To: Delrico J. Loyd, Governmental Operations Committee Chairperson
From: Helen Davis, 67th District Court Administrator
title
RE: Approval of a Legal Self-Help Center grant award from the State Court Administrative Office, in the amount of $53,650.00, for 67th District Court to establish a Legal Resource Center, the term of this grant is from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
67th District Court respectfully requests approval to accept the Legal Self-Help Center grant award through the State Court Administrative Office in the amount of $53,650 for fiscal year 2026, October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026.
BACKGROUND:
67th District Court is the 3rd busiest district court in Michigan. Many litigants are self-represented, often without adequate understanding of the legal process, limiting their abilities to effectively represent themselves in court. A Legal Self-Help Center will create a more equitable legal system by closing a service gap in the community, creating autonomy for residents, and strengthening the Court’s ties to the area.
DISCUSSION:
Legal Self-Help Centers provide services to those who are seeking to solve legal problems by providing legal information, forms, resources, guidance, and referrals.
These services are designed to help educate and empower individuals to effectively advocate for themselves within the legal system. The Agreement between the State Court Administrative Office and 67th District Court was signed on December 9, 2025, by Court Administrator Helen Davis. Due to the short period of time between notification from the State of the award and the deadline for signature, there was not enough time to submit a resolution and get it on the Board’s agenda during that timeframe. Therefore, the Agreement was signed prior to the item being placed on the Board’s agenda.
IMPACT ON HUMAN RESOURCES:
The Legal Self-Help Center grant includes funds for a part-time paralegal to work an average of 24 hours per week. Wages will be 100% funded by the grant.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
The Legal Self-Help Center grant is in the amount of $53,650. The grant does not require a match. A budget amendment is attached to this request.
IMPACT ON FACILITIES:
The grant budget includes funds for office furniture and supplies including such things as tables, chairs, work surfaces, etc. There may be a need for those items to be assembled.
IMPACT ON TECHNOLOGY:
The IT Department would be needed in order to set up the part-time paralegal with access to a computer, etc.
CONFORMITY TO COUNTY PRIORITIES:
A Legal Self-Help Center will allow for full access to courts in order to build trust in the community towards government.
resolution
TO THE HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE GENESEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
BE IT RESOLVED, by this Board of County Commissioners of Genesee County, Michigan, that the request by the 67th District Court Administrator to authorize accepting the Legal Self-Help Center grant award from, and entering into a grant agreement with, the State Court Administrative Office, in the total amount of $53,650 for the period commencing October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026, to provide funding for a Legal Resource Center for the 67th District Court, is approved (a copy of the memorandum request and supporting documentation being on file with the official records of the February 11, 2026 meeting of the Governmental Operations Committee of this Board), the 67th District Court Administrator is authorized to execute any grant agreements on behalf of Genesee County, and the Chief Financial Officer is directed to record the attached budget amendment.