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<figure id="figure-njv8jg4u0jmkg401t9"><img id="njv8jg4u0jmkg401t9" src="https://cdn.durable.co/covers/2JP4rnQRPTjHxG6E8troLz1W3JZAHUElHgyNeuK00GQMrtdBPRGrWau2QgZgKuQr.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionX="undefined" data-positionY="undefined" data-fullWidth="false"/></figure> Local governments have a responsibility to maintain public order. No serious person disputes that. But when a city begins regulating speech itself under the label of “noise,” it crosses a constitutional line.That is exactly what is happening in Grand Rapids.What has been presented as a routine noise-control update is, in practice, a mechanism that allows peaceful, ordinary speech on public sidewalks to be silenced not because it is dangerous or disruptive, but because it is audible.And that should concern every resident of Michigan.&nbsp; Public Sidewalks Are Constitutionally Protected Spaces Public sidewalks are not optional free-speech zones. They are not privileges granted by city commissions. They are what the courts call traditional public forums, meaning they receive the highest level of First Amendment protection.The U.S. Supreme Court settled this long ago in Schneider v. State, stating plainly that:“The streets are natural and proper places for the dissemination of information and opinion.” This principle does not disappear because speech is inconvenient, unpopular, or uncomfortable to hear.&nbsp; Free Speech Includes the Right to Be Heard Speech that cannot be heard is not communication it is performance.In Saia v. New York, the Supreme Court made a critical clarification that many modern ordinances ignore:“The right to be heard is placed on the same high plane as the right to speak.” When a law punishes speech simply because it rises above “ambient sound” or reaches a listener who doesn’t want to hear it, the government is no longer regulating noise. It is regulating speech itself.&nbsp; What the Constitution Allows and What It Forbids Cities are allowed to regulate excessive noise. They are not allowed to suppress peaceful speech.Under Ward v. Rock Against Racism, any regulation that affects speech in a public forum must:Be content-neutral Be narrowly tailored to a real government interest Leave open ample alternative channels for communication An ordinance that criminalizes ordinary conversational volume, relies on vague terms like “disturbing” or “annoying,” or forces speakers so far away that communication becomes impossible fails this test.A rule that allows speech only when it cannot be heard is not a reasonable regulation. It is a contradiction.&nbsp; Distance and Volume Rules That Kill Conversation Don’t Survive Review The Supreme Court addressed this exact issue in McCullen v. Coakley, striking down laws that pushed speakers away from their audience under the guise of public order.The Court emphasized that close, personal, conversational speech—including counseling, religious expression, and political advocacy—is at the heart of First Amendment protection.If a regulation destroys that kind of communication, it is unconstitutional, regardless of intent.&nbsp; Vague Laws Invite Selective Enforcement Perhaps the most dangerous aspect of modern noise ordinances is how vague they are.Terms like:“disturbing” “unreasonable” “above ambient sound” leave enforcement up to subjective judgment.The Supreme Court warned against this in Grayned v. City of Rockford, explaining that vague laws invite arbitrary enforcement and chill lawful speech.Here in Michigan, the Sixth Circuit reinforced this principle in Bible Believers v. Wayne County, making clear that listener discomfort or offense is not a lawful reason to silence speech.The government’s duty is to protect speakers not silence them to keep the peace.&nbsp; This Is Bigger Than Any One Message This issue is not about abortion, religion, or politics. It is about who decides when speech is allowed to exist.Today, enforcement may target one group. Tomorrow, it could target another:labor organizers civil rights advocates environmental protesters political dissenters The First Amendment was written precisely because governments cannot be trusted to decide which speech is acceptable.&nbsp; A Call to the Grand Rapids City Commission Commissioners are not merely administrators of comfort. They are stewards of constitutional rights.Grand Rapids must:Reevaluate how this ordinance is enforced Adopt objective, disruption-based standards Affirm that peaceful, audible speech on public sidewalks is protected Ensure that “noise control” is not used as a tool for silence History is clear: cities that suppress speech do not age well.&nbsp; Why This Matters Now Rights are rarely taken outright. They are eroded through “reasonable” regulations that go unchallenged.When speech becomes punishable simply for being heard, silence is no longer voluntary.And once silence is enforced, it is no longer freedom.

