Protect children from harm
Genuine abuse, neglect and violence must be recognized and addressed promptly. Safety is not negotiable.
The Michigan family court reform movement
Childhoods can't wait for fairness.
Every child deserves protection from harm and the chance to maintain healthy bonds with safe, loving parents. We're organizing Michigan families to turn documented experiences into lasting, practical reform.
Real stories. Verified patterns. Specific policy solutions.
Start hereYour voice has a place here.
Tell your storyHelp us understand the issues
Join the movementFind a meaningful volunteer role
Explore reformSee what we're advocating for
Choose how you’d like to get involved.
Child-centeredEvidence-drivenNonpartisanFamily-welcoming
What we believe
Better outcomes begin with better process.
Our work is guided by three commitments that belong together. Protecting families means taking real safety concerns seriously while ensuring that major parenting restrictions receive timely and fair consideration.
Preserve healthy relationships
Children should not unnecessarily lose meaningful relationships with safe, fit parents or their wider families.
Ensure fair, timely review
Significant temporary parenting restrictions should be supported by evidence, clearly explained and regularly reviewed.
OUR NORTH STARTimely, evidence-based decisions that protect genuine victims and preserve healthy parent–child relationships whenever safe.
Our method
From personal experience to credible public policy.
01Document
02Verify
03Aggregate
04Anonymize
05Advocate
We separate firsthand accounts from verified records, protect children's privacy and identify patterns that lawmakers can examine. We do not treat a disputed claim as a proven fact.
The reform agenda
Three practical changes worth fighting for.
We begin with a focused set of process reforms from our coalition's 90-day action plan, rather than promising to fix every problem at once.
PRIORITY 01
Prompt review of temporary restrictions
Major interim restrictions should receive meaningful review within a defined period. Temporary orders should not become permanent simply because litigation moves slowly.
Explore the proposal →PRIORITY 02
Clear standards for supervised parenting
Orders should explain why supervision is needed, what contact is allowed, who schedules visits, what it costs and how safe progression is evaluated.
Explore the proposal →PRIORITY 03
Evidence and allegation transparency
Distinguish allegations, interim consequences, evidence, findings and outcomes. Accountability depends on accurate language and traceable decisions.
Explore the proposal →Recruiting video testimony participants
Your experience can help shape change.
Have you experienced a family court process that affected your children, parenting relationship or finances? We're inviting adults to tell us what happened and, if they choose, be considered for future on-camera testimony.
Your story stays private at the first step. No video or identifying family details are published without a separate review and explicit permission.
Lansing watch
Michigan legislation worth following.
Existing proposals on parenting time provide an opportunity for constituent conversations. These bills are proposals, not enacted law; check the official Michigan Legislature pages for the latest actions.
HB 5211–5213
A linked package addressing custody, parenting-time considerations and Friend of the Court information. The coalition's working presentation identified these bills as a focus for House outreach.
SB 940–942
A related Senate package addressing child custody, equal-parenting-time considerations and Friend of the Court information. Our coalition encourages constructive committee discussion.
Bill descriptions are educational summaries, not endorsements of every provision. Legislative action guide →
An accountable campaign
90 days. Measurable action.
Our initial plan moves through three phases: build credibility, engage lawmakers and publish responsibly reviewed findings. The numbers below are targets—not claims of accomplishments.
DAYS 01–30
Build credibility
Set ground rules, organize volunteer teams, establish case intake and develop focused policy briefs.
DAYS 31–60
Build relationships
Meet constituent offices, connect with bipartisan lawmakers and prepare accurate personal testimony.
DAYS 61–90
Publish & advocate
Aggregate patterns, review privacy and evidence, publish a Michigan process report and seek policy responses.
30Documented case submissions
20Legislative / staff meetings
3Focused policy briefs
1Public process report
Initial 90-day goals from the coalition action-plan presentation; progress has not been independently reported here.
Build the coalition
Many voices. One purpose.
We're recruiting fathers, mothers, grandparents, adult children, attorneys, clinicians, researchers and allies who believe family court decisions should be safe, timely and fair.
Become a coalition memberLegislative outreach
Family story outreach
Data & research
Documentation review
Policy & legal input
Media & communications
Community partnerships
Clinical / child development
Answers
Frequently asked questions.
Is this coalition only for fathers?
No. Fathers helped launch the effort, but everyone who supports child safety, healthy relationships and accountable process is welcome—including mothers, extended family, adult children, professionals and advocates.
Do I have to share my own custody experience to join?
Not at all. You can volunteer with research, outreach, policy, communications, administration or professional advice. Join as a volunteer without sharing a personal case.
Will sharing my story automatically make it public?
No. The initial form gathers only your contact information and broad topic. Any follow-up interview, documents or filming will be discussed separately. We will seek an explicit, written publication release before using identifiable testimony.
Does the coalition help with individual legal cases?
Our focus is systemic policy reform, not representing individuals or giving legal advice. If you need advice about your case, speak with a qualified Michigan attorney. If someone is in immediate danger, contact emergency services.
How can I influence Michigan legislators?
Identify your Michigan House representative and state senator, ask for a short constituent meeting, explain one documented process problem and make one specific policy request. Visit the legislative action guide.
How do you protect children's identities?
We ask people not to submit children's names or private records through this website. Accounts considered for research or public use go through a separate privacy review; the website does not accept case-document or video uploads. Read the privacy notice.
The next chapter starts with people
Stronger families deserve fairer systems.
Share your experience, bring your skills, or help us build credible, constructive relationships in Lansing.