Court orders therapeutic parenting time, grants alternative service and sets March 24 trial in Lenawee County juvenile case

At an initial disposition hearing in Lenawee County Probate & Juvenile Court, the judge granted the department’s request for alternative service for the absent mother, left the child in his current placement with his uncle, ordered therapeutic parenting time (with supervision) for the father, and set the adjudication/trial date for March 24 at 11:00 a.m.

The court heard reports from the guardian ad litem and the department, testimony from the father and from the lead foster‑care worker, and argument from counsel before issuing directions to the agency and visitation providers. Carson Howard, the child’s guardian ad litem, said he met the child on Jan. 8 and described him as "doing really well" and recommended the child remain in his current placement while therapeutic visitation is arranged. Brandy Delazar, the lead foster care worker, told the court the permanency goal remains reunification but listed barriers including prior domestic violence incidents, housing and financial instability, and substance abuse.

The department had asked the court to allow alternative service to notify the mother, whose last known address the department located in Dallas, Texas; the judge granted that motion and ordered the department to publish notice in the last known county in Texas and to attempt notification via any social‑media accounts associated with her. "I received the motion for alternative service ... I'm granting the motion for alternative service and requesting that the department perform publication ... for Miss Nicole Riley and down in Texas as well as to notify her through any social media accounts that are found and appear to be associated with her as relates to the adjudication trial and potentially the initial disposition that's been set for March 24 at 11AM," the judge said.

Testimony and documentary materials were received into the record, including the department’s case packet and the case service plan; counsel raised no formal objections to admitting those materials. Delazar confirmed Catholic Charities recommended an intensive inpatient rehabilitation placement (referred to in testimony as "Big Bear" in Michigan) and that agency staff would assist with transportation to an inpatient program if a bed became available.

The judge described the child’s current placement with his uncle as the "safest and least restrictive" option under present circumstances and ordered that the placement remain in effect. The father has tested with forensic fluids and has completed some services but also missed intake appointments for therapeutic parenting time; Delazar said therapeutic visitation was delayed because the father did not attend an intake scheduled for Jan. 9. The father testified he is trying to secure inpatient treatment and said he had been checking with Catholic Charities about a bed at the recommended facility and that he had recently secured part‑time work.

On visitation, the court directed therapeutic parenting time in addition to supervised parenting time, noting therapeutic visits could be consolidated to a single weekly two‑hour session if needed for logistics. The court instructed the agency and therapeutic providers that visits must be terminated if the father discusses the case with the child, makes the child feel guilty about removal, or otherwise creates a risk to the child’s mental health. "We would look for Mister Halton to participate in therapeutic parenting time in addition to the supervised parenting time," the court said.

The judge also advised the father and counsel about the timeliness of an earlier appeal that had been filed, noting that an order removing the child had been entered in November and that the appeal filed Dec. 29 was not a timely appeal by right; the court said leave to seek review could be pursued with the court of appeals if counsel so chooses.

The department’s case service plan was adopted into the court’s order and will govern required services and expectations. The court scheduled the next review and probable trial/trial‑setting hearing for March 24 at 11:00 a.m. and directed counsel and agency staff to provide a copy of the order and to work with the father on treatment and visitation logistics.

What comes next: the department will attempt alternative service and social‑media notification for Nicole Riley, therapeutic visitation intake will be rescheduled, the case services plan is in force, and the court will review progress at the March 24 hearing.