When “Noise” Becomes Silence: Why Grand Rapids’ Ordinance Threatens the First Amendment

<figure id="figure-76blp0tv5mkg3hmng"><img id="76blp0tv5mkg3hmng" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/43UUW6kMHXBs8wN6Qh3WYxKWxVTFSqfnhztJc8Td3QqainVXDEJXTYj5CBsmARBf.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionX="undefined" data-positionY="undefined" data-fullWidth="false"/></figure>In a recent episode of Breaking the Silence, host Jake Tjapkes sat down with Jordan and Dorian, a young couple from Georgia whose lives were upended by an encounter with the child welfare system. Their story exposes the complexity, contradictions, and emotional toll that families can experience when navigating investigations and interventions by Georgia Department of Family and Children’s Services (DFCS).This is not a story about neglectful parents. It is a story about how systems, when poorly coordinated and lacking compassion, can become a source of trauma themselves.A Family Rooted in Love Jordan and Dorian are lifelong Georgia residents and devoted parents to three children. Like most families, they admit they are not perfect. Parenting is messy, exhausting, and humbling. But what comes through clearly in their story is their deep love for their children children they describe as joyful, affectionate, and deeply bonded to their parents.That love is what fuels their ongoing fight to reunite their family.How a Routine Medical Visit Changed Everything The family’s involvement with DFCS began during Jordan’s second pregnancy. Prior to discovering she was pregnant, Jordan had been using Delta-8—a legal THC product in Georgia to manage anxiety and stress. Once she learned she was pregnant, she stopped using it immediately.However, during a routine prenatal appointment, trace amounts of THC were detected. Despite the product being legal and the use discontinued, a report was made to DFCS. That single moment triggered a cascade of investigations, requirements, and decisions that would dramatically alter the family’s life.Mental Health, Medication, and Misinterpretation Jordan openly shared her struggles with depression and anxiety conditions many parents face silently. She was prescribed Seroquel (referred to as “Theraquel” in conversation), a powerful medication that caused extreme sedation. The medication left her sleeping deeply and impaired her ability to respond quickly to her children’s needs.During this period, their middle child fell from a swing and sustained a minor bruise. Rather than examining the medication’s side effects or the broader context, DFCS focused narrowly on the injury. Jordan was labeled a danger to her children even while being ordered to remain on the very medication that caused the impairment.Conflicting Directives and Impossible Choices One of the most troubling aspects of Jordan and Dorian’s experience was the contradiction they faced: DFCS required Jordan to stay medicated while simultaneously citing her medicated state as evidence of unfitness.Dorian described the frustration and helplessness of watching his wife follow professional instructions, only to be penalized for the results. As a husband and father, he felt trapped between compliance and protection—an impossible position no family should face.Removal and Displacement In March, a misunderstanding involving a safety plan while Jordan underwent an MRI led to the removal of the children. The couple found themselves living in a partially constructed property owned by Dorian’s father, without basic necessities and under immense emotional strain.Despite the chaos, Jordan and Dorian remained focused on one goal: bringing their children home.What This Story Reveals About the System Their experience highlights critical issues within child welfare systems—not just in Georgia, but nationwide:Mental health treatment without holistic oversight can create new risks Conflicting instructions from agencies place families in no-win scenarios Narrow incident-based assessments often miss root causes System responses can escalate trauma rather than reduce it Most importantly, it shows how quickly families can lose their footing once a system shifts from support to surveillance.A Call for Compassion and Clarity Jordan and Dorian’s story is not about denying accountability or ignoring child safety. It is about proportionality, clarity, and humanity. Families need consistent guidance, informed decision-making, and room to heal—not contradictory mandates and rushed conclusions.As their case continues, their courage in speaking out serves a larger purpose: shining a light on how child welfare systems can unintentionally harm the very families they are meant to protect.Their story reminds us that parenting under investigation is still parenting under pressure, and pressure without support breaks families.

