CIP Catalog

Table of Contents Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | District of Columbia | Florida | Georgia | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Missouri | Montana | Nebraska | Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | New York | North Carolina | Ohio | Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee | Texas | Utah | Vermont | Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming | Hearing Quality and Depth | Legal Representation of Parties | Timeliness of Decisions | Notice to and Participation of Parties | Treatment of Parties | Alternative Dispute Resolution | Quality and Professionalism of the Judiciary | Court Staffing | Technology | Training and Education | Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders | Community Collaboration | Evaluation | Child and Family Services Review | New/Innovative Projects | Alabama To Table of Contents Guardian Ad Litem Manual, Alabama Children's Justice Task Force, 69 pgs. AL-98-01 This manual was developed by the Alabama Children's Justice Task Force to provide a means of promoting thought and consideration for lawyers who interact with children, specifically lawyers who serve as GALs. It reviews state code and case law provisions regarding the right to counsel; appointment of GALs; notice; attorney's fees; appearance of counsel; disclosure of notice and records; uniform guidelines for attorney fee declarations; and the class action RC case. It also reviews the duties of a GAL, provides standards and commentaries for GAL practices, and reviews the key definitional aspects of child maltreatment and provides tips for communicating with children. Alabama Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Training and Education Training and Education: Attorney/GAL Programs Guardian Ad Litem Manual, Alabama Children's Justice Task Force, 69 pgs. AL-98-01 This manual was developed by the Alabama Children's Justice Task Force to provide a means of promoting thought and consideration for lawyers who interact with children, specifically lawyers who serve as GALs. It reviews state code and case law provisions regarding the right to counsel; appointment of GALs; notice; attorney's fees; appearance of counsel; disclosure of notice and records; uniform guidelines for attorney fee declarations; and the class action RC case. It also reviews the duties of a GAL, provides standards and commentaries for GAL practices, and reviews the key definitional aspects of child maltreatment and provides tips for communicating with children. Alabama Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Training and Education Training and Education: Attorney/GAL Programs Alabama Sample Court Orders for Use in Juvenile Dependency Cases, Alabama Court Improvement Project Staff, 2002 25 pgs. AL-02-02 This document is a compilation of materials that relate to a review of key provisions of the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) and a review of requirements of court orders in dependency cases involving children in care. It includes sample court orders for dependency cases. Alabama Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders: Forms and Orders Model Statewide Protocol for Alabama Department of Human Resources Caseworkers - Response to Children Found in Methamphetamine Lab Areas, Alabama Methamphetamine Task Force, Child Custody Group, 2006 3 pages - 33KB AL-06-01 This protocol is designed for Department of Human Resources caseworkers to follow when responding to reports of children being found in methamphetamine labs areas.  The protocol covers the initial response to the report, coordination with law enforcement and other key personnel regarding onsite procedures to handling children found in these areas, taking children into physical custody, and sharing of information. Alabama Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Other Initiatives New/Innovative Projects Alabama Court Improvement Project Dependency Case Task Force Regional Training Seminars, "The Path to Permanency: Improving Court Practice in Child Abuse and Neglect Cases, Administrative Office of the Courts, Madison County District Court System, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, August 2000 227 pgs. AL-00-01 These judicial training materials focus on ASFA, including shortcuts for timely dispositions, and sample court orders and court report forms, as well as the Adoption Assistance Child Welfare Act, and CAPTA. The materials also address improving court practice and the role judges can play in the process. Alabama Training and Education Training and Education: Judicial Training Alabama Court Improvement Project Advisory Committee Meeting Materials, Alabama Court Improvement Project Staff, 804 pgs. AL-03-01 These materials were compiled for the November 13, 2003 Alabama Court Improvement Project Advisory Committee Meeting. The materials consist of various training materials, letters, and reports. Some of these include the Department of Human Resources (DHR) Social Worker Legal Check List; Summaries of Legislative Acts and Supreme Court Rules Relating to Juvenile and Family Courts (1990-Present); Summaries of Attorney General Opinions; It Takes Two for Your Child: A Workbook on Parenting Together (Draft); and Permanency Planning Policies and Procedures. Alabama Training and Education Training and Education: : Multidisciplinary Training Guardian Ad Litem Manual, Alabama Children's Justice Task Force, 69 pgs. AL-98-01 This manual was developed by the Alabama Children's Justice Task Force to provide a means of promoting thought and consideration for lawyers who interact with children, specifically lawyers who serve as GALs. It reviews state code and case law provisions regarding the right to counsel; appointment of GALs; notice; attorney's fees; appearance of counsel; disclosure of notice and records; uniform guidelines for attorney fee declarations; and the class action RC case. It also reviews the duties of a GAL, provides standards and commentaries for GAL practices, and reviews the key definitional aspects of child maltreatment and provides tips for communicating with children. Alabama Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Training and Education Training and Education: Attorney/GAL Programs Alabama Family Court Improvement Project Regional Training Seminars, Unified Judicial System State of Alabama, March 1999 300 pgs. AL-99-01 This manual has been used in training sessions for juvenile court judges and judicial staff, agency attorneys, caseworkers, GALs and CASAs across the State of Alabama. It provides a detailed overview of the Alabama Family Preservation Court Improvement Project, including the group's accomplishments and future plans. It also reviews key federal legislation, including ASFA and MEPA/IPA; details the history of the Alabama Juvenile Court system; provides sample court and agency documents, including affidavits, in-take forms, individualized service plans, consent decrees, and timetables for critical actions; highlights the Alabama judicial volunteer program; outlines the core principles of concurrent planning; and provides detailed reviews of Alabama's child welfare statistics, statewide and county-by-county. Alabama Training and Education Training and Education: Multidisciplinary Training Trying Dependency Cases Timely: Revised Federal and State Requirements, , 92 pgs. AL-XX-01 This handout, which has been used in training sessions for judges and GALs, discusses federal and Alabama State provisions that incorporate ASFA. Specifically, the handout provides detailed flow charts of the dependency case process, the process for the termination of parental rights, and the process for adoption; reviews state and federal provisions governing various stages of the dependency case process, including intake procedures for emergency dependency cases, shelter care hearings, individualized service planning and case planning, adjudicatory hearings, dispositions, permanency hearings, adoptions, appeals and judicial reviews; includes sample court documents such as affidavits, complaints, petitions, court summons, and juvenile pick-up orders; and discusses the confidentiality of juvenile dependency information. Alabama Training and Education Training and Education: Judicial Training Training and Education: Attorney/GAL Programs Model Statewide Protocol for Alabama Department of Human Resources Caseworkers - Response to Children Found in Methamphetamine Lab Areas, Alabama Methamphetamine Task Force, Child Custody Group, 2006 3 pages - 33KB AL-06-01 This protocol is designed for Department of Human Resources caseworkers to follow when responding to reports of children being found in methamphetamine labs areas.  The protocol covers the initial response to the report, coordination with law enforcement and other key personnel regarding onsite procedures to handling children found in these areas, taking children into physical custody, and sharing of information. Alabama Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Other Initiatives New/Innovative Projects Alaska To Table of Contents Temporary Custody Hearing Checklist, Adjudication Hearing Checklist, and Disposition Hearing Checklist, Alaska Court Improvement Project, Alaska Court System, 2005 0.00 AK-05-01 Alaska recently updated its checklists to account for state law revisions and to better integrate the requirements of the Indian Child Welfare Act. The checklists address temporary custody hearings, adjudication hearings, and disposition hearings. Alaska Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Child in Need of Aid (CINA) Rule 23., Alaska Supreme Court, effective October 15, 2004 Available online at http://www.state.ak.us/courts/sco/sco1521leg/pdf AK-04-01 Alaska Tribal Courts can request transfer of jurisdiction of state court child welfare cases to tribal court for cases that involve tribal children. CINA Rule 23 sets forth the procedures for transferring cases from state to tribal courts. Alaska Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders: Court Rules A Guide to Alaska Child in Need of Assistance Cases, Alaska Judicial Council, November 1999 93 pgs. AK-99-01 This guide, designed primarily for agency training purposes, provides an overview of how child protection cases are handled in Alaska under new State statutes and court rules. It is divided into seven sections: a review of child protection laws and responsible agencies; key stages in the child protection process, including agency and court processes, as well as roles and responsibility of stakeholders; a fictional case illustration, including sample court pleadings; charts and statistics, including expanding descriptions of roles and responsibilities and flow charts of CINA proceedings; a glossary of common terms; a list of local resources, including state agencies, national organizations, and community groups; and a comprehensive index. Alaska Training and Education Training and Education: CASA/Social Worker Training Arizona To Table of Contents The Arizona Court Improvement Project Executive Summary, National Center for Juvenile Justice, January 2002 Available Now - Adobe PDF 178KB AZ-02-01 The Arizona Supreme Court, Administrative Office of the Courts, published a request for proposals to conduct a study to update of the Arizona Court Improvement Project Final Report from 1996. This report responds to an RFP asking to: assess the impact of Model Court legislation passed in 1998 and implemented since January 1999; meet with the Court Improvement Advisory Workgroup to develop plans for the study and provide periodic updates at Workgroup meetings; identify outcomes for children and families resulting from the new timelines and procedures required by Model Court legislation; conduct an analysis of State statutes and court rules surrounding dependency proceedings in Arizona; prepare a summary of findings and recommendations from a statewide Court Improvement Training Conference; construct and conduct a statewide survey to assess perceptions of the effects of Model Court and related court improvement efforts; conduct an analysis comparing case processing and case outcomes for dependency cases with petitions filed in 1996 Arizona Evaluation Evaluation: General Arizona Supreme Court Administrative Office of the Courts, Dependent Children's Services Division, Dually Involved Youth On-Site Technical Assistance Report, National Center for Juvenile Justice, 2002 34 pgs. Available Now -- 148 KB Adobe AZ-02-03 The report summarizes the National Center for Juvenile Justice's findings regarding dually involved children in Arizona, i.e., those with both dependency and delinquency issues. In its review of two counties, the NCJJ found a substantial number of dually involved cases taking different routes into the court system. The NCJJ analyzed the data, recommended that Arizona undertake further study of the issue, and provided specific recommendations for follow-up action. Arizona Evaluation Evaluation: General New/Innovative Projects Arizona Dual Jurisdiction Study: Final Report, National Center for Juvenile Justice, 2004 http://www.supreme.state.az.us/dcsd/docs/azdual_juri.pdf AZ-04-01 The National Center for Juvenile Justice (NCJJ) conducted a study of dually involved (dependent/delinquent) youth based on earlier findings suggesting a high rate of prior delinquency and/or status offense histories among dependent youth. Using data from the state’s online tracking system, case reviews, and interviews, the NCJJ summarized findings and made 25 recommendations to improve outcomes in dual jurisdiction cases. Arizona Evaluation Evaluation: General New/Innovative Projects Termination of Parental Rights by Jury Trials in Arizona: A Second Year Analysis, Gene C. Siegel, M.A., and Michele Robbins, Esq., 2005 40 pages (Available online at http://www.supreme.state.az.us/dcsd/docs/tpr_jury_trial.pdf) AZ-05-01 Arizona passed legislation allowing parents to request a trial by jury in a termination of parental rights case.  Staff from the National Center for Juvenile Justice analyzed data from several sources and, when possible, compared outcomes between jury trials and bench trials.  The report discusses the methodology of the study and addresses key findings. Arizona Evaluation: General Evaluation The Foster Care Review Board Presents The Pima County Model Assessment: 1998 Report and Recommendations, Prepared for the Arizona Supreme Court, Administrative Office of the Courts, Dependent Children Services Division by the National Center for Juvenile Justice, February 1998 101 pgs. Available Now - Adobe PDF 385KB AZ-98-01 This report examines the first eight months of a pilot effort underway in the Pima County Juvenile Courts. The effort, which embraces the concept of "front-loading" the court process (i.e. taking steps to ensure early and constructive involvement by all parties in order to minimize a child's time in temporary care), includes several key concepts such as the early appointment of counsel; dedicating sufficient court time for initial proceedings; developing procedures to ensure parents and other critical family members participate; placing expectations on all parties that they be ready to discuss case specifics in detail from the outset; and ensuring the court takes sufficient time at initial proceedings to develop detailed orders. The Interim Report includes an overview of the model court case processing system; an examination of the impact of the model court in Pima County; an analysis of model court data; a review of the time allocation estimates for caseworkers and prosecutors; and overall project findings and recommendations. Foster care review board statistics, a detailed glossary of terms and definitions, model court project data collection instruments, a listing of tasks association with model and non-model court hearings, and foster care review board demographics are also provided. Arizona Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Pilot Projects and Model Courts Evaluation Evaluation: Pilot Projects The Foster Care Review Board Presents The Pima County Model Assessment: 1998 Report and Recommendations, Prepared for the Arizona Supreme Court, Administrative Office of the Courts, Dependent Children Services Division by the National Center for Juvenile Justice, February 1998 101 pgs. Available Now - Adobe PDF 385KB AZ-98-01 This report examines the first eight months of a pilot effort underway in the Pima County Juvenile Courts. The effort, which embraces the concept of "front-loading" the court process (i.e. taking steps to ensure early and constructive involvement by all parties in order to minimize a child's time in temporary care), includes several key concepts such as the early appointment of counsel; dedicating sufficient court time for initial proceedings; developing procedures to ensure parents and other critical family members participate; placing expectations on all parties that they be ready to discuss case specifics in detail from the outset; and ensuring the court takes sufficient time at initial proceedings to develop detailed orders. The Interim Report includes an overview of the model court case processing system; an examination of the impact of the model court in Pima County; an analysis of model court data; a review of the time allocation estimates for caseworkers and prosecutors; and overall project findings and recommendations. Foster care review board statistics, a detailed glossary of terms and definitions, model court project data collection instruments, a listing of tasks association with model and non-model court hearings, and foster care review board demographics are also provided. Arizona Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Pilot Projects and Model Courts Evaluation Evaluation: Pilot Projects Statewide Standards and Training Guidelines for Attorneys in Dependency Cases, , 2001 3 pgs. Available Now - Adobe PDF 79KB AZ-01-01 This outline lists and briefly describes the statewide standards for attorneys in dependency cases. It also details the training curriculum for attorneys appointed in dependency case proceedings and briefly discusses compensation. Arizona Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Training and Education Training and Education: Attorney/GAL Programs Arizona Supreme Court Administrative Office of the Courts, Dependent Children's Services Division, Dually Involved Youth On-Site Technical Assistance Report, National Center for Juvenile Justice, 2002 34 pgs. Available Now -- 148 KB Adobe AZ-02-03 The report summarizes the National Center for Juvenile Justice's findings regarding dually involved children in Arizona, i.e., those with both dependency and delinquency issues. In its review of two counties, the NCJJ found a substantial number of dually involved cases taking different routes into the court system. The NCJJ analyzed the data, recommended that Arizona undertake further study of the issue, and provided specific recommendations for follow-up action. Arizona Evaluation Evaluation: General New/Innovative Projects Arizona Dual Jurisdiction Study: Final Report, National Center for Juvenile Justice, 2004 http://www.supreme.state.az.us/dcsd/docs/azdual_juri.pdf AZ-04-01 The National Center for Juvenile Justice (NCJJ) conducted a study of dually involved (dependent/delinquent) youth based on earlier findings suggesting a high rate of prior delinquency and/or status offense histories among dependent youth. Using data from the state’s online tracking system, case reviews, and interviews, the NCJJ summarized findings and made 25 recommendations to improve outcomes in dual jurisdiction cases. Arizona Evaluation Evaluation: General New/Innovative Projects Statewide Standards and Training Guidelines for Attorneys in Dependency Cases, , 2001 3 pgs. Available Now - Adobe PDF 79KB AZ-01-01 This outline lists and briefly describes the statewide standards for attorneys in dependency cases. It also details the training curriculum for attorneys appointed in dependency case proceedings and briefly discusses compensation. Arizona Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Training and Education Training and Education: Attorney/GAL Programs Arkansas To Table of Contents The Children Are Why We're Here, University of Arkansas Little Rock Law School Dependency Mediation Program., Video 10:40 AR-VIDEO-1 Order from University of Little Rock. Contact Jerre Jones at (501) 324-9442 or Arkansas Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Alternative Dispute Resolution Evaluability Assessment Site Visit Summary (Draft), James Bell Associates, 2002 32 pgs. Available Now -- 196 KB Word AR-02-01 This draft report by James Bell Associates, the Children's Bureau contractor, is the result of a five-day visit to review various CIP reforms, particularly attorney ad litem representation for children and representation for indigent parents. The draft report concludes that an evaluation of AAL representation would be most feasible through a 'quasi-experimental design' that reviews pre- and post-program implementation outcomes for children. Regarding representation for indigent parents, Bell Associates recommended a process evaluation to determine whether an outcome evaluation is feasible. A detailed scheme for these evaluations is included in the report. Arkansas Evaluation Evaluation: General Dependency-Neglect Hearings, Connie Hickman Tanner, Director of Juvenile Division Courts, Administrative Office of the Courts, 2003 104 pgs AR-03-01 This booklet provides detailed legal and practical information regarding dependency-neglect hearings. Included in the booklet are the standards for attorneys ad litem and indigent counsel appointments in dependency-neglect cases, the statutory provisions governing various hearings type, and detailed checklists for each hearing type. Arkansas Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Attorney Ad Litem Resource Manual, Division of Dependency-Neglect Representation, The Administrative Office of the Courts, 2003 968 pgs. AR-03-02 The most updated version of this Resource Manual includes a case flowchart, timelines, and information about each type of hearing, as well as sections describing major federal legislation, mandated reporters, parent issues, sibling issues, case plans, and common causes of, or contributors to, abuse and neglect. The appendix includes information regarding services and resources available to families, case law updates, and directories. Arkansas Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Attorney Ad Litem Resource Manual, The Administrative Office of the Courts, Division of Dependency and Neglect Representation, 1999 327 pgs. AR-99-01 This manual, a general resource guide for attorneys representing children in dependency-neglect cases, provides information regarding qualifications and standards for representing children; court history and a procedural overview; an extensive outline of relevant statutory and case law; hearing checklists; child development; evidentiary issues; CASA; DCFS personnel; rights of putative fathers; and ICWA. Arkansas Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Training and Education Training and Education: Attorney/GAL Programs Attorney Ad Litem Program Survey, Teri M. Hays, Attorney Ad Litem Coordinator, Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts, 2004 AR-04-01 The Arkansas Attorney Ad Litem (AAL) Coordinator developed an AAL Program Survey to measure compliance with the AAL standards of representation. The survey is distributed to the judges, other attorneys with whom the attorney practices, caseworkers, and CASAs involved in the case. In addition, each attorney completes a self survey. Arkansas Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Attorney Ad Litem Comparison with State Averages, Teri M. Hays, Attorney Ad Litem Coordinator, Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts, 2004 AR-04-02 The AAL Coordinator compiled statewide averages for attorneys based on the standards of representation. Attorneys who fall below the standard are subject to site visits, which include court observations, file reviews, and interviews with judges, caseworkers, and attorneys. Arkansas Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Attorney Ad Litem Legal File Review/Office Visit Interview, Teri M. Hays, Attorney Ad Litem Coordinator, Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts, 2004 AR-04-03 The AAL Legal File Review and Office Visit Interview instruments were developed for use during site visits when attorneys have fallen below the standards of representation. Arkansas Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Attorney Ad Litem Resource Manual, The Administrative Office of the Courts, Division of Dependency and Neglect Representation, 1999 327 pgs. AR-99-01 This manual, a general resource guide for attorneys representing children in dependency-neglect cases, provides information regarding qualifications and standards for representing children; court history and a procedural overview; an extensive outline of relevant statutory and case law; hearing checklists; child development; evidentiary issues; CASA; DCFS personnel; rights of putative fathers; and ICWA. Arkansas Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Training and Education Training and Education: Attorney/GAL Programs Arkansas Attorney Ad Litem Dependency Program in Dependency Neglect Proceedings, Prepared by Connie Hickman Tanner and Jewell "Cricket" Harper, 1999 33 pgs. AR-99-02 This packet contains information regarding Arkansas Ad Litem qualifications and standards for representing children in dependency neglect cases, as well as information about other states with similar guidelines. Sample agreement for service providers' contract, data collection information, including forms used for collection, are provided. Arkansas Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Trainer Guide Final Federal Regulations Title IV-E Title IV-B MEPA, The Administrative Office of the Courts, CASA, DCFS, The Arkansas Commission on Child Abuse Rape and Domestic Violence, August 2000 92 pgs. AR-00-01 These training materials are designed to integrate federal regulations (IV-B, IV-E, and MEPA) into best practice in child welfare for Arkansas attorneys. The materials are designed to assist a trainer with presenting the materials, identifying training objectives, and providing interactive case scenarios and exercises. Arkansas Training and Education Training and Education: Attorney/GAL Programs Attorney Ad Litem Resource Manual, The Administrative Office of the Courts, Division of Dependency and Neglect Representation, 1999 327 pgs. AR-99-01 This manual, a general resource guide for attorneys representing children in dependency-neglect cases, provides information regarding qualifications and standards for representing children; court history and a procedural overview; an extensive outline of relevant statutory and case law; hearing checklists; child development; evidentiary issues; CASA; DCFS personnel; rights of putative fathers; and ICWA. Arkansas Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Training and Education Training and Education: Attorney/GAL Programs The Children Are Why We're Here, University of Arkansas Little Rock Law School Dependency Mediation Program., Video 10:40 AR-VIDEO-1 Order from University of Little Rock. Contact Jerre Jones at (501) 324-9442 or Arkansas Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Alternative Dispute Resolution California To Table of Contents Court-Based Juvenile Dependency Mediation in California, California Center for Families, Children & the Courts, March 2003 online at www.courtinfo.ca.gov/programs/cfcc/pdfiles/resupDiffCases99.pdf CA-03-01 The research unit of the California Center for Families, Children & the Courts (CFCC) completed a study of dependency mediation programs existing between July 2001 and December 2001. Nineteen jurisdictions completed surveys in early 2002. The survey considered many different aspects of alternative dispute resolution, including how cases were referred, who participated, session formats, challenges presented, and future directions. Results indicated that, while differences existed in program operations, outcomes included high rates of agreement, high rates of relative placement, fewer contested review hearings, and high rates of parent satisfaction. The study also recommended a quantitative statewide evaluation of juvenile dependency mediation, which is currently on CFCC's juvenile research agenda. California Alternative Dispute Resolution Evaluation Evaluation: General Making the Court System Work Better for Children: 25 Things Your Court Can Do, Judicial Council of California Administrative Office of the Courts, January 2001 Available Now - Adobe PDF 558KB CA-01-04 This guide focuses on topics such as Adoption Saturday, children's waiting rooms, children caring for animals, Comfort for Court Kids Inc., Court Appointed Special Advocates, daycare facilities, educational programs for children, employing at risk youths, family conferences, foster youth services, Victim Advocate Services, and mediation. California Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Community Collaboration CWS Redesign: The Future of California's Child Welfare Services, Child Welfare Services Stakeholders Group, September 2003 Available online at http://www.cwsredesign.ca.gov/ CA-03-07 The Director of the state Department of Social Services convened the Stakeholders Group at the request of the Governor to consider a redesign of child welfare services in California. This report contains the findings and recommendations of the Child Welfare Services Stakeholders Group, including numerous redesign objectives. California Community Collaboration All County Letter, California Department of Social Services, February 3, 2004 Available online at http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/getinfo/acl04/pdf/04-05.pdf CA-04-01 The California Department of Social Services issued this letter to provide detailed instructions to local child welfare agencies about how to implement the Outcomes and Accountability System. This System is part of the ongoing state Outcomes and Accountability Review of child welfare services designed to parallel the federal process and ensure California makes consistent progress toward meeting federal outcomes and systemic goals. California Community Collaboration Subordinate Judicial Officers: Duties and Titles, Subordinate Judicial Officer Working Group, Judicial Council of California, July 2002 online at www.courtinfo.ca.gov/reference/documents/sjowgfinal.pdf CA-02-03 In July 2002, the Subordinate Judicial Officer Working Group of the Judicial Council