prescribed medication had been strongly encouraged.

Defense counsel raised questions about cross-county custody filings: Michael McFarland told the court, "There's a possibility that any petition for custody will be rejected in Detroit because you have to list if there's already existing probate court case going down here." The court did not resolve that out-of-county filing question at the hearing.

The judge also cautioned about medication interactions and substance use: "Just because you have a medical marijuana card doesn't mean that that's been... copacetic with prescribed medications," the court said, adding that treatment providers often consider THC use to complicate treatment plans.

The court encouraged continued engagement with services, assigned a new ongoing worker (Leticia Rodriguez Phipps) from Monroe County, and scheduled the next review for Feb. 24 at 9:30 a.m. The judge left in place the temporary arrangements for the children's placements pending further reports and the requested evaluations.