After battling addiction for 17 years, I am proud to say that I am now four years clean. Recovery has been an arduous journey, but one I am committed to with every facet of my being. My story is not unique—many parents, like me, have triumphed over adversity and are striving to rebuild our lives and reconnect with our children. However, the hurdles we face due to Michigan's current guardianship laws can be incredibly daunting.

In Michigan, the guardianship laws often don't cater adequately to parents who didn’t lose custody of their children through Child Protective Services (CPS) actions but voluntarily allowed family members temporary guardianship during a challenging period of life. Unlike CPS-involved cases, there seems to be a lack of structured, streamlined processes for parents in recovery to regain visitation rights and custody of their children. This systemic oversight leaves parents like myself, who've turned their lives around, tangled in prolonged legal battles with no clear timelines or guidelines for regaining even the most basic visitation rights.

Research indicates that children benefit significantly from having relationships with their biological parents, even if they went through separation due to issues like addiction. In fact, reports from the National Institute of Drug Abuse highlight that family involvement is crucial for both recovery of individuals and children’s emotional well-being. It's painful and unjust that legal pathways are not more accessible for parents wishing to re-establish these critical bonds.

I urge Michigan legislators and family law courts to revise the guardianship rules for parents who have not lost children to CPS but require a starting point to rebuild familial relationships post-addiction recovery. Potential solutions could include healthier and more proactive measures, such as expedited hearings and mandatory mediation sessions, where progress can be discussed, and revisions can be suggested.

Time is of the essence. Every additional day of separation impacts both the parent and the child. Let’s act now to make Michigan a state that truly supports recovery and family unity. Please sign this petition to advocate for meaningful amendments in Michigan's guardianship laws, providing a pathway for loving parents to reunite with their children.