of California issued its report on the role of subordinate judicial officers in juvenile cases. Finding very few subordinate judicial duties in juvenile cases, the Working Group recommended that all judicial duties in abuse and neglect cases be deemed duties for judges. The report recognized that the long-term movement of caseloads away from subordinate judicial officers to judges requires careful planning to ensure that juvenile courts are not destabilized or underserved in the short term. The report also acknowledges that there are obstacles to overcome in attracting and retaining judges in family and juvenile courts. California Quality and Professionalism of the Judiciary Quality and Professionalism of the Judiciary: Other Initiatives Court Staffing Court Staffing: Additional Judges and Judicial Officers Caregivers and the Courts: Improving Court Decisions Affecting Children in Foster Care (Executive Summary), Center for Families Children and the Courts, 2001 Online at http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/programs/cfcc/pdffiles/CaregiverES.pdf CA-01-02 The study examines how training in the dependency court process affects caregivers' knowledge and attitudes about participating in court hearings and the likelihood that they will participate. The study also begins to explore, in a qualitative way, what factors determine how information from caregivers is, or could be, used in decision making, and what effects might caregiver participation have on the well being of children in care. Findings include results from caregiver focus groups and case studies, as well as social worker and attorney focus groups, and judicial officer interviews. The conclusion and recommendations include a question and answer. California Evaluation Evaluation: General Caregivers and the Courts: Improving Court Decisions Affecting Children in Foster Care (Complete Report), Center for Families Children and the Courts, January 2002 Online at http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/programs/cfcc/pdffiles/Caregivers&CourtsFull.pdf CA-02-01 This complete report, which includes the Executive Summary, contains a comprehensive review of the legal requirements of ASFA and California statutory law. A literature review on foster parent recruitment and retention includes the Anne E. Casey Foundations 2001 reports and other studies on court/caregiver interaction. Complete research methods described. Findings discuss issues of caregiver training; caregivers' knowledge and retention of knowledge of the court process; caregivers' attitudes; caregiver focus groups; and eight detailed "Caregiver Case Studies" covering various topics. Information is also included from social worker and attorney focus groups and judicial officer interviews. The study includes an extensive conclusion and detailed recommendations as well as references. California Evaluation Evaluation: General Court-Based Juvenile Dependency Mediation in California, California Center for Families, Children & the Courts, March 2003 online at www.courtinfo.ca.gov/programs/cfcc/pdfiles/resupDiffCases99.pdf CA-03-01 The research unit of the California Center for Families, Children & the Courts (CFCC) completed a study of dependency mediation programs existing between July 2001 and December 2001. Nineteen jurisdictions completed surveys in early 2002. The survey considered many different aspects of alternative dispute resolution, including how cases were referred, who participated, session formats, challenges presented, and future directions. Results indicated that, while differences existed in program operations, outcomes included high rates of agreement, high rates of relative placement, fewer contested review hearings, and high rates of parent satisfaction. The study also recommended a quantitative statewide evaluation of juvenile dependency mediation, which is currently on CFCC's juvenile research agenda. California Alternative Dispute Resolution Evaluation Evaluation: General A Report to the California Legislature - Family Law Information Centers: An Evaluation of Three Pilot Programs, Center for Families, Children & the Courts, Judicial Council of California, Administrative Office of the Courts, March 2003 139 pgs. CA-03-04 The Center for Families, Children & the Courts piloted three Family Law Information Centers that provide information on juvenile dependency issues, as well as a variety of other family law issues. The Centers provide resources and referrals to parents, defacto parents, and other interested persons to help them understand the juvenile dependency process. The Centers also work in coordination with other agencies to help parents obtain temporary restraining orders, guardianships, or other civil remedies to protect children without the need for juvenile court intervention. According to the evaluation results, customers and judicial officers expressed a high degree of satisfaction with the services provided. Based upon the evaluation, the Judicial Council of California directed staff to develop a budget request for statewide funding of these Centers. California Evaluation Evaluation: Pilot Projects California Juvenile Dependency Court Improvement Program Reassessment, Judicial Council of California, Administrative Office of the Courts, California Center for Families, Children & the Courts, 2005 82 CA-05-05 This report is the final reassessment report for the California Court Improvement Project. The report can be viewed at http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/programs/cfcc/pdffiles/CIPReassessmentReport.pdf.  California Evaluation Evaluation: General Judicial Officers in Juvenile Dependency Research Update, Judicial Council of California, Administrative Office of the Courts, Center on Children, Families & the Courts, 2006 4 pgs. CA-06-02 This update provides data on training, experience, and caseloads of judicial officers in dependency. The data is based on the results of a survey of judicial officers with regular assignments in Juvenile Court. The update is available at http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/programs/cfcc/pdffiles/Delinq-ResUpdJO2006.pdf. California Evaluation Evaluation: General Caregivers and the Courts -- A Primer on the Juvenile Dependency Proceedings for California Foster Parents and Relative Caregivers, Judicial Council of California, October 2000 Online at http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/programs/cfcc/pdffiles/caregive.pdf CA-00-05 This manual provides general information about the court process and includes some specific suggestions on how foster parents and relative caregivers can participate. This manual includes information about: how a case gets to court; initial hearing; jurisdiction hearing; testifying in court; local court culture; disposition hearing; six-month review hearing; permanency hearing; de facto parent status; written reports or court attendance; selection and implementation hearing; post-permanency review hearings; and "how you can participate in court hearings." California Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Proveedores de Cuidado y las Cortes -- Un Manual de los Procedimientos de la Dependencia Juvenil Para los Padres de Crianza y Guardianes de California, Judicial Council of California, octubre 2000 http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/programs/cfcc/pdffiles/caregiverssp.pdf CA-00-06 Este manual provee informacion general acerca del proceso de la corte y tambien, algunas sugerencicias espicificas de como puede los guardianes participaren el proceso. Este manual provee informacion acerca de: como llegan los casos a la corte; audiencia inicial; audiencia juridica; testificando en la corte; cultura de la corte local; audiencia de disposicion; examen de 6 meses de la audienca; audiencia de permanencia; estados de padre de facto; reportes escritos o asistencia a la corte; audiencia de seleccion e implementacion; revision de audiencias de permanencia posterior; y "como puede usted participar en las audiencias de al corte." California Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Juvenile Court Administrative Deskbook, Center for Families, Children & the Courts, Judicial Council of California, Administrative Office of the Courts, 2003 275 pgs. CA-03-03 The Deskbook is designed to provide the newly assigned judicial officer with an introduction to the complex juvenile dependency and delinquency systems. It also serves as an ongoing resource for experienced judicial officers. Chapters cover the various relevant agencies, financial management and fiscal responsibilities, legal representation of parties, Indian tribes, and the educational needs of children. California Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Journal of the Center for Families, Children & the Courts, Volume 4,, Judicial Council of California, Administrative Office of the Courts, 2003 191 pgs. also available online at http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/programs/cfcc CA-03-08 The fourth volume of the Journal covers a wide variety of issues, including disestablishment suits, parents with disabilities, intervention with high-conflict families, prenatal alcohol damage, and Family Group Conferencing in the Manhattan Family Treatment Court. California Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Guide to the Juvenile Justice System for Juvenile Court Professionals, Judicial Council of California, Administrative Office of the Courts, Center for Families, Children and the Courts, 2004 87 pages CA-04-03 The Center for Families, Children and the Courts designed this Guide to serve as “an introduction to the complex juvenile justice system for recently assigned court professionals and as an on-going resource for those with experience in the area.” Areas addressed in the Guide include the juvenile justice system, agencies, legal representation of parties, Indian tribes, and meeting the educational needs of children. The Guide also contains a dependency glossary. California Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Journal of the Center for Families, Children & the Courts: Volume 6, California Center for Families, Children & the Courts, 2005 190 pgs. CA-05-03 This volume of the Journal presents two main categories of focus: courts responding to domestic violence and parentage issues challenging the California Judicial System. The Journal can be found at http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/programs/cfcc/pdffiles/CFCC_Journal6_pdf. California Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks California Juvenile Statistical Abstract (CJSA), Judicial California of California, Administrative Office of the Courts, California Center for Families, Children & the Courts, 2005 0 CA-05-04 The CJSA is a compilation of statewide data about children and families involved in the courts and with related institutions.  The CJSA reproduces, as available each year, existing published resources and disseminates unpublished data from the Administrative Office of the Courts and other organizations. California Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Title IV-E Findings and Legal Citations, Judicial Review and Technical Assistance Project, 2007 2 pgs. Available online at http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/programs/cfcc/pdffiles/JRTA-IVEFindings101607.pdf. CA-07-02 This two-page summary addresses legal citations for detention/removal hearings, case review/status review hearings, and permanency plan hearings in the dependency and delinquency context. In addition, it includes recommended Title IV-E findings to ensure compliance and reimbursement. California Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Dependency Quick Guide: A Dogbook for Attorneys Representing Children and Parents, Administrative Office of the Courts, Center for Families, Children and the Courts, 2007 443 pgs. Available online at http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/programs/cfcc/pdffiles/DQG070922pressCH.pdf. CA-07-03 The Dependency Quick Guide was developed by DRAFT to assist attorneys during hearings and trials. The guide provides quick access to cases, arguments, and other necessary tools. California Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Interim Report: The Caseload Study for Court-Appointed Dependency Counsel, Center for Families, Children & the Courts, Judicial Council of California, Administrative Office of the Courts, November 2003 106 pgs. CA-03-02 The Center for Families, Children & the Courts contracted with the American Humane Association to conduct a comprehensive study of court-appointed counsel for children and parents aimed at producing a maximum caseload guideline based on specific performance standards. The Interim Report contains preliminary results of the study. The recommended caseload standard is approximately 140 clients per full-time equivalent appointed counsel; the parallel current statewide average is approximately 273. California Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Court-Appointed Counsel: Caseload Standards, Service Delivery Models, and Contract Administration, Judicial Council of California, Administrative Office of the Courts, Center for Families, Children and the Courts, June 2004 134 pages CA-04-02 The Administrative Office of the Courts contracted with the American Humane Association to conduct a comprehensive study of court-appointed counsel for children and parents aimed at producing a maximum caseload guideline based on specific performance standards. The final report was submitted to the California Judicial Council in June 2004. Based on the study results, which are detailed in this report, the evaluators recommended a maximum caseload of 141 cases per full-time dependency attorney. California Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Update on the DRAFT Program, Judicial Council of California, Administrative Office of the Courts, Center for Families, Children and the Courts, 2004 19 pages CA-05-01 This memorandum, with accompanying materials, provides an update on the Dependency Representation: Administration, Funding and Training (DRAFT) Program. The DRAFT Program involves a direct contractual relationship between the Administrative Office of Courts and court-appointed attorneys in ten participating court systems. The DRAFT Program is designed to evaluate the efficacy of caseload standards, develop and implement uniform performance and compensation standards for court-appointed counsel in participating courts, and increase and enhance training and oversight of dependency counsel providers. Accompanying materials include practice guidelines, proposed dependency case information forms, proposed expense reimbursement requests, proposed conflicts of interest rule, and proposed cost recovery model. California Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Juvenile Court Procedures Court Clerk Training Institute, Administrative Office of the Courts, California Center for Judicial Education and Research, Judicial Administration Institute of California, 2000 212 pgs. CA-00-02 This training manual for court clerks reviews juvenile court procedures, specifically outlining delinquency and dependency proceedings, as well as other juvenile proceedings. The manual includes examples for a variety of juvenile court petitions and orders. California Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders: Forms and Orders Training and Education Training and Education: Other Training California Juvenile Forms (JV 405-446), Judicial Review and Technical Assistance (JRTA)Project, 2006 0 CA-06-01 The Judicial Review and Assistance Project staff drafted new findings and order forms to be used for each dependency and delinquency case type. These forms were designed to improve standardization across the state. The forms are available online at http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/forms.cgi. California Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders: Forms and Orders California Juvenile Form (JV-224), Judicial Council of California, 2007 1 pg. CA-07-01 This form provides consistent procedures for judges to ensure that all necessary steps have been taken for a child to quality for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status and thus obtain their green card.  The form is available at http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/forms/documents/jv224.pdf.  California Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders: Forms and Orders Subordinate Judicial Officers: Duties and Titles, Subordinate Judicial Officer Working Group, Judicial Council of California, July 2002 online at www.courtinfo.ca.gov/reference/documents/sjowgfinal.pdf CA-02-03 In July 2002, the Subordinate Judicial Officer Working Group of the Judicial Council of California issued its report on the role of subordinate judicial officers in juvenile cases. Finding very few subordinate judicial duties in juvenile cases, the Working Group recommended that all judicial duties in abuse and neglect cases be deemed duties for judges. The report recognized that the long-term movement of caseloads away from subordinate judicial officers to judges requires careful planning to ensure that juvenile courts are not destabilized or underserved in the short term. The report also acknowledges that there are obstacles to overcome in attracting and retaining judges in family and juvenile courts. California Quality and Professionalism of the Judiciary Quality and Professionalism of the Judiciary: Other Initiatives Court Staffing Court Staffing: Additional Judges and Judicial Officers Juvenile County Court of San Diego -- The Dependency Recovery Project, Project Summary and Current Highlights, Milliken, James R., Presiding Judge Superior Court of San Diego, 1999 6 pgs. CA-99-03 This report outlines the eight major reform measures proposed to improve the dependency court in San Diego County, related to issues of substance abusing parents. The reforms are focused on compliance with statutory timelines for decision making in all dependency cases, by the implementation of immediate treatment for substance abusing parents, and a drug court, among other reforms. The report highlights the success of the project and future goals. California Timeliness of Decisions Timeliness of Decisions: Other Initiatives Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Other Initiatives Juvenile Court Procedures Court Clerk Training Institute, Administrative Office of the Courts, California Center for Judicial Education and Research, Judicial Administration Institute of California, 2000 212 pgs. CA-00-02 This training manual for court clerks reviews juvenile court procedures, specifically outlining delinquency and dependency proceedings, as well as other juvenile proceedings. The manual includes examples for a variety of juvenile court petitions and orders. California Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders: Forms and Orders Training and Education Training and Education: Other Training Beyond the Bench XII -- Conference Materials, , December 2000 550 pgs. CA-00-04 This manual created for the Judicial Council of California provides information for judges and attorneys involved in a dependency case. Topics covered include: properly questioning children; advocating services for infants and toddlers; improving juvenile drug courts; Uniform Parentage Act of 2000; Sections from California's Welfare and Institutions Code; National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges' Executive Summary of Domestic Violence and Child Maltreatment Cases; Cutting Edge Juvenile Drug Court Practices; Immigration Relief for Abused Children; Working with batterers; Domestic Violence and Children's Mental Health; Chart of Application of Title IV-E in California Dependency and Delinquency Cases; Information about California's Foster Care Ombudsman. California Training and Education Training and Education: Judicial Training Training and Education: Attorney/GAL Programs Training and Education: Training Materials and Benchbooks Stories from California's Juvenile Court 2003, Center for Families, Children & the Courts, Judicial Council of California, Administrative Office of the Courts, (Contact www.courtinfo.ca.gov/programs/cfcc/ for ordering information) CA-03-05 The Center for Families, Children & the Courts spent more than a year recording stories and oral histories of the Juvenile Court, which were edited and compiled into this 100th Anniversary CD. California Training and Education Training and Education: Multidisciplinary Training Can You Hear Me? A Collection of Poetry by Youth in California's Court System, Center for Families, Children & the Courts, Judicial Council of California, Administrative Office of the Courts, 2003 29 pgs. CA-03-06 The Center for Families, Children & the Courts sponsored a children's art and poetry contest to mark the 100th anniversary of the Juvenile Court. Some of the submitted poems are compiled in this publication. California Training and Education Training and Education: Multidisciplinary Training Engaging Communities: Beyond the Bench XV, Judicial Council of California, Administrative Office of the Courts, Center for Families, Children and the Courts, December 2004 23 pages CA-04-04 This pamphlet contains the detailed agenda of the Beyond the Bench XV Juvenile Delinquency and Dependency Conference. The Conference included for the first time a session specifically for youth involved in the juvenile courts and a training session for attorneys on basic dependency law. California Training and Education Training and Education: Multidisciplinary Training Planning for Permanency Resource Binder, Judicial Review and Technical Assistance (JRTA) Permanency Project, 2005 0 CA-05-02 The Planning for Permanency Resource Binder contains extensive information used by the JRTA Permanency Project in its training. The permanency trainings emphasize a more inclusive definition of permanency, i.e., focusing on relationships with relatives and other individuals who are important to children. The trainings also emphasize that permanency must be pursued from the start of the case and include concurrent planning. The Binder contains sections on statistics, parentage, engaging children in decision making, sibling information and research, alternative dispute resolution, concurrent planning, open adoption, adoption recruitment and support, and pending legislation. The Binder can be found at http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/programs/cfcc/programs/description/jrta-PermResource.htm. California Training and Education Training and Education: Multidisciplinary Training County Juvenile Court Information for Parents, West Group, 2000 6 pgs. CA-00-01 This pamphlet for parents is set up in a question and answer format and explains the rights and responsibilities of parents whose children are involved with the delinquency court. California Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Special Education Rights for Children and Families, Center for Families Children and the Courts, December 2000 On Disc CA-00-03 This pamphlet addresses commonly asked questions of parents, foster parents, guardians, and other caregivers of children, who are having trouble in school. The pamphlet briefly lists indicators that a child may be having trouble, describes the importance of identifying a child's need for special education, describes aspects of an assessment, obligations of the Local Educational Agency (LEA), defines an Individual Educational Program (IEP), discusses behavioral problems, and provides contact information for more assistance. California Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Programs Available to Parents in Correctional Facilities, , 2001 Available Now - Adobe PDF 128 CA-01-01 This chart lists: facilities; legal affairs office contact; phone/fax number; hours of operation; days and hours of visitation allowed; special times for child visitation; and available programs to inmates. California Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Guardianship Pamphlet, West, 2001 6 pgs. online: http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/forms/documents/gc205.pdf CA-01-03 This pamphlet gives basic information to individuals thinking about becoming a legal guardian of a child who has been declared a dependant of the juvenile court. This pamphlet explains how to become a guardian of these children and discusses the basic rights, duties, and obligations of a legal guardian of a dependent child. California Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Making the Court System Work Better for Children: 25 Things Your Court Can Do, Judicial Council of California Administrative Office of the Courts, January 2001 Available Now - Adobe PDF 558KB CA-01-04 This guide focuses on topics such as Adoption Saturday, children's waiting rooms, children caring for animals, Comfort for Court Kids Inc., Court Appointed Special Advocates, daycare facilities, educational programs for children, employing at risk youths, family conferences, foster youth services, Victim Advocate Services, and mediation. California Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Community Collaboration What's Happening in Court -- An Activity Book for Children Who Are Going to Court In California, Judicial Council of California, 2002 Online Interactive: http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/programs/children.htm CA-02-02 This book for children includes fun activities and useful information to help children and their families who may be in court for any reason, whether they are visitors, witnesses, or involved in a case. This book includes a board game describing different ways that people go to court; a checklist helping to answer the question, "Why am I here?"; activities to answer children's questions such as: "Who Are the People in Court?"; "How Should I Act in Court?"; "What Is Juvenile Dependency?: The book also includes information for mental health hearings, and other information on the family law court. There are sections on guardianship, adoptions, and emancipation. A section is included on special laws for children and answers to children's concerns. California Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Parenting in the Context of Domestic Violence, Center for Families, Children & the Courts, Judicial Council of California, Administrative Office of the Courts, 2003 45 pgs. also available online at http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/programs/cfcc/resources/publications CA-03-09 The Center for Families, Children & the Courts wrote this literature review, which addresses children’s exposure to domestic violence, the needs of parents and children in domestic violence events, and the resources available to assist them. California Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Other Initiatives County Juvenile Court Information for Parents (dependency), West Group, 1999 2 pgs. online at http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/forms/documents/jv050.pdf CA-99-01 This pamphlet for parents explains child abuse and neglect investigations, reasons for child removal, where a child could be placed, and how the court process is initiated. California Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Juvenile County Court of San Diego -- The Dependency Recovery Project, Project Summary and Current Highlights, Milliken, James R., Presiding Judge Superior Court of San Diego, 1999 6 pgs. CA-99-03 This report outlines the eight major reform measures proposed to improve the dependency court in San Diego County, related to issues of substance abusing parents. The reforms are focused on compliance with statutory timelines for decision making in all dependency cases, by the implementation of immediate treatment for substance abusing parents, and a drug court, among other reforms. The report highlights the success of the project and future goals. California Timeliness of Decisions Timeliness of Decisions: Other Initiatives Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Other Initiatives What's Happening in Court -- An Activity Book for Children Who Are Going to Court In California, Judicial Council of California, 1999 44 pgs. online: http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/programs/cab.htm CA-99-04a This book for children includes fun activities and useful information to help children and their families who may be in court for any reason, whether they are visitors, witnesses, or involved in a case. This book includes a board game describing different ways that people go to court; a checklist helping to answer the question, "Why am I here?"; activities to answer children's questions such as: "Who Are the People in Court?"; "How Should I Act in Court?"; "What Is Juvenile Dependency?: The book also includes information for mental health hearings, and other information on the family law court. There are sections on guardianship, adoptions, and emancipation. A section is included on special laws for children and answers to children's concerns. California Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Colorado To Table of Contents Child Abuse and Neglect Cases in the Colorado Courts 1996 - 2000: A Reassessment, Daniel P. Gallagher in consultation with the Colorado Court Improvement Committee, September 2002 96 pgs. Available Now - 1.62 MB Word CO-02-01 The Colorado Court Improvement Project conducted a reassessment of the 10 counties initially assessed in 1995. The data was obtained through surveys of the major stakeholders, hearing observations, and informational queries from the Judicial Branch's data management system, ICON, to determine the courts' compliance with statutory timelines. Generally, the 10 counties have achieved major improvements in meeting statutory time frames. The report details numerous causes for the overall improvement, e.g., use of Family Court facilitators, implementation of the Expedited Permanency Planning Program, a Chief Justice directive discouraging continuances, and the creation of the Office of the Child's Representative. Colorado Evaluation Evaluation: General Minority Over Representation in Child Welfare Report, Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Child Welfare, September 2002 online at http://www.cdhs.state.co.us/cyf/cwelfare/ CW%20Web%20pages/MOR%20Report.htm CO-02-03 The Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Child Welfare, recently conducted a study of the child welfare system and the treatment of minority children. Six years of child welfare data was reviewed, which consisted of 159,911 cases opened from 1995 - 2000. The data indicated that American Indian, African