West Michigan legislator continues commitment to improving child welfare

State Rep. Luke Meerman has helped spearhead plans to prevent recidivism of juvenile offenders and ensure they receive proper care and guidance from the state in safe, vetted facilities.

Overcrowding in juvenile justice facilities is a persistent issue in Michigan that has led to many minors being sent to unvetted facilities out of state. In one confirmed case, a juvenile offender from Michigan was even sexually abused by staff while in an out-of-state facility.

“The minor likely would have never been removed from the abuser had their mother not been hypervigilant – most minor offenders don’t have a parent advocating for them like that,” said Meerman. “We can’t really know how many others may have experienced abuse while shipped off to facilities in other states that we have no oversight over.”

Meerman and colleagues ensured that the House’s budget proposal includes funding to increase the capacity of Michigan’s facilities and ensure that juvenile offenders are kept here in Michigan where they can be visited by family, and the state has oversight over their care.

“It’s critical for the future of our state and safety of our communities that juvenile offenders are placed in quality facilities that have the resources and professional guidance to help minors learn from their mistakes and change the course of their lives before entering adulthood.”

Rep. Meerman has been passionate about finding solutions to the issues facing the state’s vulnerable children since long before his election to the state House. As former foster parents, he and his wife have witnessed the broken child welfare system firsthand.

“The shortage of juvenile facilities is just one of the many issues facing kids who have come from really rough, heartbreaking backgrounds,” Meerman said. “There are also serious administrative issues within Child Protective Services under DHHS. Children have died on the state’s watch. We need to get serious about finding bipartisan solutions to fix the system.”

As chairman of the House Oversight Subcommittee on Child Welfare, Meerman has worked closely with the non-partisan Office of the Auditor General to investigate the shortcomings within the system. He is optimistic that these investigations will lead to more policy changes over time and hopes that Democrats controlling the Senate will put partisan gameplay aside to advance them.