When the System Becomes the Trauma: A Georgia Family’s Fight With DFCS

<figure id="figure-6nyk25efvemkg2ue13"><img id="6nyk25efvemkg2ue13" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/3biujjCWU67UNs0ANXcg5lNoD2ZWi3Umx5ll8KcO0brKQpfH8SujKSjkMBIlZrLH.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionX="undefined" data-positionY="undefined" data-fullWidth="false"/></figure>Michigan removes children from their homes under one promise: protection.When the State steps in, it tells families and the public, “This child will be safer with us.” But there is a devastating truth we are not confronting:Michigan is failing to identify one of the most common, preventable brain injuries affecting foster children Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).And the cost is being paid by children, families, schools, communities, and taxpayers.&nbsp; What Is FASD&nbsp; &nbsp;And Why It Matters Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) are permanent, brain-based disabilities caused by alcohol exposure during pregnancy. This is not a behavior problem. It is not a discipline issue. It is neurological injury.Children with FASD often struggle with:Memory and learning Impulse control Cause-and-effect reasoning Emotional regulation Adaptive functioning Yet outwardly, many “look fine.” That invisibility is exactly why FASD is so often missed and why children are punished instead of supported.&nbsp; Foster Children Are at Higher Risk — But Michigan Isn’t Responding National and state-aligned data consistently show that 15–30% of foster and adopted children are affected by FASD rates far higher than in the general population.In Michigan:Tens of thousands of children pass through CPS and foster care every year Many enter care with unknown or incomplete prenatal histories There is no statewide requirement for FASD-informed screening or assessment at foster care entry Let that sink in.Children removed “for their own protection” are placed into state care without identifying a known, lifelong disability that will shape their behavior, education, and future outcomes.&nbsp; The Damage of Not Naming the Disability When FASD goes unidentified, the system responds in predictable—and destructive ways:Children are mislabeled with ADHD, ODD, or “conduct disorder” Brain-based impairments are treated as willful defiance Foster placements break down Schools escalate discipline instead of accommodations Youth cycle into juvenile justice systems Families burn out Kids internalize shame for things they cannot control This isn’t theoretical. It’s happening right now, in Michigan communities.&nbsp; The Financial Cost We Pretend Not to See Ignoring FASD isn’t just morally wrong it’s financially reckless.Unidentified FASD drives up costs across:Michigan DHHS (multiple placements, services, residential care) Special education systems Medicaid-funded mental health services Juvenile justice and corrections Long-term public assistance Conservative national estimates place the lifetime public cost of one individual with FASD in the millions of dollars.Early identification and proper supports cost far less.Michigan is paying more by doing less.&nbsp; The Question Michigan Must Answer If foster children are wards of the State…If prenatal alcohol exposure is a known, preventable cause of lifelong disability…Why are we not identifying and protecting these children?This is not about blaming biological parents. This is about state responsibility after custody is assumed.&nbsp; What Needs to Change&nbsp; Now Michigan must act with urgency and clarity:Require FASD-informed screening or assessment for children entering foster care when prenatal history is unknown Train caseworkers, foster parents, educators, and providers in FASD-informed care Track prenatal exposure and neurodevelopmental outcomes statewide Treat prenatal alcohol education and prevention as child protection, not just public health These are not radical ideas. They are basic protections.&nbsp; A Call to Action for Michigan Communities This issue will not change quietly. It will change when communities demand it.Here’s what you can do:Share this message with foster families, churches, schools, and community leaders Contact your State Representative and ask where they stand on FASD screening in foster care Support organizations and advocates working to bring awareness and reform Refuse to stay silent when children are being harmed by systems meant to protect them FASD doesn’t disappear when ignored. It compounds. It costs. And it breaks lives.Michigan can do better. But only if we stop looking away.

Michigan Is Failing Its Foster Children & We All Need to Speak Up

<figure id="figure-xwj88uqtc6mkg2tg1u"><img id="xwj88uqtc6mkg2tg1u" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/33LezNcX2RKLEsBQQtUH09ESPM9mxr2lLgiECQqoTHnqXUV6TepXkG3vph3BRA8W.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionX="undefined" data-positionY="undefined" data-fullWidth="false"/></figure>I wasn’t a “bad kid.”I wasn’t defiant. I wasn’t lazy. I wasn’t trying to make life harder for the adults around me.I was a child living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and complex trauma and no one knew what they were looking at.And because they didn’t know, I paid the price.&nbsp; When Systems Don’t Understand the Brain, They Punish the Child Growing up, my struggles were treated as behavior problems:“Why won’t you just listen?” “You know better than this.” “You’re old enough to understand consequences.” But here’s the truth most systems still don’t grasp:You cannot discipline a brain injury out of a child.FASD affects how the brain processes information, controls impulses, understands cause and effect, and regulates emotions. Add trauma—neglect, separation, abuse, instability and that brain is operating in survival mode.Without training, adults assume choice. With training, adults recognize capacity.That difference changes everything.&nbsp; Trauma-Informed Care Without FASD Awareness Is Incomplete Trauma-informed care is a powerful step forward but without FASD awareness, it often falls short.Here’s what happens without FASD-informed training:Trauma responses are acknowledged, but neurological limits are ignored Children are expected to “learn from consequences” they cannot cognitively connect Support plans fail, not because families or workers didn’t care but because the approach was wrong FASD and trauma don’t exist in separate lanes. They compound each other.A traumatized brain with FASD:Learns slower Forgets faster Overreacts more intensely Struggles to generalize lessons from one situation to another If we don’t train caregivers and professionals to understand this, we set everyone up to fail.&nbsp; What Lived Experience Teaches That Textbooks Don’t From lived experience, I can tell you this:I wanted to do well. I wanted stability. I wanted to belong.But the expectations placed on me often exceeded what my brain could realistically do&nbsp;especially under stress.Each time I failed to meet those expectations, the message I received wasn’t “You need different support.”It was:“What’s wrong with you?” “Why do you keep doing this?” “You’re choosing this.” That shame sticks. And shame shapes identity.Training changes the story children tell themselves.&nbsp; What FASD &amp; Trauma-Informed Training Actually Does When caregivers, educators, and systems are properly trained, the shift is profound:Behaviors are seen as communication, not rebellion Supports are proactive instead of reactive Expectations become realistic and achievable Placements stabilize Children experience success instead of constant correction Most importantly, kids stop seeing themselves as “broken” and start understanding their brains.That is life-changing.&nbsp; Why This Matters for Foster Care, Schools, and Communities In Michigan, foster children are removed from their homes under the promise of protection.Yet many are placed into systems where:FASD goes unidentified Trauma is misunderstood Adults are undertrained Children cycle through placements, schools, and even justice systems This isn’t because people don’t care. It’s because they haven’t been equipped.Training is protection.&nbsp; This Is a Call to Learn — and to Act If you are:A foster or adoptive parent An educator or school administrator A caseworker or service provider A church leader or community volunteer A policymaker or advocate You don’t need to become an expert—but you do need to understand enough to stop causing harm unintentionally.FASD- and trauma-informed training:Saves placements Reduces burnout Lowers system costs Protects children Restores dignity And for kids like I once was—it can mean the difference between survival and hope.&nbsp; We Can Do Better&nbsp; Together Children with FASD and trauma are not lost causes.They are misunderstood ones.With the right training, the right supports, and the humility to listen to lived experience, Michigan communities can become places of healing instead of harm.That’s why this work matters. That’s why training matters. And that’s why silence is no longer an option.