American, and Hispanic children were over represented in the system; however, there was a steady reduction in the degree of disproportional representation across the years. Considerable differences in overrepresentation exist between counties and regions and between the predictors for placement and second case openings. Colorado Evaluation Evaluation: General New/Innovative Projects 9th Annual Report to the Colorado Legislature: Implementation of HB 94-1178/Expedited Permanency Planning, Carol Wahlgren, Colorado Department of Human Services, and Daniel Gallagher, Colorado Judicial Branch, 2003 35 pgs. Available Now - 1331 KB MB Word CO-03-01 The Colorado Department of Human Services, in conjunction with the Colorado Judicial Department, is charged with submitting an annual written report to the Colorado Legislature addressing progress toward statewide implementation of the Expedited Permanency Program (EPP), the effectiveness of the EPP, and an assessment of whether out-of-home placement costs have been avoided. Generally, the report indicated that children achieved permanency more quickly and hearings were conducted in a timelier manner. Since this report is the last one required by the legislation, it also contains recommendations for the future of the EPP in Colorado. Colorado Directive Concerning the Processing of Dependency and Neglect Cases: Directive 96-08, Office of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Colorado, August 1996 3 pgs. Available Now - Adobe PDF 55KB CO-96-01 This directive discusses policies adopted to improve the timeliness and quality of the courts' handling of dependency and neglect cases. The Directive specifies the responsibilities of judicial officers in managing this caseload. These policies are intended to encourage the early provision of services to children and families and reduce the times needed for courts to reach all major case events, including, as appropriate, the return home of children, approval of other permanency plans, and termination of parental rights. Elements of this Directive affect procedures of departments of social services, county attorneys, guardians ad litem, respondent parents' counsel, and service providers. Colorado Timeliness of Decisions Timeliness of Decisions: Other Initiatives Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders: Court Rules Explanation of the Elements of Chief Justice Directive 96-08 Concerning Dependency and Neglect Case Processing, Office of the Justice of the Supreme Court of Colorado, August 1996 5 pgs. Available Now - Adobe PDF 94KB CO-96-02 This chart lists each directive element from the "Directive Concerning the Processing of Dependency and Neglect Cases: Directive 96-08," and provides explanations for the directives. Colorado Timeliness of Decisions Timeliness of Decisions: Other Initiatives Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders: Court Rules Directive Concerning Permanency Planning in Dependency and Neglect Cases: Directive 98-02, Office of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Colorado, February 1998 16 pgs. Available Now - Adobe PDF 70KB CO-98-01 This directive from the chief judge of the state instructs districts to work to develop uniform procedures to ensure permanency planning and placement goals are being met. The directive includes a memorandum of procedure (MOP) that serves as a model for districts to aid in their development of local case processing procedures. Colorado Timeliness of Decisions Timeliness of Decisions: Other Initiatives Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders: Court Rules Executive Summary Chief Justice Directive 98-02, Office of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Colorado, February 1998 Available Now - Adobe PDF 127KB CO-98-02 Summary of Chief Justice Directive 98-02 requiring districts to work collaboratively with local departments of social services, county attorneys, guardians ad litem, and respondent parents' counsel to develop local policies and procedures which will focus on permanency for children within twelve (12) months of the earliest of, a judicial finding of abuse and neglect or sixty days after the child's removal from the home. The Memorandum of Procedures developed through consultation with the Court Improvement Advisory and Implementation Committees, D&N case managers, juvenile judges and magistrates, guardians ad litem, respondent parents' counsel and SCAO staff. The intent of the Memorandum of Procedures is to serve as a useful guidance to districts in developing local policies and procedures, without limiting local flexibility. Colorado Timeliness of Decisions Timeliness of Decisions: Other Initiatives Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders: Court Rules Minority Over Representation in Child Welfare Report, Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Child Welfare, September 2002 online at http://www.cdhs.state.co.us/cyf/cwelfare/ CW%20Web%20pages/MOR%20Report.htm CO-02-03 The Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Child Welfare, recently conducted a study of the child welfare system and the treatment of minority children. Six years of child welfare data was reviewed, which consisted of 159,911 cases opened from 1995 - 2000. The data indicated that American Indian, African American, and Hispanic children were over represented in the system; however, there was a steady reduction in the degree of disproportional representation across the years. Considerable differences in overrepresentation exist between counties and regions and between the predictors for placement and second case openings. Colorado Evaluation Evaluation: General New/Innovative Projects Colorado SANCA MIS Project Report, The National TA Team (Tom Clarke, Ph.D., F. Dale Kasparek, Jr., Mark Hardin, and Steve Stilwell), 2006 17 pages - 141 KB CO-06-01 The National TA Team produced this report describing the Colorado SANCA MIS Project, including project specifications and implementation.  The report also addresses recommendations for subsequent phases of the project and identifies "lessons learned." Colorado Technology: Data Collection Technology Technology: Case Tracking and Management Systems Directive Concerning the Processing of Dependency and Neglect Cases: Directive 96-08, Office of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Colorado, August 1996 3 pgs. Available Now - Adobe PDF 55KB CO-96-01 This directive discusses policies adopted to improve the timeliness and quality of the courts' handling of dependency and neglect cases. The Directive specifies the responsibilities of judicial officers in managing this caseload. These policies are intended to encourage the early provision of services to children and families and reduce the times needed for courts to reach all major case events, including, as appropriate, the return home of children, approval of other permanency plans, and termination of parental rights. Elements of this Directive affect procedures of departments of social services, county attorneys, guardians ad litem, respondent parents' counsel, and service providers. Colorado Timeliness of Decisions Timeliness of Decisions: Other Initiatives Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders: Court Rules Explanation of the Elements of Chief Justice Directive 96-08 Concerning Dependency and Neglect Case Processing, Office of the Justice of the Supreme Court of Colorado, August 1996 5 pgs. Available Now - Adobe PDF 94KB CO-96-02 This chart lists each directive element from the "Directive Concerning the Processing of Dependency and Neglect Cases: Directive 96-08," and provides explanations for the directives. Colorado Timeliness of Decisions Timeliness of Decisions: Other Initiatives Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders: Court Rules Directive Concerning Permanency Planning in Dependency and Neglect Cases: Directive 98-02, Office of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Colorado, February 1998 16 pgs. Available Now - Adobe PDF 70KB CO-98-01 This directive from the chief judge of the state instructs districts to work to develop uniform procedures to ensure permanency planning and placement goals are being met. The directive includes a memorandum of procedure (MOP) that serves as a model for districts to aid in their development of local case processing procedures. Colorado Timeliness of Decisions Timeliness of Decisions: Other Initiatives Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders: Court Rules Executive Summary Chief Justice Directive 98-02, Office of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Colorado, February 1998 Available Now - Adobe PDF 127KB CO-98-02 Summary of Chief Justice Directive 98-02 requiring districts to work collaboratively with local departments of social services, county attorneys, guardians ad litem, and respondent parents' counsel to develop local policies and procedures which will focus on permanency for children within twelve (12) months of the earliest of, a judicial finding of abuse and neglect or sixty days after the child's removal from the home. The Memorandum of Procedures developed through consultation with the Court Improvement Advisory and Implementation Committees, D&N case managers, juvenile judges and magistrates, guardians ad litem, respondent parents' counsel and SCAO staff. The intent of the Memorandum of Procedures is to serve as a useful guidance to districts in developing local policies and procedures, without limiting local flexibility. Colorado Timeliness of Decisions Timeliness of Decisions: Other Initiatives Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders: Court Rules What Happens to Me Now?,, Colorado Office of the State Court Administrator, 2004 http://www.courts.state.co.us/supct/committees/courtimprovecomm.htm CO-04-01 With grant funds from the Colorado Court Improvement Project, three levels of children’s books were completed: an activity/story book for children 3 – 6, an interactive book for children 7 – 12, and a narrative book for children over the age of 12. The books were developed with the aid of child psychologists so children understand the sometimes confusing processes associated with dependency and neglect cases. Colorado Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties A Handbook for Families in Dependency and Neglect Cases, Colorado Office of the State Court Administrator, 2004 http://www.courts.state.co.us/supct/committees/courtimprovementdocs/parentsenglish.pdf CO-04-02 With grant funds from the Colorado Court Improvement Project, this handbook was designed to assist parents and families in navigating the child welfare court process. The handbook describes the reasons to go to court, what happens in court, the parents’ rights in a dependency and neglect case, the parents’ responsibilities, types of hearings, helpful ideas, a glossary of terms, and sheets to record important information and dates. Colorado Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Connecticut To Table of Contents Questionnaire Regarding Legal Representation of Children and Parents in Juvenile Matters, Judicial Branch, December 2000 4 pgs. Available Now - Adobe PDF 81KB CT-00-01 This questionnaire, developed by the Judicial Branch, solicits the input of current and former legal professionals on: the demographics of attorneys; topic areas in continuing legal representation; considerations for quality representation; perspective on prioritization of system enhancements; and preferences among compensation modes. Connecticut Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Evaluation Evaluation: General Evaluability Assessment Site Visit Summary (Draft), Evaluability Assessment Site Visit Summary (Draft), 2002 Available Now - 219 KB Word CT-02-01 This draft report by James Bell Associates, the Children's Bureau contractor, is the result of a three-day visit to review various CIP reforms, particularly the case management protocol. The draft report concludes that a full-scale evaluation of the Connecticut project is feasible. A detailed scheme for such an evaluation is included in the report. Connecticut Evaluation Evaluation: General Questionnaire Regarding Legal Representation of Children and Parents in Juvenile Matters, Judicial Branch, December 2000 4 pgs. Available Now - Adobe PDF 81KB CT-00-01 This questionnaire, developed by the Judicial Branch, solicits the input of current and former legal professionals on: the demographics of attorneys; topic areas in continuing legal representation; considerations for quality representation; perspective on prioritization of system enhancements; and preferences among compensation modes. Connecticut Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Evaluation Evaluation: General Foster Parents and Juvenile Court, State of Connecticut Judicial Branch, 2007 13 pgs. Available online at http://www.jud.ct.gov/Publications/JM157.pdf. CT-07-01 This updated brochure addresses the role of the foster parent in court proceedings and mediation, and provides information about staff roles and responsibilites, court proceedings, and court contacts.  Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Delaware To Table of Contents Evaluability Assessment Site Visit Summary (Draft), James Bell Associates, 2002 17 pgs. Available Now - 120 KB Word DE-02-01 This draft report by James Bell Associates, the Children's Bureau contractor, is the result of a three-day visit to review various CIP reforms, including adoption of the one judge/one case rule, more frequent and better defined hearings, and representation for indigent parents. The draft report concludes that, due to multiple and simultaneous reforms underway, a process evaluation would be preferable to an outcome evaluation. A detailed scheme for such an evaluation is included in the report. Delaware Evaluation Evaluation: General Family Court Performance Standards and Measures, State Justice Institute, 2003 online at http://courts.state.de.us/family/ DE-03-01 Under the direction of Chief Judge Vincent J. Poppiti, the "Quality Counts" Leadership Committee was formed, consisting of judges, court commissioners, court managers, elected officials from the legislative branch, a representative from the executive branch, and a community representative. In March 2003, with the input of this Leadership Committee and the assistance of the State Justice Institute, the Family Court published the Family Court Performance Standards and Measures. These standards encompass five major areas: 1) access to justice; 2) expedition and timeliness; 3) equality, fairness, and integrity; 4) independence and accountability; and 5) public trust and confidence. Each category contains precise standards to guide the Family Court. The measures will eventually feed a set of "Judicial Dashboard Gauges." Baseline data for goal setting is anticipated at the end of FY04. Delaware Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Evaluation Evaluation: General Family Court Performance Standards and Measures, State Justice Institute, 2003 online at http://courts.state.de.us/family/ DE-03-01 Under the direction of Chief Judge Vincent J. Poppiti, the "Quality Counts" Leadership Committee was formed, consisting of judges, court commissioners, court managers, elected officials from the legislative branch, a representative from the executive branch, and a community representative. In March 2003, with the input of this Leadership Committee and the assistance of the State Justice Institute, the Family Court published the Family Court Performance Standards and Measures. These standards encompass five major areas: 1) access to justice; 2) expedition and timeliness; 3) equality, fairness, and integrity; 4) independence and accountability; and 5) public trust and confidence. Each category contains precise standards to guide the Family Court. The measures will eventually feed a set of "Judicial Dashboard Gauges." Baseline data for goal setting is anticipated at the end of FY04. Delaware Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Evaluation Evaluation: General Child Welfare Cases: Checklists for Hearings, Family Court of the State of Delaware, 7 pgs. Available Now DE-XX-02 This packet is a series of hearing checklists intended for judges presiding over child welfare hearings. The packet includes a checklist for: Preliminary Protective Hearings; the Adjudicatory Hearing; the Dispositional Hearing; the Review Hearing; and the Permanency Hearing. Each hearing checklist is divided into a checklist of key issues to cover during the hearing and the written findings that should be described in a report. Delaware Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Adoption Proceeding, Family Court of the State of Delaware, 3 pgs. Available Now - Adobe PDF 102KB DE-XX-01 This is a script of an adoption proceeding in the state of Delaware. Delaware Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Other Initiatives District of Columbia To Table of Contents D.C. Family Court: Progress Has Been Made in Implementing Its Transition GAO-04-234, General Accounting Office, 2004 Available online at www.gao.gov DC-04-01 As required by the Family Court Act, the General Accounting Office (GAO) evaluated the Family Court Transition Plan and issued a report in January 2004. The report found that the Family Court met the required statutory deadlines for transferring cases, decreased time frames for handling child abuse and neglect cases, and made progress in obtaining permanent space for the Family Court. The GAO also identified barriers to achieving the Family Court's goals, e.g., a shortage of substance abuse treatment services. District of Columbia Evaluation Evaluation: General Child Abuse and Neglect Attorney Practice Standards, Family Court Advisory Rules Committee, Superior Court of the District of Columbia, 2003 23 pgs. online at http://www.dccourts.gov/dccourts/docs/practice_standards.pdf DC-03-01 The District of Columbia finalized its child abuse and neglect attorney practice standards in March 2003. The practice standards address the general duties of child abuse and neglect attorneys, as well as the specific roles of the guardian ad litem, parents' counsel, and the Office of the Corporation Counsel, which represents the District of Columbia. The practice standards also address the attorney's responsibilities to the client. District of Columbia Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Report of the Family Court Panels Committee, Family Court Panel Committee, 2003 16 pgs. online at http://www.dccourts.gov/dccourts/docs/family/family_report.pdf DC-03-02 The Family Court Panel Committee was formed to create panels of attorneys for representation of children and other parties who do not have the financial means to obtain adequate representation. The Committee was charged with forming four panels: 1) attorneys in juvenile proceedings; 2) guardians ad litem; 3) special education advocates; and 4) counsel to parties in neglect and termination of parental rights proceedings. The report describes the application process, evaluation of the applicants, panel selection, and additional recommendations of the Committee. District of Columbia Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Initial Training For Abuse and Neglect Practitioners Resource Materials, Superior Court of the District of Columbia's Counsel for Child Abuse and Neglect (CCAN) Office, April 2003 696 pgs. DC-03-03 These materials were developed for the Counsel for Child Abuse and Neglect (CCAN) initial training. The materials include information about the District of Columbia's child protection laws, practice standards and ethics, neglect rules and court proceedings, relevant federal laws, special education, and CCAN office procedures. (NOTE: The materials were created by CCAN in conjunction with Lawyers for Children America, and permission to reproduce the materials is required from both entities.) District of Columbia Training and Education Training and Education: Attorney/GAL Programs Adoption Training Manual, Superior Court of the District of Columbia's Counsel for Child Abuse and Neglect (CCAN) Office, June 2003 291 pgs. DC-03-04 The manual is comprised of training materials developed for the June 2003 adoption training. Topics covered in the manual include counseling the client; adoption law and practice; adoption subsidy, scholarship, and tax credit; adoption forms; adoption and termination case law summaries; adoption statute and rules; evidentiary issues; and adoption agencies. District of Columbia Training and Education Training and Education: Attorney/GAL Programs Florida To Table of Contents Florida's Foster Care Citizen Review Programs: An Overview and Analysis of the Foster Care Citizen Review Process in the State of Florida, Office of the State Courts Administrator, Legal Affairs and Education Department, Dependency Court Improvement Program, November 1999 97 pgs. FL-99-01 This is the Dependency Court Improvement Project's final report on Florida's Foster Care Citizen Review Program, as presented to the Florida House of Representatives, Committee on Family Law and Children. It details a wide range of issues regarding the citizen review of dependency cases. Specifically, the report provides a history of foster care citizen review nationwide; details foster care citizen review board activity in selected counties in Florida; outlines the scope, methodology and model of its investigation; and discusses its quantitative and qualitative findings. Multiple charts and tables illustrate the research results. The report also presents summaries and recommendations for each of Florida's foster care citizen review programs. Research questions and forms are provides as appendices. Florida Training and Education Training and Education: Multidisciplinary Training Florida's Foster Care Citizen Review Programs: An Overview and Analysis of the Foster Care Citizen Review Process in the State of Florida, Office of the State Courts Administrator, Legal Affairs and Education Department, Dependency Court Improvement Program, November 1999 97 pgs. FL-99-01 This is the Dependency Court Improvement Project's final report on Florida's Foster Care Citizen Review Program, as presented to the Florida House of Representatives, Committee on Family Law and Children. It details a wide range of issues regarding the citizen review of dependency cases. Specifically, the report provides a history of foster care citizen review nationwide; details foster care citizen review board activity in selected counties in Florida; outlines the scope, methodology and model of its investigation; and discusses its quantitative and qualitative findings. Multiple charts and tables illustrate the research results. The report also presents summaries and recommendations for each of Florida's foster care citizen review programs. Research questions and forms are provides as appendices. Florida Evaluation Evaluation: General In Re: Steering Committee on Families and Children in the Court, Administrative Order No. AOSC02-31, Supreme Court of Florida, 2002 10 pgs. FL-02-01 This Administrative Order of the Florida Supreme Court established the Steering Committee on Families and Children in the Court. The Florida Supreme Court merged the Dependency Court Improvement Committee and the Children's Court Improvement Committee to establish the Steering Committee. This Committee is charged with supporting the implementation of a Unified Family Court in Florida through 12 court-ordered tasks. Florida Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Pilot Projects and Model Courts Sixth Judicial Circuit's Family Law Annual Report for 2002, Sixth Judicial Circuit Court, 2002 20 pgs. FL-02-02 This report outlines the progress of the Unified Family Court in the Sixth Judicial Circuit. Covering the Pasco and Pinellas courts, the report addresses jurisdiction, case coordination, administration, and education. Florida Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Pilot Projects and Model Courts Children's Court Improvement, A Workbook on Improving Our Dependency Court Communities, Office of the State Courts Administrator, 2002 53 pgs. FL-02-03 The workbook is a compilation of information received from the Dependency Court Improvement Project Liaisons in each court, statistical reports from the Florida Department of Children and Families, and data from the State Courts System. Each circuit section contains information about major accomplishments, as well as statistics addressing dependency petition filings, delinquent/dependent crossover children, and reunification. The workbook also contains a summary of the Child and Family Services Review report. Florida Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Implementation and Review Teams Florida's Family Court Tool Kit: Volume I, The Steering Committee on Families and Children in the Court, Office of the State Courts Administrator, 2003 143 pgs. online at www.flcourts.org/osca/divisions/family/toolkit.pdf FL-03-02 In conjunction with the Office of Court Improvement, the Steering Committee on Families and Children in the Court developed the Tool Kit to address how courts can implement the Unified Family Court using current resources. The Tool Kit contains specific case management techniques for dependency cases, as well as techniques for identifying crossover cases. The goals of the Tool Kit are to 1) decrease delays in case processing; 2) minimize conflicting orders; 3) decrease the number of post judgment actions; 4) minimize duplication in hearings; and 5) improve judicial decision making. Florida Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Dependency Benchbook, Office of Court Improvement, Office of the State Courts Administrator, August 2003 221 pgs. online at www.flcourts.org/osca/divisions/family/benchbook.pdf FL-03-03 The Office of Court Improvement developed the Dependency Benchbook for both new and experienced dependency judges. The Benchbook is organized into chapters for each hearing as provided by statute. It also contains a general issues section and a special section for paternity inquiries. The text boxes found throughout the book provide information on relevant case law, helpful hints provided by dependency judges, and areas where the statute may be unclear and judges may wish to consult other references. Applicable federal and case law is also included. Florida Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Dependency Benchbook, Florida Office of Court Improvement, 2005 Available online at http://www.flcourts.org/gen_public/family/bin/benchbook.pdf FL-05-01 The Office of Court Improvement updated its Dependency Benchbook in March 2005. It covers numerous topics, including ASFA; ICWA; appeals; continuances; domestic violence; infants and toddlers in the child welfare system; mediation; substance abuse; taking testimony from children; and Unified Family Courts. Florida Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Chapter 39: Florida Statutes, Florida Office of Court Improvement, July 2005 Available online at http://www.flcourts.org/gen_public/family/bin/2005Chapter39.pdf FL-05-02 The Office of Court Improvement published its annual update of Chapter 39, which covers dependency proceedings, in July 2005. It includes a summary of the 2005 legislative changes and a dependency case flowchart, as well as sections covering the following areas: general provisions; reporting child abuse; protective investigations; Family Builders Program; taking children into custody and shelter hearings; petition, arraignment, adjudication, and disposition; case plans; permanency; judicial reviews; termination of parental rights; guardians ad litem; domestic violence; and the Rules of Juvenile Procedure. Florida Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Dependency Benchbook, Florida Office of Court Improvement, 2008 321 pgs. Available online at http://www.flcourts.org/gen_public/family/publications.shtml. FL-08-01 The updated Florida benchbook contains hearing colloquies and checklists, a general issues section, a section for paternity inquiries, and a section for indepedent living/aging out.  The benchbook is designed to assist both  new and experienced judges in dependency cases.  Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks A Step-by-Step Guide to Planning Your Event: Circuit Trainings, Office of the State Courts Administrator, 2008 45 pgs. Available online at http://www.flcourts.org/gen_public/family/bin/Circuit%20Training%20Guide.pdf. FL-08-02 This guide lays out the step-by-step process for planning and holding circuit trainings, including such items as identifying the target audience, developing training topics, creating an agenda, and planning the lunch.  The guide also provides numerous sample letters and forms to help the planning process.  Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Training and Education Training and Education: Training Materials and Benchbooks Summary of the Activities of the Attorney ad Litem Pilot Project, Ninth Judicial Circuit, 1999-2000 3 pgs. FL-00-01 This paper outlines the structure for representation of children in Orange and Osceola Counties, explaining that this new pilot project's aim is to ensure that children in out-of-home care are receiving competent legal representation. This project proposes that all children will be appointed Guardians ad Litem at the time of shelter care, and that some of those children, at the judge's discretion, will be appointed an Attorney ad Litem. The role of the Guardians ad Litem is to represent the child's best interest while the role of the Attorneys ad Litem is to represent the child's wishes. The Attorney ad Litem program will be supported by three staff attorneys, who will utilize student volunteers from Barry University School of Law to provide investigation and legal research services. Florida Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Pilot Projects Attorney ad Litem Pilot Project Status Report, Ninth Judicial Circuit, 2002 43 pgs. FL-02-04 This report describes the Attorney ad Litem Pilot Project, including who serves as an attorney ad litem, how attorneys are assigned, and the continuing need for GALs. Also included are attachments and reports from the service providers: the Osceola County GAL Program, the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, and the Barry University School of Law. Florida Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Pilot Projects Florida Guardian ad Litem Program: Status Report, Office of the State Courts Administrator, 2003 10 pgs. FL-03-01 The Guardian ad Litem Program Status Report addresses the distribution of revenues and positions allocated by the Florida Legislature in 2002. The Report also discusses the Guardian ad Litem Transition Team, charged with planning for the transition of the GAL Program from the judicial branch to the Office of the State Courts Administrator. Some of the issues that will be addressed by the Transition Team include legal training, data collection, program manuals, and website development. Florida Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Legal Representation of Parties: Legislation and Court Rules Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders: State Legislation Florida Guardian ad Litem Program: Status Report, Office of the State Courts Administrator, 2003 10 pgs. FL-03-01 The Guardian ad Litem Program Status Report addresses the distribution of revenues and positions allocated by the Florida Legislature in 2002. The Report also discusses the Guardian ad Litem Transition Team, charged with planning for the transition of the GAL Program from the judicial branch to the Office of the State Courts Administrator. Some of the issues that will be addressed by the Transition Team include legal training, data collection, program manuals, and website development. Florida Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Legal Representation of Parties: Legislation and Court Rules Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders: State Legislation Order on Judicial Review and on Permanency, Information System Services, Florida Office of State Courts Administrator, 2004 11 pages - Available Now - Word 143 KB FL-04-01 The Office of the State Courts Administrator is developing a relational database system, the Judicial Case Management Information System (JCMIS), to assist dependency courts with case processing. The Order on Judicial Review and on Permanency, which is illustrative of how JCMIS works, addresses several items, including compliance issues, placement findings, case plan, permanency, visitation, and notice of next hearing. Florida Technology Technology: Computerized Scheduling and Orders Technology: Case Tracking and Management Systems Model Dependency Court Pilot Project: Status Report, Office of the State Court Administrator, January 2001 4 pgs. FL-01-01 Sections of this status report describe the development of interdisciplinary statewide training programs; a training video for protective investigators, supervisors and child protection counselors; a package of training material for GALs; revisions to existing chapters of the Florida Bar's CLE manual; as well as various other training programs undertaken in Florida between July 1998 and July 1999. Florida Training and Education Training and Education: Multidisciplinary Training A Crisis Carol, Florida Office of Court Improvement, 2004 FL-04-02 (This DVD is available by contacting Patricia Badland, Florida Office of Court Improvement at badland@flcourts.org.) The Office of Court Improvement created this video and presented it initially at the October 2004 Unified Family Court Conference. The video illustrates a family involved in dependency, domestic violence, and divorce issues to feature the use and value of the Unified Family Court model. Florida Training and Education Training and Education: Multidisciplinary Training A Step-by-Step Guide to Planning Your Event: Circuit Trainings, Office of the State Courts Administrator, 2008 45 pgs. Available online at http://www.flcourts.org/gen_public/family/bin/Circuit%20Training%20Guide.pdf. FL-08-02 This guide lays out the step-by-step process for planning and holding circuit trainings, including such items as identifying the target audience, developing training topics, creating an agenda, and planning the lunch.  The guide also provides numerous sample letters and forms to help the planning process.  Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Training and Education Training and Education: Training Materials and Benchbooks A Parent's Guide to Juvenile Dependency Court, Florida Office of the State Courts Administrator and the Supreme Court Steering Committee on Families and Children in the Court, 2006 7 pgs. FL-06-01 This guide is a 12-page overview of the dependency court process for parents, including information about mediation, hearings, and services.  The guide is available at http://www.flcourts.org/gen_public/family/bin/dependencybooklet.pdf. Florida Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties A Caregiver's Guide to Dependency Court, Florida Office of Court Improvement, 2008 12 pgs. Available online at http://www.flcourts.org/gen_public/family/bin/Web%20-%20Caregivers%20Guide%20Final%2009.pdf. FL-08-03 The Florida Office of Court Improvement updated this guide.  The new edition contains a section of "things to consider" when caregivers have older children, a case flow diagram, and updated information about their right to be notified of hearings. Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Georgia To Table of Contents Court Improvement on a Shoestring ( . . . and a heartstring), Permanency Partnership Forum, R. Michael Key, 2002 18 pgs. GA-02-02 This document is a presentation about court improvement and contains information on defining Model Courts, using stakeholder meetings to build partnerships, training, developing a CASA program, entering court orders that promote permanency and comply with ASFA, developing and implementing good case plans, goals for Georgia's model courts for 2002, general comments from Georgia's judges, and a form on important rights regarding children. Georgia Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Pilot Projects and Model Courts Training and Education Training and Education: Multidisciplinary Training Community Collaboration Six Years Later Signs of Progress: A Snapshot of Juvenile Court Performance in Child Deprivation Cases/Recommendations for Continued Improvement, Georgia Child Placement Project, 2003 online at http://www2.state.ga.us/Courts/supreme/cpp/signsofprogress04.rtf GA-03-01 During 2002, interns from the Barton Child Law and Policy Clinic and two state staff members reviewed cases and observed hearings in nine different counties to assess the impact of court improvement efforts over the past six years. This report summarizes the results of this reassessment, which generally indicated improvement in the way child deprivation cases are handled by the courts. In spite of documented improvement, the Child Placement Project made numerous recommendations for additional reforms, including use of model orders that specifically label and provide findings for permanency hearings, improved representation for parents, and continued education about the importance of meeting time frames. Georgia Timeliness of Decisions Timeliness of Decisions: Evaluation Evaluation Evaluation: General Foster Parents and the Juvenile Courts in Georgia: A Survey Assessment About the Right to Notice and Opportunity to be Heard, Barton Child Law & Policy Clinic, 2003 online at http://www.childwelfare.net/activities/research/fosterparents/ASFA4_index.html GA-03-03 From February 2002 through August 2002, two surveys were administered via the Barton Child Law and Policy Clinic website to assess issues regarding notice to foster parents. An analysis of the data indicated that there was confusion among the court professionals as to who was responsible for providing notice and how that notice was being given. The data also indicated wide support by both court professionals and foster parents for the use of standardized forms for giving notice and receiving caregiver information. The report included several recommendations for improved notice to foster parents. Georgia Notice to and Participation of Parties Notice to and Participation of Parties: Notice Evaluation Evaluation: General A Snapshot of Juvenile Court Performance in Child Deprivation Cases, The Supreme Court of Georgia, Administrative Office of the Courts, Georgia Child Placement Project, Court Improvement Initiative, 2005 http://www.georgiacourts.org/agencies/cpp/pdf/2004SummerAssessmentReview.pdf GA-05-01 The Child Placement Project (CPP), with the support of the Barton Child Law and Policy Clinic, conducted case reviews and observations in different counties during the summer of 2004. In addition, some courts did “self reviews,” i.e., reviewed 10 cases that were at least one year old and chosen at random by the CPP. The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges analyzed the data and produced the final report. Georgia Timeliness of Decisions Timeliness of Decisions: Evaluation Evaluation Evaluation: General Guidelines for Georgia's Attorney Guardians ad Litem in Child Deprivation Cases, Georgia Supreme Court Child Placement Project, June 2000 20 pgs. Purple GA-00-01 These guidelines are designed to assist attorney GALs throughout Georgia in improving the quality of their representation in juvenile court. The guidelines focus on universal representation for children in deprivation cases, continuity of that representation throughout length of legal proceedings, and improved communications with all entities involved. Specific guidelines were created for each hearing stage of child deprivation case, as well as a GAL wish list. Georgia Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Court Improvement on a Shoestring ( . . . and a heartstring), Permanency Partnership Forum, R. Michael Key, 2002 18 pgs. GA-02-02 This document is a presentation about court improvement and contains information on defining Model Courts, using stakeholder meetings to build partnerships, training, developing a CASA program, entering court orders that promote permanency and comply with ASFA, developing and implementing good case plans, goals for Georgia's model courts for 2002, general comments from Georgia's judges, and a form on important rights regarding children. Georgia Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Pilot Projects and Model Courts Training and Education Training and Education: Multidisciplinary Training Community Collaboration Best Practices in Termination and Adoption Cases, The Georgia Model Courts Project (a project of the Georgia Council of Juvenile Court Judges), Available online at www.state.ga.us/courts/supreme/cpp/ GA-03-04 The Georgia Model Courts Project (a project of the Georgia Council of Juvenile Court Judges, operating under the guidance and direction of the Permanency Planning Committee of CJCJ and supported by staff and other funding from the Georgia Supreme Court Child Placement Project) This publication highlights information from the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Adoption Guidelines and outlines Georgia-specific best practices for termination and adoption cases. Georgia Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Annual Report: An Opportunity for Excellence through Court Improvement in Policy, Procedure and Management, The Georgia Model Courts Project (presented at the Juvenile Court Judges Spring Seminar), May 2003 Available online at www.state.ga.us/courts/supreme/cpp/ GA-03-06 This report, presented at the Juvenile Court Judges Spring Seminar in May 2003, provides detailed information regarding the Model Courts Project, including a project description, funding and budget information, and future goals. The report also provides updates on statewide activities and specific model court sites. Georgia Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Pilot Projects and Model Courts The Promise of Permanency: A Report from the Permanency Options Workgroup of the Model Courts Project, Permanency Options Workgroup of the Model Courts Project, Council of Juvenile Court Judges, and Georgia Child Placement Project, 2004 http://www.georgiacourts.org/agencies/cpp/pdf/promise.permanency.10.04.pdf GA-04-02 The Permanency Options Workgroup of the Model Courts Project issued this report in 2004. It addresses numerous permanency options; guardianships under Georgia law; another planned permanent living arrangement; considerations before moving from adoption as a preferred permanency option; and the presumptive order of preference for permanency options. Georgia Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Pilot Projects and Model Courts Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Working Together in Georgia's Juvenile Courts: A Cross Training Notebook and Reference Manual for Case Managers of the Department of Family and Children Services, Prepared for the Georgia Supreme Court Placement Project by the Child Welfare Institute, November 1997 212 pgs. GA-97-01 The manual, which is from a cross-training seminar sponsored by the Georgia Supreme Court Placement Project, seeks to strengthen a multidisciplinary approach to child abuse and neglect cases, enhance specific knowledge about court procedure, detail the roles and responsibilities of each participant in deprivation cases, and promote county/locality specific planning on how to improve court procedure in local courts. Specifically, this manual reviews the jurisdiction of the juvenile court system; the procedure for removing a child from the home; the 72-hour informal detention hearing; the filing of a deprivation petition; adjudicatory hearings; disposition; permanency planning, including judicial and citizen review; TPR; evidence; and preparing to testify in court. The manual also presents terms commonly heard in juvenile court proceedings; related resource material; and federal and state legislation, including ASFA. Georgia Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Training and Education Training and Education: CASA/Social Worker Training Training and Education: Multidisciplinary Training Working Together in Georgia's Juvenile Courts: A Cross Training Notebook and Reference Manual for Attorney and Volunteer Guardians Ad Litem and Attorneys Representing Parents, Prepared for the Georgia Supreme Court Placement Project by the Child Welfare Institute, November 1997 388 pgs. GA-97-03 The manual, which is from a cross-training seminar sponsored by the Georgia Supreme Court Placement Project, seeks to strengthen a multidisciplinary approach to child abuse and neglect cases, enhance specific knowledge about court procedure, detail the roles and responsibilities of each participant in deprivation cases, and promote county/locality specific planning on how to improve court procedure in local courts. In particular, this manual outlines reporting requirements to the court; various legitimization actions; court presentation tips; and mock hearing samples. It reviews for GALs: the roles and responsibilities of the GAL/CASA team; the jurisdiction of the juvenile court; removal procedures; the 72-hour informal detention hearings; petition filing; adjudicatory hearings; disposition; permanency planning; TPR; motions for reconsideration and appeals; and parental notification. For parents' attorneys, the manual reviews: child abuse and neglect proceedings; juvenile court participants; juvenile court procedures; juvenile court practices; and juvenile court proceedings. The manual also highlights terms commonly heard in juvenile court proceedings, related resource material; and federal and state legislation, including ASFA. Georgia Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Training and Education Training and Education: Attorney/GAL Programs Training and Education: Multidisciplinary Training Working Together in Georgia's Juvenile Courts: A Cross Training Notebook and Reference Manual for Special Assistant Attorneys General, Prepared for the Georgia Supreme Court Placement Project by the Child Welfare Institute, November 1997 217 pgs. GA-97-04 The manual, which is from a cross-training seminar sponsored by the Georgia Supreme Court Placement Project, seeks to strengthen a multidisciplinary approach to child abuse and neglect cases, enhance specific knowledge about court procedure, detail the roles and responsibilities of each participant in deprivation cases, and promote county/locality specific planning on how to improve court procedure in local courts. In particular, this manual reviews the jurisdiction of the juvenile court system; the procedure for removing a child from the home; the 72-hour informal detention hearing; the filing of a deprivation petition; adjudicatory hearings; disposition; permanency planning, including judicial and citizen review; TPR; and motions for reconsideration and appeals. The manual also presents terms commonly heard in juvenile court proceedings, related resource material; and federal and state legislation, including ASFA. Georgia Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Training and Education Training and Education: Other Training Guidelines for Georgia Courts in Child Deprivation Cases, Georgia Supreme Court Child Placement Project, 1998 16 pgs. Silver GA-98-02 This book, which reviews several aspirational guidelines developed by judges in Georgia for the handling of child deprivation cases, presents numerous suggestions regarding hearing quality and depth. In particular, the book presents specific guidelines regarding each hearing stage, including 72-hour hearings, adjudicatory hearings, and TPR hearings. It also focuses on ensuring that parents and children are represented in deprivation and TPR hearings; improving case-flow management by following timelines; and promoting the concept of One Family/One Judge. Georgia Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Aspirational Guidelines for Special Assistant Attorneys General in Child Deprivation Cases, Georgia Supreme Court Child Placement Project, August 1999 15 pgs. Gold GA-99-01 These guidelines are designed to assist Special Assistant Attorneys General throughout Georgia in improving the quality of their representation in juvenile court. The guidelines focus on improving compliance with statutory timelines and requirements, ensuring the substantive content of court orders and the case record, improving their relationship with the Department of Family and Child Services with ongoing communication and training, and improving preparation for hearings. Specific guidelines were created for each hearing stage of child deprivation cases. Georgia Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Guidelines for Georgia's Attorney Guardians ad Litem in Child Deprivation Cases, Georgia Supreme Court Child Placement Project, June 2000 20 pgs. Purple GA-00-01 These guidelines are designed to assist attorney GALs throughout Georgia in improving the quality of their representation in juvenile court. The guidelines focus on universal representation for children in deprivation cases, continuity of that representation throughout length of legal proceedings, and improved communications with all entities involved. Specific guidelines were created for each hearing stage of child deprivation case, as well as a GAL wish list. Georgia Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Office of the Child Advocate: For the Protection of Children Annual Report 2002, Office of the Child Advocate, 2002 online at www.gachildadvocate.org GA-02-01 The Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) is an independent ombudsman established to protect children's rights and monitor agencies charged with protecting children. The Annual Report summarized the activities of the OCA during 2002 and issues affecting child welfare, including the number of cases reviewed and investigated, mental health resources, placement resources, medical and dental health, attorney GALs, special assistant attorneys general, emergency shelter investigations, community education, training, forensic interviewing, the Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System, and its victim advocacy grant. Georgia Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Other Initiatives Office of the Child Advocate Annual Report 2003 - 2004, DeAlvah Hill Simms, Esq., Child Advocate, 2004 http://www.state.ga.us/gachildadvocate/pdf/2003_04_Annual_Report.pdf GA-04-03 The Office of the Child Advocate, established in 2000, is an independent ombudsman office “designed to protect the rights of children in state care and to monitor the agencies charged with protecting those children.” The Georgia Child Placement Project partners with the Office of the Child Advocate, most recently on GAL training. The annual report details the activities of the Office of the Child Advocate, including investigations, audits, advocacy, and legislation. Georgia Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Kenny A. Interim Report: Summary of Litigation and Consent Decree Requirements, William G. Jones, Accountability Agent, 2007 25 pages - 111KB (Available online at http://www.abanet.org/child/rclji/online.html, at “Other”) GA-07-01 This report summarizes the case of Kenny A., who claimed (among other things) that Fulton County did not provide adequate and effective legal counsel to the plaintiff class in deprivation and termination of parental rights proceedings. The parties entered into a Consent Decree that was approved by the presiding federal judge in May 2006. This Consent Decree requires, in part, the establishment of an independent Fulton County Child Advocate’s Office and the employment of at least twelve full-time Child Advocate Attorneys (CAAs) “…to represent children in deprivation and termination of parental rights cases,” as well as two full-time investigators and three full-time support staff. The report also summarizes other principles outlined in the Consent Decree; guidelines for Fulton County Child Advocate Attorneys; monitoring activities; administrative improvement; impediments to implementation of the Consent Decree; positive practice developments; recommendations for Fulton County, the Child Advocate’s Office and its attorneys, the child welfare agency, and the court; next steps; and the required workload study. Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Child Advocate Attorney Representation and Workload Study, Governmental Services Division, Carl Vinson Institute of Government, The University of Georgia, 2007 162 pages - 839 KB (Available online at http://www.abanet.org/child/rclji/online.html, at “Other”) GA-07-02 This workload study was required under the terms of the Consent Decree agreed upon in the case of Kenny A., a federal class action lawsuit filed in Georgia. The workload study was based on time tracking by attorneys representing children, focus group discussions with the attorneys, court observations, case file reviews, and other data. Upon final acceptance of the study by the District Court, Fulton County will be required to remain in compliance with all provisions of the Decree for a continuous 18-month period. An accountability agent will monitor compliance with the Consent Decree and issue reports at six-month intervals. Among other things, the workload study concluded that the existing Child Advocate Attorneys’ Office did not currently have the time or staff to implement the principles and guidelines for representation set forth in the Consent Decree. It recommended that, without certain specified internal reforms, caseloads should not exceed 80 cases. With internal reforms, caseloads could rise to 100 cases; with both internal and external reforms, caseloads should not exceed 120 cases. This report detailing the study includes information about methodology and highlights from the data, in addition to conclusions and recommendations. A separate Appendix is also available. Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Legal Representation of Parties Child Advocate Attorney Representation and Workload Study Appendices, Governmental Services Division, Carl Vinson Institute of Government, The University of Georgia, 2007 37 pages - 162 KB (Available online at http://www.abanet.org/child/rclji/online.html, at “Other”) GA-07-03 The Appendices accompany the Child Advocate Attorney Representation and Workload Study, discussed in GA-07-02. Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Aspirational Guidelines for Special Assistant Attorneys General in Child Deprivation Cases, Georgia Supreme Court Child Placement Project, August 1999 15 pgs. Gold GA-99-01 These guidelines are designed to assist Special Assistant Attorneys General throughout Georgia in improving the quality of their representation in juvenile court. The guidelines focus on improving compliance with statutory timelines and requirements, ensuring the substantive content of court orders and the case record, improving their relationship with the Department of Family and Child Services with ongoing communication and training, and improving preparation for hearings. Specific guidelines were created for each hearing stage of child deprivation cases. Georgia Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Georgia Foster Care Policy and Forms, Georgia Department of Human Resources, March 1999 21 pgs. GA-98-01 This package of material includes several items detailing Georgia's foster care policy, as well as various agency forms pertaining to foster care services and placement. Specifically, the packet includes a summary of long-term foster care procedures and practice issues; an agency information memorandum (ACFY-IM-88-22) regarding the requirements for "court-sanctioned" long-term foster care as a permanency plan; a selection from the Federal Register (45 CFR 1356.21(h)) regarding foster family home placement; excerpts from the state's Social Service Manual regarding eligibility for foster care services; and sample agency forms, including a foster care referral form and an interagency/interoffice update and follow-up form. The package also includes the agency's standards for child and family assessments and a 1999 legislative session social services fact sheet. Georgia Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders: Forms and Orders Foster Parents and the Juvenile Courts in Georgia: A Survey Assessment About the Right to Notice and Opportunity to be Heard, Barton Child Law & Policy Clinic, 2003 online at http://www.childwelfare.net/activities/research/fosterparents/ASFA4_index.html GA-03-03 From February 2002 through August 2002, two surveys were administered via the Barton Child Law and Policy Clinic website to assess issues regarding notice to foster parents. An analysis of the data indicated that there was confusion among the court professionals as to who was responsible for providing notice and how that notice was being given. The data also indicated wide support by both court professionals and foster parents for the use of standardized forms for giving notice and receiving caregiver information. The report included several recommendations for improved notice to foster parents. Georgia Notice to and Participation of Parties Notice to and Participation of Parties: Notice Evaluation Evaluation: General Guidelines for Implementing SB 236, SB 236 Workgroup (a project of the Georgia Model Courts Committee), 2003 Available online at www.state.ga.us/courts/supreme/cpp/ GA-03-05 Georgia passed SB 236, which specifies the requirements for notice and opportunity to be heard by foster parents and caregivers. This publication addresses the concepts of notice and opportunity to be heard, relative and other person search provisions, extended temporary custody, and changes to the termination statute. Georgia Notice to and Participation of Parties Notice to and Participation of Parties: Notice Six Years Later Signs of Progress: A Snapshot of Juvenile Court Performance in Child Deprivation Cases/Recommendations for Continued Improvement, Georgia Child Placement Project, 2003 online at http://www2.state.ga.us/Courts/supreme/cpp/signsofprogress04.rtf GA-03-01 During 2002, interns from the Barton Child Law and Policy Clinic and two state staff members reviewed cases and observed hearings in nine different counties to assess the impact of court improvement efforts over the past six years. This report summarizes the results of this reassessment, which generally indicated improvement in the way child deprivation cases are handled by the courts. In spite of documented improvement, the Child Placement Project made numerous recommendations for additional reforms, including use of model orders that specifically label and provide findings for permanency hearings, improved representation for parents, and continued education about the importance of meeting time frames. Georgia Timeliness of Decisions Timeliness of Decisions: Evaluation Evaluation Evaluation: General A Snapshot of Juvenile Court Performance in Child Deprivation Cases and Recommendations for Continued Improvement, Supreme Court of Georgia, Administrative Office of the Courts, Child Placement Project, Model Courts Project, Available online at www.state.ga.us/courts/supreme/cpp/ GA-04-01 As it did in 2002, the Child Placement Project supported a study to determine the level of improvement in the adjudication of child welfare cases. Case reviews and observations were conducted in several counties. This report summarizes the study's results and includes numerous recommendations for additional reforms, such as continued use of model orders to ensure proper findings are part of every order, implementation of best practices for foster parent notification and diligent search issues, better representation of parents, and inclusion of children in court proceedings where appropriate. Georgia Timeliness of Decisions Timeliness of Decisions: Evaluation A Snapshot of Juvenile Court Performance in Child Deprivation Cases, The Supreme Court of Georgia, Administrative Office of the Courts, Georgia Child Placement Project, Court Improvement Initiative, 2005 http://www.georgiacourts.org/agencies/cpp/pdf/2004SummerAssessmentReview.pdf GA-05-01 The Child Placement Project (CPP), with the support of the Barton Child Law and Policy Clinic, conducted case reviews and observations in different counties during the summer of 2004. In addition, some courts did “self reviews,” i.e., reviewed 10 cases that were at least one year old and chosen at random by the CPP. The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges analyzed the data and produced the final report. Georgia Timeliness of Decisions Timeliness of Decisions: Evaluation Evaluation Evaluation: General Court Improvement on a Shoestring ( . . . and a heartstring), Permanency Partnership Forum, R. Michael Key, 2002 18 pgs. GA-02-02 This document is a presentation about court improvement and contains information on defining Model Courts, using stakeholder meetings to build partnerships, training, developing a CASA program, entering court orders that promote permanency and comply with ASFA, developing and implementing good case plans, goals for Georgia's model courts for 2002, general comments from Georgia's judges, and a form on important rights regarding children. Georgia Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Pilot