By Michael Phillips | WIBayNews
A small but significant development in southwest Michigan is quietly taking shape — one that raises important questions about how states respond to child abuse, neglect, and the ongoing fallout of the opioid crisis.
St. Joseph County, Michigan, has been awarded a $60,000 state grant to launch a specialized Abuse and Neglect Court, set to begin operations on January 1, 2026. The program, approved through Michigan’s State Court Administrative Office, is designed to handle child welfare cases where parental substance abuse is a primary factor.
At first glance, this looks like a modest, local investment. In reality, it reflects a broader shift in how states are experimenting with problem-solving courts — and it offers lessons, warnings, and opportunities that Wisconsin residents and policymakers should not ignore.
What Is the New Court — and What Makes It Different?
Unlike traditional child protective proceedings, which often involve infrequent hearings and long delays, the new Abuse and Neglect Court will operate as a family treatment court model.
According to St. Joseph County Probate Judge Kevin Kane, the court will focus on:
- Frequent judicial oversight, with parents appearing weekly or bi-weekly
- Mandatory substance abuse treatment, coordinated with local providers
- Strict accountability, paired with wraparound services
- Faster timelines aimed at family reunification when safe and appropriate
The goal is to address substance abuse not as a side issue, but as the central driver behind many neglect cases — while still keeping child safety paramount.
Judge Kane says the model is inspired by long-running programs in Cass County and Kalamazoo County, which Michigan officials often cite as examples of effective family treatment courts.
Why This Matters Beyond One County
Although this program is launching in Michigan, its relevance extends well beyond state lines.
Wisconsin, like Michigan, continues to grapple with:
- Rising substance-related child welfare cases
- Overburdened family courts
- Rural access gaps for treatment and mental health services
- High foster care costs borne by taxpayers
Across the Midwest, policymakers are searching for ways to reduce foster placements, stabilize families, and lower long-term public spending — all without sacrificing child safety.
Family treatment courts are increasingly pitched as the solution.
The Promises — and the Unasked Questions
Supporters point to national research suggesting these courts can:
- Get parents into treatment faster
- Increase treatment completion rates
- Shorten time children spend in foster care
- Reduce repeat abuse and neglect
But the public discussion often stops there.
What rarely gets examined — especially in small-town grant announcements — are the tradeoffs and risks:
- These courts are highly coercive by design, with frequent testing and court appearances
- Parents who fail to comply may face accelerated termination of parental rights
- Access to quality legal representation varies widely by county
- Rural areas often lack sufficient treatment capacity, transportation, or housing support
None of these concerns were raised in the local reporting, nor were any parents, former participants, or child advocates quoted.
Funding: A Start, Not a Solution
The $60,000 grant is only seed money. Judge Kane has already signaled plans to pursue opioid settlement funds to sustain the program.
Michigan — like Wisconsin — has received hundreds of millions of dollars from opioid lawsuits. How those funds are spent is becoming a major accountability issue nationwide.
Will the money be used for treatment and recovery, or will courts quietly expand their reach without long-term safeguards?
That question applies just as much to Wisconsin as it does to Michigan.
A Model Worth Watching — Carefully
There is no question that substance abuse plays a devastating role in many child welfare cases. Doing nothing is not an option.
But creating specialized courts without transparency, clear benchmarks, and independent oversight risks replacing one broken system with another — just more complex and harder to challenge.
As St. Joseph County’s new Abuse and Neglect Court begins operations in 2026, it will serve as a real-time test case for the region.
Wisconsin lawmakers, judges, and citizens should watch closely — not just for success stories, but for hard data, unintended consequences, and whether these courts truly serve children first while respecting due process.
Because when the state intervenes in families, good intentions are not enough. Accountability must come with the authority.
Wisconsin Bay News 
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