Why FASD & Trauma-Informed Care Training Matters — From Lived Experience

MENDING BROKEN WINGS 

ABOUT US
Mending Broken Wings is a nonprofit organization committed to protecting vulnerable children, strengthening families, and addressing systemic failures within the foster care and child welfare system.
Our work focuses on reforming policies that impact children and families, increasing education around Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and trauma-informed care, and equipping communities with the knowledge and tools needed to create safer, more effective systems of care.
We exist because too many children and families are harmed not only by trauma, but by systems that are unprepared to recognize neurodevelopmental disabilities, address trauma appropriately, or prioritize long-term stability and accountability.
Mending Broken Wings brings together advocacy, education, and lived experience to help communities move from awareness to action—ensuring children are protected, families are supported, and systems are held to higher standards.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to drive meaningful reform within the child welfare system by advancing policy change, expanding education on FASD and trauma-informed care, and strengthening community-based solutions that promote accountability, dignity, and long-term stability for children and families.
We focus on practical, evidence-informed solutions that address both systemic issues and real-life outcomes—working alongside families, professionals, policymakers, and community partners to create lasting change.
OUR MISSION PROJECTS
Mending Broken Wings operates through three core mission projects, each designed to address critical gaps in policy, practice, and public understanding.
1. State-Level Policy Change
FASD Education & Trauma-Informed Care
This project focuses on advancing state-level policy reform that improves how children and families are served within the foster care and child welfare system.
Key areas include:
Mandatory FASD education and awareness for professionals working in child welfare, courts, education, and healthcare
Implementation of trauma-informed and disability-informed standards of care
Improved screening, identification, and accommodations for neurodevelopmental disabilities
Accountability measures to ensure policies are applied consistently and effectively
Our goal is to influence legislation, regulations, and statewide practices that reduce harm, improve outcomes, and promote informed decision-making at every level of the system.
2. Michigan & Local Policy Change
Kent County & Surrounding Communities
This project brings state-level priorities into local action, with a specific focus on Kent County and surrounding Michigan counties.
In addition to state priorities, this project emphasizes:
Local CPS and foster care oversight
County-level policy alignment with trauma-informed and FASD-informed standards
Community engagement with local officials, agencies, and service providers
Data transparency and accountability at the local level
Strengthening family preservation and safe reunification efforts
By working locally, we ensure policy changes translate into real improvements for children and families where they live.
3. Education & Public Awareness
Professionals, Caregivers, and Communities
Education is foundational to lasting reform. This project focuses on expanding accessible, accurate education related to foster care, FASD, trauma, and systemic challenges.
This includes:
Public awareness campaigns
Professional trainings and workshops
Education for foster parents, caregivers, educators, and community leaders
Speaking engagements and community forums
Resource development and practical guidance
Our goal is to equip individuals and organizations with the knowledge needed to prevent harm, recognize hidden disabilities, and respond with informed, compassionate, and effective care.
OPTIONAL SHORT TAGLINE (You can place this under the mission)
Reforming systems. Educating communities. Protecting children

MENDING BROKEN WINGS

Blog

When “Noise” Becomes Silence: Why Grand Rapids’ Ordinance...

When the System Becomes the Trauma: A Georgia Family’s Fi...

Michigan Is Failing Its Foster Children & We All Need to ...

Why FASD & Trauma-Informed Care Training Matters — From L...