Projects and Model Courts Training and Education Training and Education: Multidisciplinary Training Community Collaboration Working with Child Deprivation Cases in Georgia's Juvenile Courts: A Reference Manual for Department of Family and Children Services Case Managers, The Supreme Court of Georgia, Administrative Office of the Courts, Child Placement Project, Court Improvement Initiative, 2004 http://www.childwelfare.net/resources/JuvenileCourtRefManuals/ GA-04-04 The Child Placement Project updated its reference manual for case managers. This version addresses jurisdiction, removal, hearings, permanency planning, termination of parental rights, evidence, and testifying in court. Georgia Training and Education Training and Education: Training Materials and Benchbooks Working with Child Deprivation Cases in Georgia's Juvenile Courts: A Reference Manual for Attorneys and Volunteer Guardians Ad Litem, The Supreme Court of Georgia, Administrative Office of the Courts, Child Placement Project, Court Improvement Initiative, 2004 http://www.childwelfare.net/resources/JuvenileCourtRefManuals/ GA-04-05 The Child Placement Project updated its reference manual for attorneys and volunteer guardians ad litem. This version addresses the roles and responsibilities of attorneys and GALs, jurisdiction, removal, hearings, permanency planning, termination of parental rights, and motions for reconsideration and appeals. Georgia Training and Education Training and Education: Training Materials and Benchbooks Working with Child Deprivation Cases in Georgia's Juvenile Courts: A Reference Manual for Special Assistant Attorneys General, The Supreme Court of Georgia, Administrative Office of the Courts, Child Placement Project, Court Improvement Initiative, 2004 http://www.childwelfare.net/resources/JuvenileCourtRefManuals/ GA-04-06 The Child Placement Project updated its reference manual for special assistant attorneys general. This version addresses jurisdiction, removal, hearings, permanency planning, termination of parental rights, and motions for reconsideration and appeals. Georgia Training and Education Training and Education: Training Materials and Benchbooks Working with Child Deprivation Cases in Georgia's Juvenile Courts: A Reference Manual for Attorneys Representing Parents, The Supreme Court of Georgia, Administrative Office of the Courts, Child Placement Project, Court Improvement Initiative, 2004 http://www.childwelfare.net/resources/JuvenileCourtRefManuals/ GA-04-07 The Child Placement Project updated its reference manual for attorneys representing parents. This version addresses an overview of proceedings, juvenile court participants, juvenile court procedures, and juvenile court practice and proceedings. Georgia Training and Education Training and Education: Training Materials and Benchbooks Working Together in Georgia's Juvenile Courts: A Cross Training Notebook and Reference Manual for Case Managers of the Department of Family and Children Services, Prepared for the Georgia Supreme Court Placement Project by the Child Welfare Institute, November 1997 212 pgs. GA-97-01 The manual, which is from a cross-training seminar sponsored by the Georgia Supreme Court Placement Project, seeks to strengthen a multidisciplinary approach to child abuse and neglect cases, enhance specific knowledge about court procedure, detail the roles and responsibilities of each participant in deprivation cases, and promote county/locality specific planning on how to improve court procedure in local courts. Specifically, this manual reviews the jurisdiction of the juvenile court system; the procedure for removing a child from the home; the 72-hour informal detention hearing; the filing of a deprivation petition; adjudicatory hearings; disposition; permanency planning, including judicial and citizen review; TPR; evidence; and preparing to testify in court. The manual also presents terms commonly heard in juvenile court proceedings; related resource material; and federal and state legislation, including ASFA. Georgia Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Training and Education Training and Education: CASA/Social Worker Training Training and Education: Multidisciplinary Training Working Together in Georgia's Juvenile Courts: A Cross Training Notebook and Reference Manual for Attorney and Volunteer Guardians Ad Litem and Attorneys Representing Parents, Prepared for the Georgia Supreme Court Placement Project by the Child Welfare Institute, November 1997 388 pgs. GA-97-03 The manual, which is from a cross-training seminar sponsored by the Georgia Supreme Court Placement Project, seeks to strengthen a multidisciplinary approach to child abuse and neglect cases, enhance specific knowledge about court procedure, detail the roles and responsibilities of each participant in deprivation cases, and promote county/locality specific planning on how to improve court procedure in local courts. In particular, this manual outlines reporting requirements to the court; various legitimization actions; court presentation tips; and mock hearing samples. It reviews for GALs: the roles and responsibilities of the GAL/CASA team; the jurisdiction of the juvenile court; removal procedures; the 72-hour informal detention hearings; petition filing; adjudicatory hearings; disposition; permanency planning; TPR; motions for reconsideration and appeals; and parental notification. For parents' attorneys, the manual reviews: child abuse and neglect proceedings; juvenile court participants; juvenile court procedures; juvenile court practices; and juvenile court proceedings. The manual also highlights terms commonly heard in juvenile court proceedings, related resource material; and federal and state legislation, including ASFA. Georgia Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Training and Education Training and Education: Attorney/GAL Programs Training and Education: Multidisciplinary Training Working Together in Georgia's Juvenile Courts: A Cross Training Notebook and Reference Manual for Special Assistant Attorneys General, Prepared for the Georgia Supreme Court Placement Project by the Child Welfare Institute, November 1997 217 pgs. GA-97-04 The manual, which is from a cross-training seminar sponsored by the Georgia Supreme Court Placement Project, seeks to strengthen a multidisciplinary approach to child abuse and neglect cases, enhance specific knowledge about court procedure, detail the roles and responsibilities of each participant in deprivation cases, and promote county/locality specific planning on how to improve court procedure in local courts. In particular, this manual reviews the jurisdiction of the juvenile court system; the procedure for removing a child from the home; the 72-hour informal detention hearing; the filing of a deprivation petition; adjudicatory hearings; disposition; permanency planning, including judicial and citizen review; TPR; and motions for reconsideration and appeals. The manual also presents terms commonly heard in juvenile court proceedings, related resource material; and federal and state legislation, including ASFA. Georgia Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Training and Education Training and Education: Other Training Case Plan Report, The Supreme Court of Georgia Child Placement Project, Case Plan Task Force, 13 pgs. GA-XX-01 Sections of this annual report review the development of interdisciplinary statewide training programs; a training video for protective investigators, supervisors and child protection counselors; a package of training material for GALs; revisions to existing chapters of the Florida Bar's CLE manual; as well as various other training programs undertaken in Florida between July 1998 and July 1999. Georgia Training and Education Training and Education: Multidisciplinary Training Community Supervised Visitation Centers: A Guide to Opening Your Own Center, Barton Child Law & Policy Clinic, 2003 online VisitationCenterManual2.pdf GA-03-02 At the request of the Child Placement Project and the child welfare agency, the Barton Child Law and Policy Clinic wrote a manual describing how to establish a community supervised visitation center. The manual addresses numerous issues regarding physical space and facilities, leadership, staff and volunteers, scheduling, training, security, insurance, legal issues, transportation, emergencies, and record keeping. Georgia Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Special Waiting Areas and Improved Space Community Collaboration Georgia Foster Care Policy and Forms, Georgia Department of Human Resources, March 1999 21 pgs. GA-98-01 This package of material includes several items detailing Georgia's foster care policy, as well as various agency forms pertaining to foster care services and placement. Specifically, the packet includes a summary of long-term foster care procedures and practice issues; an agency information memorandum (ACFY-IM-88-22) regarding the requirements for "court-sanctioned" long-term foster care as a permanency plan; a selection from the Federal Register (45 CFR 1356.21(h)) regarding foster family home placement; excerpts from the state's Social Service Manual regarding eligibility for foster care services; and sample agency forms, including a foster care referral form and an interagency/interoffice update and follow-up form. The package also includes the agency's standards for child and family assessments and a 1999 legislative session social services fact sheet. Georgia Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders: Forms and Orders Idaho To Table of Contents Idaho Child Protection Manual for Children in Foster Care, ed. Professor Elizabeth Barker Brandt, University of Idaho, May 2002 Available Now - Adobe PDF 5.62MB; online at http://www2.state.id.us/judicial/material.htm ID-02-01 This training manual modeled after the Resource Guidelines for Distribution to all Major Stakeholders in the Child Protection System is broken down into individual chapters that are frequently updated online. Topics include: referral and investigation, initiating a case, shelter care, the adjudicatory hearing, permanency planning, review hearings, termination of parental rights and adoption. There are separate indexes on adoption resources, putative fathers, Michigan's domestic violence materials and the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children. Idaho Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Training and Education Training and Education: Multidisciplinary Training Idaho Juvenile Rule 35, Guardian ad Litem Programs (C.P.A.), 2006 1 pg. ID-06-01 Idaho Juvenile Rule 35 provides standards for guardian ad litem programs. The Rule establishes training requirements for GALs, as well as governance and management practices. Idaho Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders: Court Rules ISTARS Performance Measures Checklist, ISTARS Child Protection Module, 2006 1 pg. ID-06-02 Pursuant to its SANCA-MIS grant, Idaho developed its Child Protection Module.  This Module includes a performance measures checklist, covering safety, permanency, due process, and timeliness.  The Module has been installed in each of the 44 Idaho counties. Idaho Technology Technology: Data Collection Technology: Case Tracking and Management Systems Idaho Child Protection Manual for Children in Foster Care, ed. Professor Elizabeth Barker Brandt, University of Idaho, May 2002 Available Now - Adobe PDF 5.62MB; online at http://www2.state.id.us/judicial/material.htm ID-02-01 This training manual modeled after the Resource Guidelines for Distribution to all Major Stakeholders in the Child Protection System is broken down into individual chapters that are frequently updated online. Topics include: referral and investigation, initiating a case, shelter care, the adjudicatory hearing, permanency planning, review hearings, termination of parental rights and adoption. There are separate indexes on adoption resources, putative fathers, Michigan's domestic violence materials and the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children. Idaho Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Training and Education Training and Education: Multidisciplinary Training Illinois To Table of Contents Evaluation of the Parent Education Program, Frank Holiwski, DePaul University, 19 pgs. Available Now - Adobe PDF 115KB IL-XX-01 This report contains the results of an evaluation of the Parent Education Program (PEP) at the Cook County Circuit Court from 1998 to 2000. The report discusses how many families the program worked with during that time frame and compares cases where parents accessed services from PEP with cases where parents had not accessed PEP services. The comparisons addressed length of case, speedy resolutions, as well as parent's knowledge of the court process and feeling about the way they were treated by court personnel. Parents with contact with PEP were questioned on their feeling about the program. Public Defenders were also questioned regarding their feelings and impressions regarding the effectiveness of the PEP program. Overall the results showed that PEP was making a significant impact and playing a vital role for parents in the court system. Illinois Evaluation Evaluation: General Indiana To Table of Contents Reassessment Final Report, Indiana Supreme Court, Indiana Court Improvement Program, 2005 76 pgs. Available online at http://www.in.gov/judiciary/cip/cip-final-rept.pdf IN-05-01 Indiana used its initial assessment as the focal point for the reassessment. The original counties were reviewed together with a random sampling of other counties. Surveys, court file reviews, and court observations were conducted. The final report contains the 1997 original recommendations, progress achieved, and additional recommendations. Evaluation Evaluation: General Innovative Practice in Child Protection Cases: Preliminary Results of an Evaluation of Indianapolis - Family Group Conference Program, Dionne Maxwell, Ph.D., Permanency Planning for Children Department, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges,, June 2003 28 pgs. Available now - 452 KB Word IN-03-01 This preliminary evaluation of the Marion County Family Group Conferencing (FGC) Pilot Project was issued in June 2003 by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. Surveys completed by family members participating in FGC indicated "uniformly high endorsement rates" across questions. Surveys completed by professional service providers also reflected high endorsement rates. Indiana Hearing Quality and Depth Evaluation: Pilot Projects Project Program Report, Kathleen F. Rusher, Assistant Chief of the CHINS Division, Division of State Court Administration, July 2003 3 pgs. Available now - 27 KB Word IN-03-02 This final report was submitted by the Allen Superior Court for its Family Group Decision Making process. Evaluations of the program by participants were mixed. Since the report was issued, the Allen Superior Court fully implemented Family Group Decision Making at the six-month review stage of a CHINS case to develop a permanency plan. Indiana Hearing Quality and Depth Evaluation: Pilot Projects Indiana Family Court Project: The First Four Years, Indiana Family Court Task Force, 2004 Available online at www.state.in.us/judiciary/programs/familycourt.html IN-04-01 The Indiana Supreme Court is sponsoring a Family Court Project, which includes implementation of a one judge/one family program. The report contains detailed information and statistics on the Family Court Project, as well as an updated statement of results and recommendations. The Supreme Court and Family Court Task Force will address the recommendations over the next two years, which includes incorporating the Family Court concept into the Indiana legal culture. Indiana Hearing Quality and Depth Evaluation: Pilot Projects Iowa To Table of Contents Evaluation Summary: Community Decision Making for Permanency, National Resource Center on Family Centered Practice and the Iowa Court Improvement Project, 2003 9 pgs. Available Now - 41.5 KB IA-03-02 This summary analyzes specific case data for 61 families representing 107 children that were offered alternative dispute resolution. Iowa Alternative Dispute Resolution Evaluation Evaluation: Pilot Projects Expedited Permanency Through Community Decision Making, National Resource Center on Family Centered Practice and the Iowa Court Improvement Project, 2003 26 pgs. Available Now - 83.0 KB IA-03-03 This draft article details the process of building a community approach to using alternative dispute resolution for expediting permanency. Iowa Alternative Dispute Resolution Evaluation Evaluation: Pilot Projects Expedited Permanency Through Community Decision-Making: Final Report, National Resource Center for Family Centered Practice, 2004 124 pages - Available Now - 3.02 MB PDF IA-04-01 The National Resource Center for Family Centered Practice and the Iowa Court Improvement Project evaluated the Mediation Pilot Project during the summer of 2004. The evaluators conducted collaboration surveys and case studies. The report contains specific findings and conclusions regarding community collaboration, consumer satisfaction, and case specific data. Iowa Alternative Dispute Resolution Evaluation Evaluation: Pilot Projects Evaluation Summary: Community Decision Making for Permanency, National Resource Center on Family Centered Practice and the Iowa Court Improvement Project, 2003 9 pgs. Available Now - 41.5 KB IA-03-02 This summary analyzes specific case data for 61 families representing 107 children that were offered alternative dispute resolution. Iowa Alternative Dispute Resolution Evaluation Evaluation: Pilot Projects Expedited Permanency Through Community Decision Making, National Resource Center on Family Centered Practice and the Iowa Court Improvement Project, 2003 26 pgs. Available Now - 83.0 KB IA-03-03 This draft article details the process of building a community approach to using alternative dispute resolution for expediting permanency. Iowa Alternative Dispute Resolution Evaluation Evaluation: Pilot Projects Expedited Permanency Through Community Decision-Making: Final Report, National Resource Center for Family Centered Practice, 2004 124 pages - Available Now - 3.02 MB PDF IA-04-01 The National Resource Center for Family Centered Practice and the Iowa Court Improvement Project evaluated the Mediation Pilot Project during the summer of 2004. The evaluators conducted collaboration surveys and case studies. The report contains specific findings and conclusions regarding community collaboration, consumer satisfaction, and case specific data. Iowa Alternative Dispute Resolution Evaluation Evaluation: Pilot Projects Children's Justice Assessment Report, Iowa Children's Justice Initiative, 2008 35 pgs. Available online at http://www.iowacourts.gov/wfdata/frame9142-1872/Statewide_Assessment_Report_Aug_08.pdf. IA-08-01 The Iowa Children's Justice Initiative reviews the child welfare practices of two counties in each of the eight judicial districts annually to assist the districts in reaching compliance with federal and state requirements. Children’s Justice staff worked with the Chief Judges and District Court administrators to select the review sites in each district. The review included interviews, data gathering, court observation, and analysis. Participants included judges, District Court administrators, clerks of court and their staff, attorneys, foster parents, CASA and FCRB, child welfare agency staff, provider agency staff, and families. The Children’s Justice Advisory Committee will use the statewide report and recommendations to assist in the development of a strategic plan and organizing new task forces. Evaluation Evaluation: General Iowa's New Appellate Procedure for Termination of Parental Rights Appeals: Court Improvement Permanency Meeting, Christine Mayberry, 2002 31 pgs. IA-02-02 This document provides information regarding Iowa's new expedited appeal procedures for termination of parental rights. This document is a compilation of various forms and articles including a prior appellate timeline, a new appellate timeline, applicable rules of appellate procedure, TPR appeal forms, frequently asked questions, do's and don'ts for attorneys, and due process issues. Iowa Timeliness of Decisions Timeliness of Decisions: Appeals All About Children Training for Judges, Iowa Judicial Branch, Iowa Court Improvement Project, 2002 144 pgs. IA-02-01 The agenda and training materials from the December 2002 training sponsored by the Iowa Court Improvement Project include information on custodial orders and children's mental health, federal compliance, and ethical issues for judges in mediation. Iowa Training and Education Training and Education: Judicial Training Training and Education: CASA/Social Worker Training Issues in Juvenile Justice: Improving Representation in Child in Need of Assistance Cases, Iowa Supreme Court Select Committee to Review State Court Practices in Child Welfare Matters, November 1999 232 pgs. IA-99-01 This packet of material was prepared for an annual conference presented for parents', children's and agency attorneys and guardians ad litem working on child in need of assistance cases in Iowa. It includes a discussion of state ethical rules as they apply to the balance between the roles of attorney and guardian ad litem; presents a flowchart and sample court documents detailing the child in need of assistance process; reviews the focus of the state's termination laws; highlight recent legislative developments affecting the juvenile court; details the protocol on reasonable efforts to maintain children in their own homes; lists local service provider agencies, as well as relevant sections of the Iowa code; and includes a summary of ASFA, Iowa's legislation to implement ASFA and an article outlining exceptions to ASFA. The ABA Standards of Practice for Lawyers Who Represent Children in Abuse and Neglect Cases are also provided. Iowa Training and Education Training and Education: Multidisciplinary Training Handbook on Juvenile Court for Parents, Iowa Court Improvement Project, 2004 Available online at www.judicial.state.ia.us/families/improvement.asp or www.middleton.drake.edu IA-04-01 The Handbook on Juvenile Court for Parents is designed to introduce parents to the juvenile court process. This handbook is a second edition, and covers such topics as the rights and responsibilities of parents, tips for testifying in court, steps in a Child-in-Need of Assistance case, and time frames for hearings. Iowa Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Un Manual Para Padres En La Corte Juvenil (Handbook on Juvenile Court for Parents), Iowa Court Improvement Committee, 2004 26 pgs. IA-05-01 This publication is the Spanish version of the Handbook on Juvenile Court for Parents [IA-04-02], written by the Iowa Court Improvement Committee. Iowa Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Treatment of Parties Kansas To Table of Contents Permanency Welfare Mediation Project, Debora M. Ortega, Ph.D., MSW, University of Kansas School of Social Welfare, 2004 52 pages KS-04-01 Sedgwick County conducted an evaluation of its juvenile mediation pilot project. The evaluation consisted of two components: a confidential questionnaire and a case record review. Generally, the questionnaire indicated that participants were highly satisfied with the process. Most cases reached some degree of agreement. The data analyzed did not indicate conclusively that mediated cases had better outcomes on the length of case opening, length of time in out-of-home care, and completion of services. Kansas Alternative Dispute Resolution Evaluation Evaluation: Pilot Projects Supreme Court Rule 902, Kansas Supreme Court, 2004 Available online at http://www.kscourts.org/ctruls/adrruls.htm#902 KS-04-02 Rule 902 is entitled Qualifications of Dispute Resolution Providers Under the Dispute Resolution Act. It was recently revised to include rules for juvenile mediators. Alternative Dispute Resolution Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders: Court Rules Evaluability Assessment Site Visit Summary (Draft), James Bell Associates, 2002 29 pgs. Available Now - 206 KB Word KS-02-01 This draft report by James Bell Associates, the Children's Bureau contractor, is the result of a site visit to review various CIP reforms, particularly the use of standardized court orders, and determine the feasibility of an evaluation. The draft report concludes that, while an outcome evaluation of the court orders is not currently feasible, a qualitative process evaluation focusing on how the orders have been implemented across the state would be advisable. Details for such an evaluation are included in the report. Kansas Evaluation Evaluation: General Permanency Welfare Mediation Project, Debora M. Ortega, Ph.D., MSW, University of Kansas School of Social Welfare, 2004 52 pages KS-04-01 Sedgwick County conducted an evaluation of its juvenile mediation pilot project. The evaluation consisted of two components: a confidential questionnaire and a case record review. Generally, the questionnaire indicated that participants were highly satisfied with the process. Most cases reached some degree of agreement. The data analyzed did not indicate conclusively that mediated cases had better outcomes on the length of case opening, length of time in out-of-home care, and completion of services. Kansas Alternative Dispute Resolution Evaluation Evaluation: Pilot Projects Impact of Court Appointed Special Advocates and Citizen Review Boards on Kansas Juvenile Courts, Prepared for the Office of Judicial Administration by Midland Professional Services, October 1997 250 pgs. KS-97-01 This report presents an in-depth analysis of the impact of CASAs and Citizen Review Boards on child-in-need-of-care (CINC) cases in the Kansas Juvenile Courts. Using data from calendar year 1994, the study consisted of site visits, interviews, surveys, and case reading protocols in eight court districts. It targeted judges, prosecutors, GALs and parents' attorneys, chief court service officers, CASAs, CRB members, and families. It presents information on the distribution of cases read by: district; the ages, gender and ethnicity of the children involved in the cases; the reasons for court involvement; the procedural issues, such as number of judges involved in each case and case timelines; the level of early intervention via GALs, CASAs or CRBs; and a comparison of the districts with and without CASAs and CRBs. In addition to presenting its findings, this report includes numerous survey forms, as well as a detailed appendix of survey protocol, response rates and aggregated results. Kansas Evaluation Evaluation: General Supreme Court Rule 902, Kansas Supreme Court, 2004 Available online at http://www.kscourts.org/ctruls/adrruls.htm#902 KS-04-02 Rule 902 is entitled Qualifications of Dispute Resolution Providers Under the Dispute Resolution Act. It was recently revised to include rules for juvenile mediators. Alternative Dispute Resolution Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders: Court Rules Kansas Supreme Court Adopted Journal Entries, , 2000 Available Now KS-FORMS01 (1) Order of Custody for a Child in Need of Care - Single, (2) Order of Custody for a Child in Need of Care-Multiple, (3) Order of Custody for a Juvenile Offender, (4) Order of Custody for a Divorce Proceeding, (5) Order of Custody for a Permanency Hearing, (6) Permanency Order for a Child in Need of Care-Single, (7) Permanency Order for a Child in Need of Care Multiple, (8) Permanency Hearing for Juvenile Offenders. Kansas Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders: Forms and Orders Kentucky To Table of Contents Kentucky Citizen Foster Care Review Boards FY 2000 Annual Report, Administrative Office of the Courts Citizen Foster Care Review Board Program, 1999-2000 114 pgs. KY-00-01 This report gives a brief historical overview of the emergence of Citizen Foster Care Review Boards in the state, and explains the purpose of the CFCRBs, which is to review child case files, examine treatment plans for functionality, and to help ensure that permanency is achieved for these children. The report explains the review process and describes the make up of the volunteers on the review boards across the state. The report contains statistics regarding the cases from each region of the state and a summary of the achievements from around the state for FY 2000. Kentucky Community Collaboration Rural Family Courts in Kentucky: Lessons Learned, Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts and State Justice Institute, 2001 198 pgs. KY-01-02 With a grant from the State Justice Institute, the Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts, Department of Family Courts, evaluated the family court model and developed a guide to assist rural courts in developing family courts. This publication provides a detailed account of the organization and development of the Family Court sites. It also contains information about pre-court implementation focus group findings, facility design, and court security, as well as suggestions for future research. Kentucky Evaluation Evaluation: General A Best Practices Model for Dependency, Abuse and Neglect Cases, Community Action Workgroup, Kentucky Court Improvement Project, Administrative Office of the Courts, 120 pgs. KY-XX-01 This model is designed to recommend best practice methods and essential elements for a variety of professionals who work in the child protection field, including: law enforcement, family service workers, county attorneys, district and family court judges, court appointed special advocates, citizen foster care review boards, guardians ad litem, parents attorneys, and mental health practitioners. The model also includes a glossary of child protection terms, sample dispositional report, and relevant portions of the Code of Judicial Conduct, Kentucky Rules of Evidence, and the Kentucky Revised Statutes. Kentucky Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties, Training and Education Louisiana To Table of Contents ASFA Compliance Assistance Materials, Judicial Administrator, October 2000 60 pgs. LA-00-01 This packet is designed to assist Judges who handle Child in Need of Care cases to understand, and help implement, the requirements under ASFA. The information also and assists courts in preparing for performance audits. The materials focus on the federal ASFA regulations. Materials also include checklists for judges for each of the different hearing types, to use to ensure all ASFA procedures are being followed. Louisiana Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Training