Policy Consultant

For nearly two decades, Michelle Weemhoff has coordinated highly effective coalitions and played a vital role in advancing successful youth justice initiatives on the local, state, and national levels. Specializing in advocacy and public policy development, her work has helped improve legal representation, increase funding for diversion and community-based programs, create statewide youth reentry services, and remove young people from adult jails and prisons. Her expertise has been sought on numerous statewide committees to improve services across child welfare, mental health, education, racial equity, and youth justice. She has also co-authored numerous publications that have been influential in shaping policy conversations, steering funding decisions and, ultimately, changing state laws.

Michelle previously held positions as Deputy Director of the Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency, Public Defense Task Force Coordinator at the Campaign for Justice, and the national Health and Justice for Youth Coordinator at Physicians for Human Rights. She taught as a part-time instructor at the Western Michigan University School of Social Work from 2017-2022. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan, and a graduate certificate in Holistic Approaches to Spirituality and Healing from Western Michigan University.