“...Jasmine has
moved from a
residential facility
for children
with emotional
and developmental
disabilities to a
foster home in
Suburban Detroit
where she is a
straight ‘A’ student
at a public school.”
Our Story
For The Seventh Generation looks beyond the mere survival
of youngsters in the juvenile justice system TEXT BY DONALD
V. CALAMIA
A TRANSFORMATION
When 12-year-old Jasmine first arrived at the dental office
of Dr. Maria L.Pinzon,
the shy and introverted youngster was in need of long-term orthodontic
treatment.
An habitual thumb sucker for comfort and pleasure, Jasmine required initial
treatment for an anterior open bite before Pinzon could begin work straightening
her teeth. With minor coaching, the thumb sucking stopped and braces were
installed. Now, a few years later, it’s not just a young girl’s
teeth and smile that
have been transformed. “She’s laughing and smiling, and she
feels a whole lot
better about herself,” Pinzon said of her patient. “She has
acquired self-esteem and
a personality of her own. Jasmine has come out of her shell.”
What’s unique about Jasmine’s story isn’t her dental
experience; such miracles
are relatively common in area dental offices. What’s noteworthy is
the mechanism
that brought the permanent ward of the Wayne County court system into Pinzon’s
expert care: a new and innovative community-based volunteer program called
For The Seventh Generation.
THE NEED FOR ASSISTANCE
Established in 2005 by the Detroit Metropolitan
Bar Association Foundation in cooperation with the 3rd Judicial Circuit
Court and the Department of Human Services, For The Seventh Generation
provides non-law related services to wards
of the court. “We serve as a ‘clearing house’ to match
those willing to volunteer their time, talents or merchandise with
children and families.in need of assistance.”
The need for such outside assistance is great, said Chief Referee Kelly
Ramsey of the court’s Family Division, Juvenile
Section. “Our court is designed to take care of the basic needs of
our children. Sadly, these kids have a lot of needs that
go far beyond the court’s ability to solve, and with our limited
resources, we can only do so much.”
HOW THE IDEA DEVELOPED
The idea to create the program came to Ramsey while
seated on a task force seeking pro bono legal services for the
wards of the court. Recalling an earlier situation in which her personal
dentist, Dr. Douglas Hock, agreed to treat a
woman who was savagely beaten and needed emergency follow-up care, the
chief referee had a brainstorm. “Why
does it have to be just legal services? Why aren’t the medical and
dental professions also willing to provide services?”
DMBA Foundation Director Lorraine Weber, chairing the committee, was immediately
interested in supporting
the idea.
Ramsey began to formally recruit assistance and it wasn’t long before
several area professionals agreed to treat one
child per year. In the meantime, the DMBA Foundation voted to support the
program and began the process of
developing both an administrative and fundraising structure.
THE POTENTIAL TO CHANGE MANY LIVES
The program has the potential to change
the lives of many children and families in need, believes E. Christopher
Johnson Jr., co-chair of the DMBA Foundation. “As lawyers who are
all-too familiar with the unique problems these
young people face every day of their lives, we believe a program of this
scope will go a long way to address them.
But to do good isn’t enough; rather, we must “do good” the
right way – meaning that we must accomplish our work
in the most efficient, economical and comprehensive manner possible over
the long term.”
In the meantime, the project’s first participant, Jasmine, has moved
from a residential facility for children with
emotional and developmental disabilities to a foster home in Suburban Detroit
where she is a straight “A” student
at a local public school. But her dental needs continue. With an excessive
overgrowth of gum tissue, Pinzon has
arranged for Dr. James E. McNamara at the University of Michigan Dental
School to perform laser reshaping and
reduction of the tissue free of charge as a demonstration to the orthodontic
residents.
A SIMPLE CONCEPT
It is that type of selfless involvement that will make
a difference in our community and will ensure that For The
Seventh Generation touches the lives of every child in foster care in Wayne
county that is in need. The concept is
simple: One Child – One Gift – One Year.
To be truly effective, our juvenile justice system must look beyond
the mere survival of the children in our charge.
We must recognize that the actions we take today will have an impact
far beyond the current generation. How we deal with the most
vulnerable children today will affect their progeny for years to come.
We must work for the seventh generation.
For
The Seventh Generation is a program of the Detroit
Metropolitan Bar Association Foundation in cooperation with
the 3rd Judicial Circuit of Michigan and the Michigan Department of Human
Services. The Detroit Metropolitan Bar
Association Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. Donations of cash and
goods are tax deductible as provided by law.
1356 Penobscot Building 645 Griswold Street Detroit, MI 48226-4220 Phone:
(313) 961-6120 ext. 206
Fax: (313) 965-0842 Email: 7thGen@detroitlawyer.org Website: www.fortheseventhgeneration.org