and Education Training and Education: Judicial Training Facilitation Teams Draft Documents Tips for Success, Potential Team Members, Sample Innovation Letter, Sample Initiation Meeting Agenda, and Sample Meeting Announcement, , 2000 6 pgs. LA-00-02 This packet gives tips and suggestions for the creation of facilitation teams, a group of professionals working within the court system that convenes to discuss ways to improve outcomes for the children and create system-wide improvements. The materials give sample documents, invitation letter, agenda, and meeting reminder, as well as a suggested list of participants. Louisiana Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Implementation and Review Teams Child In Need of Care Proceedings Bench Cards for Essential Judicial Functions, Court Improvement Program Louisiana Supreme Court, January 2001 12 pgs. LA-01-01 These bench cards are designed to be a guide and a reminder of judicial actions that need to be taken in child in need of care cases. There are cards for each of the following hearings: Continued Custody Hearing, Appearance to Answer, Adjudication Hearing, Disposition Hearing, Case Review Hearing, Permanency Hearing, and Reunification Efforts Hearing. Louisiana Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Training and Education Training and Education: Judicial Training Special Rules for Child Abuse and Neglect Cases, Supreme Court of Louisiana, 2005 0 LA-05-01 The Louisiana Supreme Court adopted Rule XXXIII, Part III, which sets forth qualifications and standards for attorneys representing children in Child in Need of Care cases. These standards address the qualifications of appointed counsel, duties and obligations, investigations, requests for services, hearings, and appellate review. This Rule, as well as all Special Rules for Child Abuse and Neglect Cases, can be found at http://www.lasc.org/rules/supreme/RuleXXXIII.asp. Louisiana Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders: Court Rules Juvenile Court Monitoring Database (JCMD) 2000-DISC, Judicial Administrator of the Supreme Court of Louisiana, 2000 To order please send requests in writing to: Hugh M. Collins, Ph.D., Judicial Administrator, Louisiana Supreme Courts, 1555 Poydras Street, Suite 1540, New Orleans, LA 70112 LA-00-03b This disc contains the JCMD software program (see above). Louisiana Technology Technology: Data Collection ASFA Compliance Assistance Materials, Judicial Administrator, October 2000 60 pgs. LA-00-01 This packet is designed to assist Judges who handle Child in Need of Care cases to understand, and help implement, the requirements under ASFA. The information also and assists courts in preparing for performance audits. The materials focus on the federal ASFA regulations. Materials also include checklists for judges for each of the different hearing types, to use to ensure all ASFA procedures are being followed. Louisiana Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Training and Education Training and Education: Judicial Training Child In Need of Care Proceedings Bench Cards for Essential Judicial Functions, Court Improvement Program Louisiana Supreme Court, January 2001 12 pgs. LA-01-01 These bench cards are designed to be a guide and a reminder of judicial actions that need to be taken in child in need of care cases. There are cards for each of the following hearings: Continued Custody Hearing, Appearance to Answer, Adjudication Hearing, Disposition Hearing, Case Review Hearing, Permanency Hearing, and Reunification Efforts Hearing. Louisiana Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Training and Education Training and Education: Judicial Training Maine To Table of Contents Handbook for Guardians Ad Litem - Representing the Best Interests of Children in Child Protection Cases, prepared by Maine District Court Child Protection Advisory Committee/Wayne Doane and funded by Maine Court Improvement Project, July 2003 Available online at www.courts.state.me.us/mainecourts/familydiv/handbook_gals.html ME-03-01 This publication provides specific advice to guardians representing children in child protection cases. Topics include setting up a file, investigating, advocating, writing a report, and the guardian's roles. Maine Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Representing Parents in Child Protection Cases: A Basic Handbook for Lawyers, Maine Court Improvement Project, July 2003 Available on line at www.courts.state.me.us/mainecourts/familydiv/representing_parents.html ME-03-02 This publication is a second edition of the 1999 version. Designed as a "how-to" for attorneys representing parents, the Handbook provides guidelines for accepting cases, negotiating, preparing for hearings, and ethical issues. Maine Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Clinical Child Maltreatment Evaluation Guide,, Maine District Court Child Abuse and Neglect Evaluators Program (CANEP), 2003 11 pages ME-03-03 This document contains guidelines to assist evaluators in clinical child maltreatment assessments. The guidelines include a report outline, child assessment guidelines, parent assessment guidelines, and selected references and resources. Maine Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Pilot Projects and Model Courts New/Innovative Projects Guide to CANEP Referral Questions, Maine District Court Child Abuse and Neglect Evaluators Program (CANEP), 2004 10 pages ME-04-01 The Child Abuse and Neglect Evaluators Program developed referral questions to guide the parties in a case, including the state attorney representing the agency, parents’ attorneys, and the guardian ad litem or CASA. The guide addresses questions regarding assessments of parents or other caregivers, assessments of children, assessments of families, examples of problematic referral questions, and references and resources. Maine Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Pilot Projects and Model Courts New/Innovative Projects CANEP Handbook for Parents and Legal Guardians in Child Protection Cases, Maine District Court Child Abuse and Neglect Evaluators Program (CANEP), 2005 5 pages ME-05-01 This handbook is written to inform parents and legal guardians about CANEP. The handbook covers why an evaluation is ordered, what the evaluation entails, who conducts the evaluations, what a parent needs to do, why parents should cooperate, and other practical tips regarding the evaluation process. Maine Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Pilot Projects and Model Courts New/Innovative Projects CANEP Informational Brochure, Maine District Court Child Abuse and Neglect Evaluators Program (CANEP), 2004 2 pages ME-05-02 The CANEP Information Brochure addresses the purpose behind the program, describes what forensic child maltreatment risk assessments are, what CANEP does not evaluate, the difference between a forensic investigative assessment and a forensic child maltreatment assessment, who requests the evaluations, and procedures. Maine Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Pilot Projects and Model Courts New/Innovative Projects Actions Under the Child and Family Services and Child Protection Act (22 M.R.S.A. -- 4001 et seq.): Procedures Manual, , June 1999 85 pgs. ME-99-01 This manual outlines the actions that are required for all child protection cases in the Maine District Court. It reviews assignments to be managed by the clerk or the judge. For example, clerks are provided specific tips regarding the commencement of action, with/without requests for preliminary protection order; scheduling; motion to cease reunification; filing of petition for termination; docketing; hearing types; motions; and appeals and appeal procedures. Similarly, judges are provided specific guidance regarding requests for a preliminary order; summary preliminary hearings; case management conferences; jeopardy hearings; judicial review; permanency planning hearings; hearings on reunification; hearings on a petition for TPR; and post-termination judicial review. Numerous flow charts and sample court forms are provided. Maine Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders: Forms and Orders Case Management Procedure for Child Protection Cases, , April 1999 15 pgs. ME-99-02 This publication details new case management procedures, effective June 1, 1999, designed to ensure that the District Court honors its obligations under Maine's Child and Family Services Protection Act, 22 M.R.S.A. -- 4001 et seq. The procedures require that judges actively direct the course of child protection litigation through case management conferences, pretrial conferences, and conferences of counsel. The procedures also review steps that should be taken at various stages of the child protection litigation process, including when a petition for child protection order is filed by the Department and when case management conferences, hearings on the petition for child protection order, judicial review hearings, permanency planning hearings, or cease reunification hearings are conducted by the court. Maine Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Case Management and Planning Representing Parents in Child Protection Cases: A Basic Handbook for Lawyers, State of Maine, April 1999 28 pgs. ME-99-03 This guidebook reviews key aspects of child protection cases for attorneys representing parents in Maine. It presents an overview of the role of the Department of Human Services; relevant legal proceedings, including a petition for child protection order, a summary pleading hearing, a hearing on the petition for child protection order, judicial review of a child protection order, a permanency planning hearing, and a petition for TPR; and special considerations such as the child hearsay exception, abrogation of privileges, children in court, confidentiality, discovery, anonymity/prohibitions on disclosure, adverse inferences, reasonable efforts determinations, interviews of children by the Department, and the admissibility of mental health reports. It also provides tips on preparing and managing the case. Maine Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Training and Education Training and Education: Attorney/GAL Programs Actions Under the Child and Family Services and Child Protection Act (22 M.R.S.A. -- 4001 et seq.): Procedures Manual, , June 1999 85 pgs. ME-99-01 This manual outlines the actions that are required for all child protection cases in the Maine District Court. It reviews assignments to be managed by the clerk or the judge. For example, clerks are provided specific tips regarding the commencement of action, with/without requests for preliminary protection order; scheduling; motion to cease reunification; filing of petition for termination; docketing; hearing types; motions; and appeals and appeal procedures. Similarly, judges are provided specific guidance regarding requests for a preliminary order; summary preliminary hearings; case management conferences; jeopardy hearings; judicial review; permanency planning hearings; hearings on reunification; hearings on a petition for TPR; and post-termination judicial review. Numerous flow charts and sample court forms are provided. Maine Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders: Forms and Orders Clinical Child Maltreatment Evaluation Guide,, Maine District Court Child Abuse and Neglect Evaluators Program (CANEP), 2003 11 pages ME-03-03 This document contains guidelines to assist evaluators in clinical child maltreatment assessments. The guidelines include a report outline, child assessment guidelines, parent assessment guidelines, and selected references and resources. Maine Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Pilot Projects and Model Courts New/Innovative Projects Guide to CANEP Referral Questions, Maine District Court Child Abuse and Neglect Evaluators Program (CANEP), 2004 10 pages ME-04-01 The Child Abuse and Neglect Evaluators Program developed referral questions to guide the parties in a case, including the state attorney representing the agency, parents’ attorneys, and the guardian ad litem or CASA. The guide addresses questions regarding assessments of parents or other caregivers, assessments of children, assessments of families, examples of problematic referral questions, and references and resources. Maine Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Pilot Projects and Model Courts New/Innovative Projects CANEP Handbook for Parents and Legal Guardians in Child Protection Cases, Maine District Court Child Abuse and Neglect Evaluators Program (CANEP), 2005 5 pages ME-05-01 This handbook is written to inform parents and legal guardians about CANEP. The handbook covers why an evaluation is ordered, what the evaluation entails, who conducts the evaluations, what a parent needs to do, why parents should cooperate, and other practical tips regarding the evaluation process. Maine Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Pilot Projects and Model Courts New/Innovative Projects CANEP Informational Brochure, Maine District Court Child Abuse and Neglect Evaluators Program (CANEP), 2004 2 pages ME-05-02 The CANEP Information Brochure addresses the purpose behind the program, describes what forensic child maltreatment risk assessments are, what CANEP does not evaluate, the difference between a forensic investigative assessment and a forensic child maltreatment assessment, who requests the evaluations, and procedures. Maine Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Pilot Projects and Model Courts New/Innovative Projects Permanency Hearing Questions, Maine Court Improvement Project, 2004 2 pages ME-04-02 These questions were adapted for judges as part of training and for use in permanency hearings. The questions cover the child’s needs and circumstances, reunification, termination of parental rights and adoption, relative placement or guardianship, or another permanency plan. Maine Training and Education Training and Education: Judicial Training Representing Parents in Child Protection Cases: A Basic Handbook for Lawyers, State of Maine, April 1999 28 pgs. ME-99-03 This guidebook reviews key aspects of child protection cases for attorneys representing parents in Maine. It presents an overview of the role of the Department of Human Services; relevant legal proceedings, including a petition for child protection order, a summary pleading hearing, a hearing on the petition for child protection order, judicial review of a child protection order, a permanency planning hearing, and a petition for TPR; and special considerations such as the child hearsay exception, abrogation of privileges, children in court, confidentiality, discovery, anonymity/prohibitions on disclosure, adverse inferences, reasonable efforts determinations, interviews of children by the Department, and the admissibility of mental health reports. It also provides tips on preparing and managing the case. Maine Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Training and Education Training and Education: Attorney/GAL Programs Handbook for Parents and Legal Guardians in Child Abuse and Neglect Cases, Maine Court Improvement Project, January 2001 7 pgs. ME-01-01 This brief handbook serves as an explanation for parents involved with the child protection system. The book explains the purpose of the court proceedings, how a case comes to court, assignment of attorneys to represent parents and legal guardians, and the role of other individuals involved in the case. The book explains the different hearings and summarizes the parents' rights and responsibilities. Maine Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Case Management Procedure for Child Protection Cases, , April 1999 15 pgs. ME-99-02 This publication details new case management procedures, effective June 1, 1999, designed to ensure that the District Court honors its obligations under Maine's Child and Family Services Protection Act, 22 M.R.S.A. -- 4001 et seq. The procedures require that judges actively direct the course of child protection litigation through case management conferences, pretrial conferences, and conferences of counsel. The procedures also review steps that should be taken at various stages of the child protection litigation process, including when a petition for child protection order is filed by the Department and when case management conferences, hearings on the petition for child protection order, judicial review hearings, permanency planning hearings, or cease reunification hearings are conducted by the court. Maine Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Case Management and Planning Maryland To Table of Contents The Maryland Judiciary's Foster Care Court Improvement Project, Guidelines of Advocacy for Attorneys Representing Children in CINA and Related TPR and Adoption Proceedings, Maryland Administrative Office of the Courts, 2001 20 pgs. MD-01-01 The guidelines were created to assist attorneys representing children understand their role, and create uniformity in the way children are being represented around the state. The guidelines explain attorneys' obligations to advocate for their clients. Maryland Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys The Maryland Judiciary's Foster Care Court Improvement Project, Guidelines of Advocacy for Attorneys Representing Children in CINA and Related TPR and Adoption Proceedings, Maryland Administrative Office of the Courts, 2001 20 pgs. MD-01-01 The guidelines were created to assist attorneys representing children understand their role, and create uniformity in the way children are being represented around the state. The guidelines explain attorneys' obligations to advocate for their clients. Maryland Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Maryland Uniform Court Orders, Statistics Oversight Committee, Maryland Foster Care Court Improvement Project, 2006 45 pgs. MD-06-01 Maryland completed a revision of its Uniform Court Orders in February 2006.  These include orders for all hearings, and are color coded to assist the courts in complying with state and federal law.  The orders also include language to alert users to ASFA exceptions. Maryland Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders: Forms and Orders Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Massachusetts To Table of Contents Report of the Probate and Family Court on the Backlog of Child Welfare Cases 1999-2000, Hon. Sean M. Dunphy, 2001 167 pgs. MA-01-01 This report contains information on the backlog of child welfare cases in the Probate and Family Court Department and the Court's progress to improve the system between 1999 and 2000. The report discusses training initiatives, computerization of data collection and passage of rules of procedure expediting child welfare case appeals. Other policies and practices reviewed were: the Permanency Mediation Pilot Project which was designed to expedite the resolution of child welfare cases through specialized non-adversarial dispute resolution; formation of special committees to address court delays; creation of open adoption agreement forms; and psychopharmacy and the treatment of children. Massachusetts Evaluation Evaluation: General Massachusetts Court Improvement Program Reassessment, Muskie School of Public Service, Cutler Institute for Child and Family Policy, 2006 61 pgs. MA-06-01 This report is the final reassessment report for Massachusetts. The report focused on the following five areas: 1) Juvenile Court administration; 2) timeliness and flow of cases through the courts; 3) representation of parties; 4) case issues and service provision; and 5) Probate and Family Court. Massachusetts Evaluation: General Evaluation Michigan To Table of Contents Community Dispute Resolution Program (Public Education Packet) Offering Dispute Resolution Services to Michigan Citizens, Michigan Supreme Court, 2000 22 pgs. MI-00-02 This packet contains information about the Permanency Planning Mediation Pilot Project, which has established 11 mediation centers throughout Michigan to attempt non-adversarial resolution of cases at various points in child protection proceedings. The packet gives suggestions of what types of cases could use mediation to effectively resolve issues, benefits of mediation and the success rate to date of the program. Michigan Alternative Dispute Resolution Evaluability Assessment Site Visit Summary (Draft), James Bell Associates, 2002 18 pgs. Available Now - 111 KB Word MI-02-02 This draft report by James Bell Associates, the Children's Bureau contractor, is the result of site visits conducted to consider the Permanency Planning Mediation Project (PPMP) in Wayne County. Wayne County, which includes Detroit, started its program in January 2003. The draft evaluability report provides significant details about the PPMP process, the training of mediators, and possible evaluation plans. Michigan Alternative Dispute Resolution Evaluation Evaluation: Pilot Projects Michigan Court Improvement Program Annual Program Report, State Court Administrative Office, Michigan Court Improvement Program, 2002 26 pgs. MI-02-01 This report details the activities of the Michigan Court Improvement Program during the reporting period for Grant # 5 (final report due October 2001) and Grant # 6 (1st report due December 2002). The report focuses on the Permanency Planning Mediation Program, Benchbook, Absent Parent Protocol, training, Permanency Indicators Court Report, Purchase of Service Project, and Evaluation of the Implementation of the Lawyer-GAL Statute. Michigan Evaluation Evaluation: General Evaluability Assessment Site Visit Summary (Draft), James Bell Associates, 2002 18 pgs. Available Now - 111 KB Word MI-02-02 This draft report by James Bell Associates, the Children's Bureau contractor, is the result of site visits conducted to consider the Permanency Planning Mediation Project (PPMP) in Wayne County. Wayne County, which includes Detroit, started its program in January 2003. The draft evaluability report provides significant details about the PPMP process, the training of mediators, and possible evaluation plans. Michigan Alternative Dispute Resolution Evaluation Evaluation: Pilot Projects A Challenge for Change: Implementation of the Michigan Lawyer-Guardian Ad Litem Statute, Gary A. Lukowski, Ph.D. and Heather J. Davies, M.S., American Bar Association, Center on Children and the Law, 2002 108 pgs. Available Now - 417 KB PDF MI-02-03 In November 2002, the American Bar Association's Center on Children and the Law issued a report on the implementation of the state guardian ad litem statute. The Center on Children and the Law examined the specific duties and responsibilities set forth for lawyer-guardians ad litem (LGALs) in the state statute and court rules. The Center conducted numerous surveys, telephone interviews, focus groups, and case file reviews. The study's major findings are categorized as follows: 1) administration of the statute and compensation of lawyer-guardians ad litem; 2) experience, knowledge, and availability of training; 3) independent investigations by lawyer-guardians ad litem; 4) representation issues; 5) access to case related information, presenting information to the court, and using sources of information; 6) a child's wishes versus a child's best interests; and 7) implementation issues. For each area, there are detailed findings based on the various research modalities employed in the study. The study concludes with 20 recommendations. Michigan Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Evaluation Evaluation: General Permanency Planning Mediation Pilot Program: Evaluation Final Report, form.author, 2004 http://courts.mi.gov/scao/resources/publications/reports/ppmpevaluation2004.pdf MI-04-01 The Governor’s Task Force on Children’s Justice awarded a grant for an evaluation of the Permanency Planning Mediation Program (PPMP). The Michigan State University School of Social Work conducted the evaluation. Generally, the PPMP Program was successfully implemented using two mediators at each session, agreements were reached in a large majority of mediated cases, there were high rates of parental compliance with the terms of the agreements, and overall the participants were satisfied. Michigan Evaluation Evaluation: Pilot Projects Legal Representation for Parents in Child Welfare Proceedings: A Performance-Based Analysis of Michigan Practice , American Bar Association Center for Children and the Law for the Child Welfare Services Division of the Michigan State Court Administrative Office, 2009 158 pgs. Available online at http://www.abanet.org/child/parentrepresentation/michigan_parent_representation_report.pdf. MI-09-01 The National Project to Improve Representation for Parents Involved in the Child Welfare System, in collaboration with the National Child Welfare Resource Center on Legal and Judicial Issues and Michigan's Child Welfare Services Division of the State Court Administrative Office, completed a comprehensive evaluation of how Michigan provides legal representation for parents in child welfare proceedings.  The evaluation process began in September 2008 and included a detailed review of local court rules and policy, surveys of parents, attorneys, and judges, in-court observations, multiple focus group meetings, and one-to-one stakeholder interviews.  The evaluation results and recommendations are included in the report.  Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Evaluation Evaluation: General Guidelines for Achieving Permanency in Child Protection Proceedings, Michigan Department of Human Services, Michigan Child Welfare Resource Center, Michigan Association of CASA, Michigan Foster Care Review Board, and Michigan Indian Legal Services, 2008 0 Available online at http://michfed.org/2009/09/30/guidelines-for-achieving-permanency-in-child-protection-proceedings/ MI-08-01 This manual addresses the child protection process from preliminary hearing to post-termination hearing.  Each chapter addresses the purpose of the hearing, key questions, and a checklist of roles and responsibilities.  Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Child Protective Proceedings Benchbook Abuse and Neglect Cases - A Guide to Abuse and Neglect Cases, Tobin L. Miller, JD, Michigan Judicial Institute, 1999 209 pgs. Available online here MI-99-01 This benchbook explains the procedures required in child protective proceedings in Michigan, from reporting and investigating suspected child abuse and neglect, to required court hearings in the state circuit and appellate courts, and outlines changes to Michigan law. The book also contains checklists, to be used by judges at the different stages in the court process, and benchnotes, brief articles related to key issues in child welfare. Michigan Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks A Challenge for Change: Implementation of the Michigan Lawyer-Guardian Ad Litem Statute, Gary A. Lukowski, Ph.D. and Heather J. Davies, M.S., American Bar Association, Center on Children and the Law, 2002 108 pgs. Available Now - 417 KB PDF MI-02-03 In November 2002, the American Bar Association's Center on Children and the Law issued a report on the implementation of the state guardian ad litem statute. The Center on Children and the Law examined the specific duties and responsibilities set forth for lawyer-guardians ad litem (LGALs) in the state statute and court rules. The Center conducted numerous surveys, telephone interviews, focus groups, and case file reviews. The study's major findings are categorized as follows: 1) administration of the statute and compensation of lawyer-guardians ad litem; 2) experience, knowledge, and availability of training; 3) independent investigations by lawyer-guardians ad litem; 4) representation issues; 5) access to case related information, presenting information to the court, and using sources of information; 6) a child's wishes versus a child's best interests; and 7) implementation issues. For each area, there are detailed findings based on the various research modalities employed in the study. The study concludes with 20 recommendations. Michigan Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Evaluation Evaluation: General Michigan Lawyer-Guardian ad Litem Protocol, Tobin L. Miller, Michigan Justice Institute, State Court Administrative Office, 2003 online at http://courts.michigan.gov/mji/resources/lgal/LGALprotocol.htm MI-03-01 The Lawyer-Guardian ad Litem Protocol is designed to assist LGALs appointed to represent children in child protection proceedings comply with state and federal law. The Protocol addresses such issues as the role of LGALs, explaining the role to the child, investigative duties, and best interests of the child. In addition, the appendices provide information regarding resources, forensic interviewing, and foster parent review hearing reports. Michigan Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Legal Representation for Parents in Child Welfare Proceedings: A Performance-Based Analysis of Michigan Practice , American Bar Association Center for Children and the Law for the Child Welfare Services Division of the Michigan State Court Administrative Office, 2009 158 pgs. Available online at http://www.abanet.org/child/parentrepresentation/michigan_parent_representation_report.pdf. MI-09-01 The National Project to Improve Representation for Parents Involved in the Child Welfare System, in collaboration with the National Child Welfare Resource Center on Legal and Judicial Issues and Michigan's Child Welfare Services Division of the State Court Administrative Office, completed a comprehensive evaluation of how Michigan provides legal representation for parents in child welfare proceedings.  The evaluation process began in September 2008 and included a detailed review of local court rules and policy, surveys of parents, attorneys, and judges, in-court observations, multiple focus group meetings, and one-to-one stakeholder interviews.  The evaluation results and recommendations are included in the report.  Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Evaluation Evaluation: General Absent Parent Protocol: Finding and Notifying Non-Custodial Parents in Child Protective Cases - Working Draft, , 2000 19 pgs. MI-00-01 This protocol establishes guidelines for those responsible for finding and, where appropriate, involving the absent parent in a child protection case. Key issues addressed are the importance of timeliness of the efforts, from the earliest stages of the case, as well as continuous attention to this issue throughout the case. In addition to discussing the duties of the agency social workers, the protocol discusses the courts leadership role in assuring this issue is addressed adequately, and proper notice and service is made when non-custodial parents are identified. Michigan Notice to and Participation of Parties Notice to and Participation of Parties: Notice Binsfield Permanency Planning Indicators Report, State Court Administrative Office, April 1999 18 pgs. MI-00-02 This packet describes necessary steps and timeline for ensuring permanency after removal has taken place. The packet includes references to Michigan's statutes and provides areas for caseworkers to fill in information and use the packet as a reference. Michigan Timeliness of Decisions Timeliness of Decisions: Evaluation Handling the Child Welfare Case Applying the Law to Practice - A Joint Training for Lawyers and FIA Caseworkers, Donald N. Duquette, Clinical Professor of Law University of Michigan Law School, 2000 MI-00-03 These materials contain a scenario based, interactive training used in trainings throughout Michigan for both attorneys and FIA caseworkers. The purpose of the trainings is to increase knowledge of how new state legislation can be used to achieve permanency for children, and to improved the working relationships between attorneys and social workers by better understanding each others roles. Michigan Training and Education Training and Education: Attorney/GAL Programs Training and Education: CASA/Social Worker Training Minnesota To Table of Contents Advisory Committee on Family Group Conferencing, Family Group Conferencing Pilot Project Hennepin County, Minnesota, Stacey Mangni Research & Evaluation Court Services, 2000 49 pgs. Available Now - Adobe PDF 387KB MN-00-01 This report summarizes the implementation and operation of the Family Group Conferencing Pilot Project, a program designed to engage and encourage families to use their existing strengths to prevent further abuse or neglect and provide the best solution for children. The report explores the objectives and results of starting the new project, the resources involved, and the descriptive data accumulated from the actual cases. Minnesota Alternative Dispute Resolution Sample County Onsite Quality Assurance Schedule, Minnesota Children's Justice Initiative, 2002 1 page - Available Now - Word 51 KB MN-02-05 The Minnesota Children's Justice Initiative prepared a schedule indicating times for hearing observations, court file reviews, and stakeholder interviews. MInnesota Evaluation Evaluation: General Children's Justice Initiative Case Management Review Report Sample County, Minnesota Supreme Court and Minnesota Department of Human Resources, 2003 78 pages - Available Now - Word 859 KB MN-03-01 The Minnesota Children's Justice Initiative (CJI) prepared the 'Sample' County Report to assist the CJI team in its review of actual counties' child protection practices. The report contains several demonstration sections, including an introduction, background section, demographics, key agency overview, and findings and recommendations. MInnesota Evaluation Evaluation: General Core Goals and Standards,, Children's Justice Initiative, Minnesota, June 2004 5 pgs. - Available Now - Word 117 KB MN-04-01 These goals and standards accompany the Children's Justice Initiative (CJI) County Practice Guide and measure a county¿s progress toward meeting CJI goals, which include child safety, permanency, child-centered practice, and due process. Minnesota Evaluation Evaluation: General County Practice Guide: Best Practices for Achieving Safe, Permanent, and Nurturing Homes for Abused and Neglected Children, Children's Justice Initiative, Minnesota, May 2004 15 pages - Available Now - Word 238 KB MN-04-02 Based on the Resource Guidelines, the County Practice Guide is used by the Children’s Justice Initiative (CJI) county teams to compare current practices with best practices. Information obtained by these comparisons is used to help develop county action plans. Minnessota Evaluation Evaluation: General File Review Form (Phase 2), Children's Justice Initiative, Minnesota, 2002 12 pgs. Available Now - Word 90 KB MN-02-01 The Children's Justice Initiative (CJI) staff uses this form to collect baseline data from case files in each CJI county. Data collected includes case demographics, statutory grounds for petition, hearing information, placement decisions, information regarding representatives, family problems, and child needs. Data collected is used to develop findings and recommendations for each CJI county. Minnesota Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Pilot Projects and Model Courts Hearing Observation Form (Phase 2, Children's Justice Initiative, Minnesota, 2002 2 pgs. Available Now - Word 35 KB MN-02-02 The Children's Justice Initiative (CJI) staff uses this form to collect information from various hearings in each CJI county. Information collected includes participants at the hearing, audience, and issues addressed. Data collected is used to develop findings and recommendations for each CJI county. Minnesota Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Pilot Projects and Model Courts Interview Questions (Phase 2), Children's Justice Initiative, Minnesota, 2002 23 pgs. Available Now - Word 78.5 KB MN-02-03 The Children's Justice Initiative (CJI) staff uses these questions to collect information from various key stakeholders in child protection cases. Interview topics include caseload information, paperwork requirements, calendar management, case flow management, appointment of attorneys, GALs, and social workers, case processing requirements, timing of findings, availability of services and resources, collaboration, and parallel proceedings. Information obtained through interviews is used to develop findings and recommendations for each CJI county. Minnesota Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Pilot Projects and Model Courts County Team Action Plan Template, Children's Justice Initiative, Minnesota, 2002 18 pgs. Available Now - Word 156 KB MN-02-04 Developed by the Children's Justice Initiative (CJI) staff, the County Team Action Plan Template defines the best practices each county is expected to implement during the CJI project. Minnesota Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Pilot Projects and Model Courts A Practice Guide for Working with African American Families in the Child Protection System: The Role of the Caseworker in Identifying, Developing, and Supporting Strengths in African American Families Involved in Child Protection Services, Maxie Rockymore, 2006 24 pgs. Available online at http://centerforchildwelfare.fmhi.usf.edu/kb/cultcomp/Practice%20Guide%20for%20African%20American%20families.pdf. MN-06-03 The guide is a tool for social workers to help them address the systemic issue of the overrepresentation and racial disparity of African American children and their families involved in CPS.  Minnesota Hearing Quality and Depth Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Judges Juvenile Protection Benchbook, Minnesota Children's Justice Initiative, 2007 40 chapters Available online at http://www.mncourts.gov/?page=178. MN-07-01 This comprehensive benchbook contains chapters on, among other things, each type of hearing, discovery, visitation, concurrent permanency planning, immigration, and ICWA. It also contains definitions, flowcharts, and checklists. Minnesota Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Hearing Quality and Depth Adolescent Services Provides Guidance on Transition Planning and Requirements for Older Youth in Care, Minnesota Department of Human Services, 2009 7 pgs. Available online at http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/main/groups/publications/documents/pub/dhs16_144827.pdf MN-09-02 This bulletin identifies legal requirements, best practices, and resources for local social services agencies when planning for the transition of youth expected to leave foster care at age 18. Minnesota Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Working with Fathers: A Program Improvement Resource, Minnesota Department of Human Services, 2009 9 pgs. Available online at http://edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Legacy/DHS-5575A-ENG. MN-09-03 These practice tips are designed to help county and tribal child welfare agencies improve their practice when working with fathers.  The tips are organized around the following five casework functions: (1) engagement; (2) assessment; (3) case planning and implementation; (4) monitoring and evaluation; and (5) case closing. Minnesota Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties History of the Case At-A-Glance, Children's Justice Initiative, Minnesota, 2004 1 page - Available Now - Word 54 KB MN-04-03 The Children's Justice Initiative (CJI) staff created this form, which summarizes the major events of the case (e.g., removal, adjudication, disposition, permanency hearings, goal change hearings), to be placed inside the front cover of each court file for easy reference by judges and court staff. Minnesota Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders: Forms and Orders Emergency Protective Care Hearing Contact List, Children's Justice Initiative, Minnesota, 2004 2 pages - Available Now - Word 103 KB MN-04-04 The contact list is used as a checklist to document contacts with parents, children, family members, attorneys, and others who should be present at the initial emergency protective care hearing. Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders: Forms and Orders Guardian Ad Litem Juvenile Court Report, Children's Justice Initiative, Minnesota, 2004 4 pages - Available Now - Word 107 KB MN-04-05 The Children's Justice Initiative (CJI) has developed a standard juvenile court report form for use by guardians ad litem. It includes identifying information, court history, contacts with the child, contacts with other resources and key individuals, documents reviewed, relative search, and recommendations. Minnesota Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders: Forms and Orders Toolkit - Catch the Vision: 20 Recommended Practices to Help Families in the Child Protection Court System with Alcohol and Other Drug Issues, Children's Justice Initiative (CJI) Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Workgroup, 2006 63 pgs. Available online at http://www.mncourts.gov/default.aspx?page=1769. MN-06-01 The Toolkit was developed by the CJI-AOD Workgroup with technical assistance from the National Center for Substance Abuse and Child Welfare. The recommended practices and protocols in the Tool Kit are designed to help front-line practitioners as well as the managers and supervisors who set policy in the child welfare, chemical health, and juvenile protection court systems. The focus is collaborative best practices that facilitate cross-system communication and planning on behalf of the entire family, using a strength-based, family-centered approach. Minnesota Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Treatment of Parties: Other Initiatives A Handbook: Framework to Forming a Parent Partner Structure, Minnesota Supreme Court, Minnesota Department of Human Services, Children's Justice Initiative Alcohol and Other Drugs Project, 2006 40 pgs. Available online at http://www.ncsacw.samhsa.gov/files/MN_ParentPartnerHandbook.pdf. MN-06-02 This handbook addresses how to develop a Parent Partner Network. A Parent Partner Network is a group of parents who have been successful in past personal involvement with child welfare, juvenile courts, and alcohol and other drug systems. The goal of the network is to promote parents helping parents by sharing their experiences, knowledge, and by giving hope to parents involved in child in need of protection or services (CHIPS) cases. Minnesota Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Treatment of Parties: Other Initiatives A Practice Guide for Working with African American Families in the Child Protection System: The Role of the Caseworker in Identifying, Developing, and Supporting Strengths in African American Families Involved in Child Protection Services, Maxie Rockymore, 2006 24 pgs. Available online at http://centerforchildwelfare.fmhi.usf.edu/kb/cultcomp/Practice%20Guide%20for%20African%20American%20families.pdf. MN-06-03 The guide is a tool for social workers to help them address the systemic issue of the overrepresentation and racial disparity of African American children and their families involved in CPS.  Minnesota Hearing Quality and Depth Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Adolescent Services Provides Guidance on Transition Planning and Requirements for Older Youth in Care, Minnesota Department of Human Services, 2009 7 pgs. Available online at http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/main/groups/publications/documents/pub/dhs16_144827.pdf MN-09-02 This bulletin identifies legal requirements, best practices, and resources for local social services agencies when planning for the transition of youth expected to leave foster care at age 18. Minnesota Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Working with Fathers: A Program Improvement Resource, Minnesota Department of Human Services, 2009 9 pgs. Available online at http://edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Legacy/DHS-5575A-ENG. MN-09-03 These practice tips are designed to help county and tribal child welfare agencies improve their practice when working with fathers.  The tips are organized around the following five casework functions: (1) engagement; (2) assessment; (3) case planning and implementation; (4) monitoring and evaluation; and (5) case closing. Minnesota Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Missouri To Table of Contents Improving Missouri's Court Practice in Child Abuse and Neglect Cases: 10 Recommendations, Juvenile Court Improvement Project Steering Committee, 2000 43. pgs. MO-00-01 This report contains recommendations to the Missouri Supreme Court for improving court practices in child abuse and neglect cases. The recommendations focus on judicial leadership, timely and meaningful hearings, sufficient staffing and resources, as well as other principles, as a means to expedite the process of achieving timely permanency for children. Missouri Evaluation Evaluation: General Building Bridges to Permanency (Report to the Supreme Court), Permanency Planning Project of the Missouri Supreme Court Family Court Committee, 1999-2000 19 pgs. MO-00-02 This report contains recommendations, made to the Supreme Court, for improving the permanency planning process for abused and neglected children in out-of-home care. These recommendations are based on four key elements: improve court services, increase legal resources, improve delivery of social services and mental heath services, and increase placement resources. The report also contains suggested action steps for each of the recommendations. Missouri Evaluation Evaluation: General Missouri Juvenile Court Improvement Project for Child Abuse and Neglect Cases, Eighth Annual Report, Norma A. Rahm, Office of State Courts Administrator, July 2003 45 pgs. Available Now - 1240 KB Word in 4 separate documents (mo-03-02a.doc, mo-03-02b.doc, mo-03-02c.doc, mo-03-02d.doc) MO-03-02 This report details the latest evaluation information compiled by the Institute of Applied Research (IAR) for the model court projects in the 2nd, 22nd, and 23rd Judicial Circuits. The findings indicate, among other things, that the court process was accelerated at every step of the case and permanency planning hearings occurred earlier and more often. Based on the findings, the IAR recommended that Missouri implement the model court procedures statewide. Missouri Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Pilot Projects and Model Courts Evaluation Evaluation: General Missouri Supreme Court Commission on Children's Justice: Final Report, Commission on Children's Justice, Available Now - 324 KB PDF MO-03-03 The Missouri Supreme Court Commission on Children's Justice was created as a direct response to the public outcry when a foster child died at the hands of a foster parent. The Missouri Supreme Court charged the Commission with assessing the impact of government actions on children who are abused and neglected and recommending appropriate changes. This report contains the final recommendations of the Commission, which are divided into four areas: 1) prevention and efforts to prevent removal; 2) hotline intake; 3) foster and relative care, permanency; and 4) judicial/court. Missouri Evaluation Evaluation: General Juvenile Court Improvement Project Evaluation, Two-Year Final Report, Office of the Courts Administrator, Institute of Applied Research, 1999 56 pgs. MO-99-01 This is an annual report for the Court Improvement Project; designed to implement reforms in juvenile courts in select circuits, and to determine their effectiveness. The reforms focus on improved frequency, timeframes and content of court hearings, training for appropriate personnel, and other improvements. The effectiveness of the project was measured by comparing the outcomes for children in the circuits where the project was piloted, with other circuits in the state. The report makes recommendations for reforms to be implemented statewide. Missouri Evaluation Evaluation: General Missouri Resource Guide for Best Practices in Child Abuse and Neglect Cases, Missouri Court Improvement Project and Missouri Supreme Court Family Court Committee, 2003 Available Now - 13 separate PDF documents MO-03-01 The Resource Guide incorporates applicable Missouri statutes, state Supreme Court rules, and ASFA requirements. The purpose of the Guide is to provide judicial officers with a comprehensive and user-friendly reference tool for use during court proceedings. In addition, the Resource Guide contains numerous bench cards addressing various hearings, ICWA, and MEPA. Missouri Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Missouri Juvenile Court Improvement Project for Child Abuse and Neglect Cases, Eighth Annual Report, Norma A. Rahm, Office of State Courts Administrator, July 2003 45 pgs. Available Now - 1240 KB Word in 4 separate documents (mo-03-02a.doc, mo-03-02b.doc, mo-03-02c.doc, mo-03-02d.doc) MO-03-02 This report details the latest evaluation information compiled by the Institute of Applied Research (IAR) for the model court projects in the 2nd, 22nd, and 23rd Judicial Circuits. The findings indicate, among other things, that the court process was accelerated at every step of the case and permanency planning hearings occurred earlier and more often. Based on the findings, the IAR recommended that Missouri implement the model court procedures statewide. Missouri Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Pilot Projects and Model Courts Evaluation Evaluation: General Montana To Table of Contents Yellowstone County Family Drug Court Project Progress Report, Montana Court Assessment Program, 2002 6 pgs. MT-02-01 This Progress Report outlines the six specific goals of the Yellowstone Family Drug Court, including related objectives and outcomes. Montana Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Pilot Projects and Model Courts Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Other Initiatives Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Targeted Capacity Expansion Grant Program Quarterly Report: October - December 2002, Montana Court Assessment Program, 2003 13 pgs. Available Now - 72.5 KB MT-03-01 Quarterly reports are submitted to describe the various milestones reached by the Yellowstone Family Drug Court. The report also outlines challenges presented and potential solutions regarding transportation issues, housing, providing drug testing for clients who work full-time, inadequate medical insurance, and inadequate prescription coverage. Montana Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Pilot Projects and Model Courts Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Other Initiatives Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Targeted Capacity Expansion Grant Program Quarterly Report: January - March 2003, Montana Court Assessment Program, 2003 30 pgs. Available Now - 244 KB MT-03-02 Quarterly reports are submitted to describe the various milestones reached by the Yellowstone Family Drug Court. This second quarterly report noted the development of a formal Memorandum of Understanding between the court and the agency that conducts drug testing, additional work on a policies and procedures manual, and a focus group with current and former participants to consider formation of an alumni group. Montana Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Pilot Projects and Model Courts Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Other Initiatives Why Conduct Neuropsychological Evaluations, Montana Court Assessment Program, 2003 3 pgs. Available Now - 41.5 KB MT-03-03 The Yellowstone Family Drug Court has used neuropsychological evaluations to test both children and adults participating in the program. This paper details the various types of evaluations performed on adults and children, and also provides preliminary findings from the Yellowstone Family Drug Court related to these assessments. Montana Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Pilot Projects and Model Courts Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Other Initiatives Factors of Importance to Montana District Court Judges in Their Use of Information Technologies in Their Courtrooms, Prepared for the Montana Court Assessment Program by Snyder Communications, October 1998 70 pgs. MT-98-01 This report, which is based on a series of interviews with judges across the State of Montana, documents how selected judges in Montana currently integrate the use of IT in their courtroom, identifies the most critical factors that encourage or discourage judge's use of IT, and develops a set of guidelines to assist judges and administrators in expanding the courtroom use of IT. It explores the technology currently being used, including computers, fax machines and email; highlights the technology judges would like to use, including videoconferencing, digital cameras and computer index systems; reviews factors that discourage the use of technology, such as lacking policy guidelines and inadequate funding; examines factors that encourage the use of technology; and details training issues unique to the judiciary. The report also provides guidelines for planning videoconferencing, and includes a list of resource materials and vendors for court-related IT services. Montana Technology Technology: Computer Equipment Yellowstone County Family Drug Court Project Progress Report, Montana Court Assessment Program, 2002 6 pgs. MT-02-01 This Progress Report outlines the six specific goals of the Yellowstone Family Drug Court, including related objectives and outcomes. Montana Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Pilot Projects and Model Courts Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Other Initiatives Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Targeted Capacity Expansion Grant Program Quarterly Report: October - December 2002, Montana Court Assessment Program, 2003 13 pgs. Available Now - 72.5 KB MT-03-01 Quarterly reports are submitted to describe the various milestones reached by the Yellowstone Family Drug Court. The report also outlines challenges presented and potential solutions regarding transportation issues, housing, providing drug testing for clients who work full-time, inadequate medical insurance, and inadequate prescription coverage. Montana Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Pilot Projects and Model Courts Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Other Initiatives Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Targeted Capacity Expansion Grant Program Quarterly Report: January - March 2003, Montana Court Assessment Program, 2003 30 pgs. Available Now - 244 KB MT-03-02 Quarterly reports are submitted to describe the various milestones reached by the Yellowstone Family Drug Court. This second quarterly report noted the development of a formal Memorandum of Understanding between the court and the agency that conducts drug testing, additional work on a policies and procedures manual, and a focus group with current and former participants to consider formation of an alumni group. Montana Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Pilot Projects and Model Courts Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Other Initiatives Why Conduct Neuropsychological Evaluations, Montana Court Assessment Program, 2003 3 pgs. Available Now - 41.5 KB MT-03-03 The Yellowstone Family Drug Court has used neuropsychological evaluations to test both children and adults participating in the program. This paper details the various types of evaluations performed on adults and children, and also provides preliminary findings from the Yellowstone Family Drug Court related to these assessments. Montana Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Pilot Projects and Model Courts Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Other Initiatives Montana Drug Treatment Courts, Brenda K. Roche, Ph.D., LP, Eastern Montana Meth Summit, April 22, 2005 72 slides - Available Now - PPT 728 KB MT-05-01 This PowerPoint presentation was discussed by the Program Evaluator of the Yellowstone County Family Treatment Drug Court (YCFTDC) during the Eastern Meth Summit in April 2005. It contains extensive information regarding the operations and outcomes at the YCFTDC, including the following: adult and child demographics; drugs of choice; living arrangements for children at intake; graduation and termination rates; child permanency; sanctions and incentives; drug testing results; treatment services; preliminary participant outcomes; preliminary child outcomes; adult and child neuropsychiatric findings at intake; and adult and child neuropsychiatric findings at follow-up. Montana Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Other Initiatives Yellowstone County Family Drug Treatment Court - Statistical Report 9/30/2006, Dr. Brenda Roche, 2006 10 pgs. MT-06-01 This report provides statistics from the Yellowstone County Family Drug Treatment Court from October 2005 through September 2006.  Statistics indicate that children whose parents are participating in the Treatment Court gain permanency more quickly than children in the control group. Montana Treatment of Parties: Other Initiatives Treatment of Parties Nebraska To Table of Contents An Evaluation of Expedited Family Group Conferences, Twila A. Wingrove and Victoria Weisz, The University of Nebraska - Lincoln, 2005 4 pages - Available Now - Word 51.5 KB NE-05-01 Nebraska has implemented Expedited Family Group Conferences (FGCs) statewide through contracts with mediation centers. Nebraska conducted an outcome evaluation of Expedited FGCs, which indicated no significant difference in the proportion of children who were discharged or in the length of time children remained in the system during the time period assessed. A review of children’s placements, however, suggests that the Expedited FGCs improve the likelihood that children will remain with family. Compared to children in the comparison group, a larger proportion of children who had Expedited FGCs had been reunified with their parents, were doing a trial home visit, or were living in relative foster care. Nebraska Alternative Dispute Resolution Evaluation Evaluation: Pilot Projects An Evaluation of Expedited Family Group Conferences, Twila A. Wingrove and Victoria Weisz, The University of Nebraska - Lincoln, 2005 4 pages - Available Now - Word 51.5 KB NE-05-01 Nebraska has implemented Expedited Family Group Conferences (FGCs) statewide through contracts with mediation centers. Nebraska conducted an outcome evaluation of Expedited FGCs, which indicated no significant difference in the proportion of children who were discharged or in the length of time children remained in the system during the time period assessed. A review of children’s placements, however, suggests that the Expedited FGCs improve the likelihood that children will remain with family. Compared to children in the comparison group, a larger proportion of children who had Expedited FGCs had been reunified with their parents, were doing a trial home visit, or were living in relative foster care. Nebraska Alternative Dispute Resolution Evaluation Evaluation: Pilot Projects Guide for Parents and Foster Parents Walking Your Way Through the Nebraska Juvenile Court Child Protection Process, University of Nebraska Center on Children, Families and the Law, 2002 18 pgs. NE-02-01 This handbook provides general information for children explaining the dependency court process. It addresses common questions asked by children and their parents at the initiation of a court process including rights, services and responsibilities. It describes each stage of the court process, the identities of the parties involved, and provides forms for children and parents to record important information. At the end of the manual there is a list of definitions. Nebraska Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Guide for Parents: Walking Your Way Through the Nebraska Juvenile Court Child Protection Process, Nebraska Court Improvement Project, 2003 18 pgs. NE-03-01 This handbook is a second edition and was also produced in Spanish. In addition to information regarding the court process and involved parties, this edition addresses the rights of parents of Indian children and the rights of noncustodial parents. Nebraska Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Guide for Foster Parents and Relative Caregivers: Understanding the Nebraska Juvenile Court Child Protection Process, Nebraska Court Improvement Project, 2003 18 pgs. NE-03-02 This handbook is nearly identical to the Guide for Parents: Walking Your Way Through the Nebraska Juvenile Court Child Protection Process. Specific information designed for foster parents and relative caregivers includes foster parent rights and available support services. Nebraska Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Guide for Parents: Walking Your Way Through the Nebraska Juvenile Court Child Protection Process, Nebraska Administrative Office of the Courts, University of Nebraska Center on Children, Families, and the Law, Nebraska Court Improvement Project, 2007 10 pgs. Available online at http://www.throughtheeyes.org/files/parent.pdf. NE-07-01 This handbook for parents answers common questions, defines terms, describes parents' rights and responsibilities, and outlines the court process. Nebraska Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Guide for Foster Parents and Relative Caregivers: Understanding the Nebraska Juvenile Court Child Protection Process , Nebraska Administrative Office of the Courts, University of Nebraska Center for Children, Families, and the Law, Nebraska Court Improvement Project, 2007 10 pgs. Available online at http://www.throughtheeyes.org/files/fosterandrealative.pdf. NE-07-02 This handbook, designed for foster parents and relative caregivers, defines terms, answers common questions, defines rights and responsibilities, and describes the court process. Nebraska Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Know Your Rights: A Guide for Youth in Nebraska's Foster Care System, Natalie Hueftle Nelsen for the Nebraska Court Improvement Project, 2008 28 pgs. Available online at http://www.throughtheeyes.org/files/Know%20Your%20Rights.pdf. NE-08-01 The guide is designed to help older youth in foster care understand their rights and their options while in the system and after they leave.  