Lenawee County judge keeps juvenile guardianship goal, orders reviews after mixed progress by parents

ADRIAN, Mich. — A Lenawee County judge on Jan. 21 maintained juvenile guardianship as the permanency goal for four children after a periodic review that found limited progress by one parent and escalating behavioral problems with the eldest child.

Court-appointed guardian ad litem Carson Howitt told the court he visited the three middle children at their relative caregivers’ home on Jan. 21 and found the children “extremely comfortable” and “ingrained” with their aunt and uncle, adding that two of the children clearly wish to remain with those relatives. Howitt also reported the eldest child’s behaviors had escalated, describing a recent incident in which the youth “hit, punched, bit, and choked a staff member” and was charged in Wayne County with a felony assault with a dangerous weapon and two misdemeanors. Howitt said the child spent two days in juvenile detention and has a pending court date in Wayne County.

Leslie Conrad, a foster-care specialist who prepared the agency’s court report, said the agency will seek a more restrictive residential placement for the eldest if juvenile courts do not require detention. Conrad said the three middle children are stabilizing and that the relative caregivers’ foster-home licensing study should be completed in about two weeks; once the state approves a license, the agency plans to apply for a Guardianship Assistance Program subsidy and petition the court for juvenile guardianship. “We’re hoping to potentially have all of that wrapped up in the next 4 to 6 months,” Conrad told the court.

Mother Pamela Foote testified that she has gained employment, housing and ongoing individual therapy and said she believes she is ready to resume contact with her children. “I didn't have a job when this case first started… I have it all now,” she said, urging the court to allow supervised phone or video contact. Agency witnesses and the guardian ad litem, however, said recent records show the mother has not engaged consistently with an ordered trauma-focused provider, Brene Moore, since November 2025, and that therapists’ notes indicate the children remain reluctant to see their mother.

Defense counsel asked the court to consider supervised virtual contact for the children who might benefit. Michael Brooks, attorney for the mother, said supervised Zoom or phone contact could be a measured first step: “If it doesn't work, you got a supervisor there to step in,” he said. The guardian ad litem and agency urged caution, saying further evaluations of the children’s trauma should be pursued only if the mother completes the required psychological evaluation and therapy.

The court formally received Conrad’s report after counsel stated they had “no objection.” Judge Sala said the record shows only limited change in the mother’s engagement and emphasized stability and child safety over reunification. The judge ordered continued efforts toward juvenile guardianship for the children still under court jurisdiction and said the agency must satisfy its obligations to the children and the guardian ad litem.

Judge Sala set the next review and privacy-planning hearings for April 21 and July 21 at 2:30 p.m., and said the court will continue three-month reviews to monitor licensing and treatment developments for the eldest child and the prospective guardianship steps for the middle children.

The court also acknowledged the eldest child’s stated preference to be moved to caregivers he described as “aunt and uncle” in Finville, Mich., and directed the agency to pursue appropriate placement options and a team decision meeting to address services for him.