It covers the court process, permanency goals, and various aspects of living independently. Nebraska Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Nevada To Table of Contents Nevada Family Courts, Juvenile Dependency, Case Management System Functional Standards, form.author, 2003 40 NV-03-01 As part of Clark County’s continuing efforts to design a case management and information system for child welfare, the ABA Center on Children and the Law and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges participated in a 2002 meeting with state representatives to design the functions and data elements for a system. This report details the essential functions and data elements, as well as discretionary functions and data elements, addressed at the meeting. Nevada Technology Technology: Data Collection Technology: Case Tracking and Management Systems New Hampshire To Table of Contents Protocols Relative to Abuse and Neglect Cases and Permanency Planning, New Hampshire District Court Improvement Project in conjunction with the Family Division and N.H. Probate Court, 2003 192 pgs. NH-03-01 The New Hampshire Court Improvement Project, in conjunction with the Family Division and Probate Court, developed protocols for judges in abuse and neglect cases and permanency planning. The protocols are based on the Resource Guidelines and incorporate ASFA requirements. New Hampshire Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Training and Education Training and Education: Judicial Training Greenbook Court Guide for C0-Occurence Cases, State of New Hampshire Judicial Branch, 2006 55 pgs. Available online at http://www.thegreenbook.info/grafton.htm. NH-06-01 The Greenbook Initiative, http://www.thegreenbook.info/init.htm, focuses on the crossover between domestic violence and child welfare.  Grafton County, New Hampshire, is one of the demonstration sites for the Greenbook Initiative and has produced numerous related materials, including the Greenbook Court Guide. New Hampshire Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Abuse and Neglect Court Forms, New Hampshire District Court Improvement Project in conjunction with the Family Division and N.H. Probate Court, 2003 76 pgs. NH-03-02 The abuse and neglect court forms were developed to accompany the Protocols Relative to Abuse and Neglect Cases and Permanency Planning. Included in these standard court orders are the contrary to the welfare and reasonable efforts determinations and the applicability, if any, of the Indian Child Welfare Act. New Hampshire Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders: Forms and Orders Protocols Relative to Abuse and Neglect Cases and Permanency Planning, New Hampshire District Court Improvement Project in conjunction with the Family Division and N.H. Probate Court, 2003 192 pgs. NH-03-01 The New Hampshire Court Improvement Project, in conjunction with the Family Division and Probate Court, developed protocols for judges in abuse and neglect cases and permanency planning. The protocols are based on the Resource Guidelines and incorporate ASFA requirements. New Hampshire Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Training and Education Training and Education: Judicial Training New Jersey To Table of Contents The Pilot Children in Court Mediation Programs in Four New Jersey Vicinages: Camden, Essex, Mercer, and Morris/Sussex, New Jersey, 2001 53 pgs. NJ-01-01 Court improvement funds were used to initiate mediation pilot programs in several counties. The four vicinages covered in this report mediated a total of 269 cases. These cases included voluntary placement cases, abuse and neglect cases, and guardianship and termination cases. Based on these and other evaluations, the Family Division Presiding Judges Children in Court Committee and the New Jersey Children in Court Improvement Committee are collaborating with the Director of the Administrative Office of the Court to determine how the mediation process should be changed. New Jersey Alternative Dispute Resolution Evaluation Evaluation: General The Essex County Child Welfare Mediation Program: Evaluation Results and Recommendations, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, 2001 77 pgs. NJ-01-02 This report details the activities of the Essex County Mediation Program and examines data from 2000 and 2001. The evaluation did not address whether mediation reduced the time to permanency or reduced court time, but rather focused largely on responses from participant satisfaction surveys, parent satisfaction surveys, and mediator evaluation forms. New Jersey Alternative Dispute Resolution Evaluation Evaluation: General The Pilot Children in Court Mediation Programs in Four New Jersey Vicinages: Camden, Essex, Mercer, and Morris/Sussex, New Jersey, 2001 53 pgs. NJ-01-01 Court improvement funds were used to initiate mediation pilot programs in several counties. The four vicinages covered in this report mediated a total of 269 cases. These cases included voluntary placement cases, abuse and neglect cases, and guardianship and termination cases. Based on these and other evaluations, the Family Division Presiding Judges Children in Court Committee and the New Jersey Children in Court Improvement Committee are collaborating with the Director of the Administrative Office of the Court to determine how the mediation process should be changed. New Jersey Alternative Dispute Resolution Evaluation Evaluation: General The Essex County Child Welfare Mediation Program: Evaluation Results and Recommendations, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, 2001 77 pgs. NJ-01-02 This report details the activities of the Essex County Mediation Program and examines data from 2000 and 2001. The evaluation did not address whether mediation reduced the time to permanency or reduced court time, but rather focused largely on responses from participant satisfaction surveys, parent satisfaction surveys, and mediator evaluation forms. New Jersey Alternative Dispute Resolution Evaluation Evaluation: General Packet of Materials, New Jersey Court Improvement Project, April 2002 7 pgs. NJ-02-01 This packet of materials contains two sample court orders, a Reasonable Efforts Order and Reasonable Efforts to Prevent Placement Order. There are also two one page explanations of Judicial 'Contrary to the Welfare' Findings in Juvenile (FJ and FF) Cases, and Further Discussion Reasonable Efforts to Prevent Removal in Juvenile (FJ and FF) Cases. New Jersey Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders: Forms and Orders Child Abuse and Neglect: A Guide for Parents Involved in DYFS Child Abuse or Neglect Cases, , 2004 Available online at http://www.lsnj.org/selfhelp.htm NJ-04-01 The Children in Court Improvement Committee provided funds to Legal Services of New Jersey to develop a handbook for parents involved in child abuse and neglect cases. The handbook is available in both English and Spanish. It provides basic information for parents about abuse and neglect cases; working with the child welfare agency to reunify with their child; the court process; and related legal matters. In addition, the handbook contains worksheets to use for services, appointments, visitation, and court hearings. New Jersey Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties A Basic Guide to Special Education, Children's Legal Resource Center, Association for Children of New Jersey, 2007 16 pgs. Available online at http://www.acnj.org/admin.asp?uri=2081&action=15&di=359&ext=pdf&view=yes. NJ-07-01 A Basic Guide to Special Education includes information about, among other things, early intervention, preschool special education, speech and language services, high school transition services, and challenging school district actions. New Jersey Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties I Can Make It!, Association for Children of New Jersey, 2007 0 Available to order online at http://www.acnj.org/main.asp?uri=1029&pi=544. NJ-07-02 According to the Association for Children of New Jersey website, this comic book "is designed to inform children ages 7 to 15 years old who have been removed from their homes because of abuse and/or neglect about foster care and the court process in a format they can understand." New Jersey Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Child Abuse and Neglect: A Guide for Parents Involved in DYFS Child Abuse and Neglect Cases, Legal Services of New Jersey, 2008 68 pgs. Available online at http://www.lsnj.org/PDFs/ClientManBrochures/AbuseNeglectWeb.pdf. The Spanish version is available online at http://www.lsnj.org/espanol/pdf/manualesyfolletos/AbuseNeglectSpanish.pdf. NJ-08-01 According to the Legal Services of New Jersey website, Legal Services "wrote this handbook to help parents when the Division of Youth and Family Services files a court case to place their children in foster care based on claims that the parents have abused or neglected their children. This handbook will help [parents] understand the things [they] must do to try to reunite with [their] child as soon as possible." New Jersey Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Termination of Parental Rights: A Handbook for Parents, Legal Services of New Jersey, 2008 48 pgs. Available online at http://www.lsnj.org/PDFs/TPREnglish.pdf. The Spanish version is available online at http://www.lsnj.org/PDFs/TPRSpanish.pdf. NJ-08-02 This handbook explains the termination process to parents who may be faced with termination in New Jersey.  It covers the grounds for termination, rights and responsibilities, options, contact with the child after termination, and how to use the attorney. New Jersey Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties New Mexico To Table of Contents Court Mediation Project Reports, Community & Family Services, 2003 40 pgs. NM-03-02 The Administrative Office of the Courts contracted with Community & Family Services to evaluate court mediation. Data was obtained through interviews, focus groups, and court file reviews. This final report details the results of the evaluation, including immediate outcomes, mid-term outcomes, and long-term outcomes. The report also contains recommendations for improvement. New Mexico Alternative Dispute Resolution Evaluation Evaluation: General Mediation in Abuse & Neglect Cases: Annual Report Covering Period from August 2002 through August 2003, Louise M. Baca, Administrative Office of the Courts Project Manager and Deborah S. Dungan, Mediation Pilot Project Coordinator, 2003 222 pgs NM-03-03 This report details the activities of various county mediation efforts from August 2002 through August 2003. New Mexico Alternative Dispute Resolution Evaluation Evaluation: General Grade Court, Eleventh District Court of New Mexico, 14 pgs. NM-98-02 This brochure reviews the "Grade Court" program, which is a treatment court designed to mandate the success in school of at-risk juveniles who have admitted delinquent acts. By enforcing academic conditions of release and provides, Grade Court seeks to ensure positive educational results by requiring that children stay in school, complete their homework, focus on academics, and move toward graduation. An overview of the program and its development is provided, as is a discussion and evaluation of its impact. New Mexico Community Collaboration Sharing the Responsibility: Developing a Collaborative Approach to Serving Children and Families, New Mexico Supreme Court Foster Care Task Force, 8 pgs. Available Now - Adobe PDF 67KB NM-XX-01 This resource guide discusses the role and impact of community collaborations in child welfare cases. It suggests key participants that may be included in each community, details how local communities can begin the collaboration process, and highlights various approaches that community partnerships may wish to explore. New Mexico Community Collaboration The Status of Court Proceedings in Child Abuse and Neglect: A Research Project of the New Mexico Court Improvement Project, Shaening and Associates, February 2001 83 pgs. Available Now - Adobe PDF 545KB NM-01-01 This packet is the five-year follow-up of New Mexico's 1995 Statewide Assessment. The report discusses compliance with judicial determination requirements, compliance with time frames, participation in mediation and other required events, judicial issues that have been addressed, perceptions of the children's court performance, court improvement projects and its activities and recommendations. New Mexico Evaluation Evaluation: General Court Mediation Project Reports, Community & Family Services, 2003 40 pgs. NM-03-02 The Administrative Office of the Courts contracted with Community & Family Services to evaluate court mediation. Data was obtained through interviews, focus groups, and court file reviews. This final report details the results of the evaluation, including immediate outcomes, mid-term outcomes, and long-term outcomes. The report also contains recommendations for improvement. New Mexico Alternative Dispute Resolution Evaluation Evaluation: General Mediation in Abuse & Neglect Cases: Annual Report Covering Period from August 2002 through August 2003, Louise M. Baca, Administrative Office of the Courts Project Manager and Deborah S. Dungan, Mediation Pilot Project Coordinator, 2003 222 pgs NM-03-03 This report details the activities of various county mediation efforts from August 2002 through August 2003. New Mexico Alternative Dispute Resolution Evaluation Evaluation: General Memorandum of Understanding: Between the Supreme Court Foster Care Task Force and the First Judicial District Court for Mediation Services for Child Abuse and Neglect Proceedings, Mediation Pilot Project, , November 1998 - July 1999 3 pgs. NM-99-03 This MOU was a proposed mediation pilot program to test the viability of using mediation in child abuse and neglect cases, including the development of various policies and procedures, comprehensive evaluation of the pilot in terms of process and outcomes, and "packaging" the approach for promotion and replication in other judicial districts. It also was used to evaluate the impact of the use of mediation on several outcome indicators, including: increased parental compliance with treatment plans; reduced case disposition time; reduced amount of time social workers spend revising treatment plans; conserved judicial resources; improved respondents understanding of the legal process; increased options for placement, permanency and services; and increased respondent satisfaction. New Mexico Evaluation Evaluation: Pilot Projects Attorney Performance Standards, New Mexico Court Improvement Project Task Force, New Mexico Administrative Office of the Courts, 2003 http://www.nmcourts.com/newface/new/court%20improvement/attyperfstanddesc.html NM-03-01 The New Mexico Court Improvement Task Force developed these attorney performance standards for court-appointed attorneys serving as guardians ad litem or respondent’s attorneys in child abuse and neglect cases. These standards were approved by the New Mexico Supreme Court and are designed to enhance the quality of representation for parents and children. New Mexico Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Court-Appointed Attorney Fee Fund Report, Quality of Advocacy Committee, New Mexico Court Improvement Project, 2005 27 pages - Available Now - Word 412 KB NM-05-01 The Quality of Advocacy Committee reviewed data regarding compensation of court-appointed attorneys and recommended a two-stage increase to the Court-Appointed Attorney Fee Fund for FY06 and FY07. The Committee made the recommendation based on the conclusion that inadequate compensation is a key barrier to the provision of quality representation. The Committee also noted larger caseloads, requirements of a Youth Attorney, increased expectations for performance, and difficulties in recruiting and retaining attorneys as challenges to improving legal representation. New Mexico Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Event Codes for Child Abuse and Neglect Cases: For Use in the FACTSTM Case Management System, Supreme Court of New Mexico, Administrative Office of the Courts, March 1998 7 pgs. NM-98-01 New Mexico has created special event codes relating to key events and judgment in abuse and neglect cases for use in its statewide automation system that is used by all state courts. This publication lists the codes and title classifications, provides a brief description of each key event or judgment, and includes a detailed chart of proceedings and time frames. New Mexico Technology Technology: Case Tracking and Management Systems Understanding the Child Abuse and Neglect Legal System - DRAFT, New Mexico Supreme Court Foster Care Task Force, March 2000 8 pgs. Available Now - Adobe PDF 60KB NM-00-01 This guidebook, only in draft form, is designed as a resource for school staff, foster parents, service providers and others who work with children and families. It reviews the purpose of the Children's Court and describes situations that would merit court involvement. It discusses the affect of child abuse and neglect on both the child and his/her family, details what hearings are involved in abuse and neglect cases and provides a timeline for court action, profiles who might be involved in child abuse and neglect proceedings, and explains how readers can become more involved. New Mexico Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties A Handbook for Parents and Guardians in Child Abuse & Neglect Cases: What You Need to Know About the Court Process and the People Helping You with Your Case, Shaening and Associates, Inc. and the New Mexico Court Improvement Project Task Force, 2001 16 pgs. NM-01-02 This booklet provides information for parents and guardians involved in child abuse and neglect cases. Updated from the original 1999 publication, this booklet explains the legal process, the role of various parties involved in abuse and neglect cases, various hearings and meetings, mediation, and parental rights and responsibilities. New Mexico Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Away From Home: Children & Youth Living Apart from Their Parents, New Mexico Guardianship Project of Advocacy, Inc. and the New Mexico Court Improvement Project Task Force, 2001 8 pgs. Available Now - Adobe PDF 44KB NM-01-03 This publication discusses guardianship and other options for children living away from home, such as power of attorney, caregiver's authorization affidavit, emancipation, adoption, and foster care. The booklet also provides information regarding government benefits and how to get more information and help. New Mexico Sharing the Responsibility: Developing a Collaborative Approach to Serving Children & Families, Shaening and Associates, Inc. and the New Mexico Court Improvement Project Task Force, 2001 8 pgs. NM-01-04 Designed for the community, the booklet provides support for the community and suggestions on how to involve the community in developing a collaborative approach to child welfare matters. New Mexico What's Going On? A Booklet for Children in Foster Care, Shaening and Associates, 2001 16 pgs. Available Now - Adobe PDF 134KB NM-01-05 This booklet is designed to inform children about the court process and foster care. New Mexico Mediation: Why Should You Go? What Should You Say? A Guide for Parents About Participating in Mediation, The Children's Court Mediation Project New Mexico Administrative Office of the Courts, 2002 8 pgs. Available Now - Adobe PDF 61KB NM-02-01 This pamphlet provides information to parents about the mediation process in child welfare cases, identifies the parties involved in mediation, and offers additional information that might be helpful in mediation. New Mexico Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Going to Court: When and How a Foster Parent Can Help, Shaening and Associates, Inc. and the New Mexico Court Improvement Project Task Force, 2002 8 pgs. Available Now - Adobe PDF 62KB NM-02-02 This booklet, written for foster parents and other caregivers, outlines ASFA requirements for notice to foster parents, provides information about various hearings, discusses how and when a foster parent might participate, and lists types of information that might be helpful to the court. New Mexico Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Ensuring the Well-Being of Children in Foster Care: What's Needed and What You Can Do About It, Shaening and Associates, Inc., and the New Mexico Supreme Court's Court Improvement Project Task Force, 2003 16 pgs NM-03-04 This booklet focuses on ensuring child and family well being in terms of family relationships; providing for a child’s physical, mental and educational needs; and special needs. New Mexico Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Preserving Native American Families in New Mexico: The Indian Child Welfare Act and the Adoption and Safe Families Act, Shaening and Associates, Inc., and the New Mexico Supreme Court's Court Improvement Project Task Force, 2003 12 pgs. NM-03-05 This booklet, intended as a resource for judges, attorneys, social workers, and others who work with children and families, provides an overview of the terms of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), the relationship of ICWA to the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA), and other information about serving Indian children in New Mexico. New Mexico Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Drug Court Data Elements/Access®, New Mexico Family Drug Courts, 2004 3 pages - Available Now - Word 25.6 KB NM-04-01 The New Mexico Family Drug Courts identified critical data elements and established an Access® database. Data elements identified include personal/demographic characteristics, pre-program history, health information, treatment history, financial information, education and housing information, and Drug Court progress and follow-up. New Mexico Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Other Initiatives Family Drug Court Standards, New Mexico Court Improvement Project, 2004 24 pages - Available Now - Word 140 KB NM-04-02 The New Mexico Court Improvement Project developed Family Drug Court Standards consistent with standards created for Adult and Juvenile Drug Courts by the Supreme Court’s Statewide Drug Court Advisory Committee. The Family Drug Court Standards cover the following areas: eligibility standards; suitability standards; operational standards; courtroom standards; program fees, budgets, and performance-based budgeting; sanctions and incentives; confidentiality; data collection and program evaluation; treatment standards; treatment provider standards; role of the Drug Court judge; and oversight and accountability function. New Mexico Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Other Initiatives Stepping Up to Care for A Child, Shaening and Associates, Inc., and The New Mexico Court Improvement Project Task Force, 2004 20 pages NM-04-03 This booklet provides information about resources for grandparents and other caregivers who are serving as guardians for a child. It addresses legal issues and legal assistance, money and financial assistance, health, mental health, developmental disabilities, school, transportation, day care and family services, and other services and resources. New Mexico Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Planning for Your Children: A Resource to Help You Plan for Your Children While You Are in Jail or Prison, The Incarcerated Parents Task Force in cooperation with Shaening and Associates, Inc., and The New Mexico Court Improvement Project Task Force, 2004 8 pages NM-04-04 This booklet addresses planning issues for parents who are going to jail or prison. The booklet covers topics such as how to tell your child that you are going to jail, contact with your children, choosing a caregiver, discipline, school, and resources for your children and their caregiver. New Mexico Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Away From Home: Children & Youth Living Apart from Their Parents, New Mexico Guardianship Project of Advocacy, Inc. and The New Mexico Court Improvement Project Task Force, 2nd edition, 2004 8 pages NM-04-05 This publication discusses guardianship and other options for children living away from home, such as power of attorney, caregiver's authorization affidavit, emancipation, adoption, and foster care. The booklet also provides information regarding government benefits and how to get more information and help. New Mexico Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties A Handbook for Parents and Guardians in Child Abuse and Neglect Cases: What You Need to Know About the Court Process and the People Helping You With Your Case, New Mexico Supreme Court Foster Care Task Force, August 1999 16 pgs. Available Now - Adobe PDF 82KB NM-99-01 This guidebook is designed as a resource for parents and guardians involved with child abuse or neglect cases. It explains why a person would have to go to court and what happens after a child is removed from the home; it profiles the role of the parent or guardians, social worker and attorney, as well as the child's GAL, agency attorney, CASA, and Citizen Review Board; and it provides summaries and timelines for each stage of the court process, including hearings, reviews, and meetings. The guidebook also includes room for notations so that a parent or guardian could refer to the material throughout the process. New Mexico Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Information Needs and Sources in Child Abuse and Neglect Cases: Guidelines for Getting the Assessment Information You Need, New Mexico Supreme Court Foster Care Task Force, May 1999 8 pgs. Available Now - Adobe PDF 53KB NM-99-02 This guidebook was developed as a resource for judges, attorneys, social workers, clinicians, child advocates and others who work with children and families. It has three major goals: to encourage participants in child welfare cases to request specific assessments, evaluations, and related reports only when there is a clear understanding of the information that is needed; to ensure that assessments, evaluations, and related reports provide the information required by ASFA; and to encourage and increase public discourse and debate about how evaluations and assessments should be paid for when they are needed to inform the pursuit of timely permanency decisions. It provides detailed information on what type of assessments could be useful, when they are needed, and when they are not needed. New Mexico Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties New York To Table of Contents Freed Child Permanency Hearing Recommended Practices, Adoption Now Workgroup, 2004 10 pages NY-04-06 This article, written by the Adoption Now Workgroup, outlines recommended practices for the freed child permanency hearing. The article addresses the actual permanency hearing, the steps leading up to it, and the steps to be taken after the first freed child hearing has been held. New York Child and Family Services Review Ensuring the Healthy Development of Foster Children: A Guide for Judges, Advocates and Child Welfare Professionals, New York State Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children, 20 pgs. NY-XX-01 This booklet was development as part of the New York's Court Improvement Project, to encourage those involved with child welfare cases to raise questions about the basis health needs of children in foster care. It explains how studies indicate foster children have far more fragile health than other children and are far less likely to receive the health care needed to improve their lives. It provides a ten-point checklist, consistent with the national standards for health care for children, which can illicit improvement information about a foster child's health. The booklet also provides expanded questions and commentary on each of the ten points, complete with references and referrals for additional information. New York Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Accelerating Adoptions: The Chapter 588 Project, Trudy Festinger DSW and Rachel Pratt MS, June 2000 23 pgs. NY-00-01 The Chapter 588 Project was initiated and undertaken by the New York City Families for Kids. This document shows how implementing a law that permits the filing of an adoption petition while termination of parental rights is pending allows the adoption proceeding to remain in the same court with the same judge presiding. The project explains how the use of this law shortens the time frames to provide children permanency. New York Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders: State Legislation Standards of Health Care for Foster Care, Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children, 1 pgs. NY-XX-03 This chart summarizes federal and New York laws regarding the provision of health care to foster children, as well as the recommendations of three guidelines (CWLA, AAP Foster Care, and New York District II AAP) regarding such care. It highlights issues of eligibility, medical screens, development, mental health, dental/vision/hearing, follow-up care and other miscellaneous topics. New York Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders: State Legislation Connecting Healthy Development and Permanency: A Pivotal Role for Child Welfare Professionals, Sheryl Dicker and Elysa Gordon, Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children, 6 pgs. Available Now - Adobe PDF 83KB NY-00-02 This article profiles the important role child welfare professionals can play in ensuring that the healthy development of foster children is an integral component of permanency planning. Specifically, it highlights a health profile of foster children nationwide; connects the health status of foster children to permanency goals; reviews resources to enhance health development, including Medicaid, EPSDT, IDEA programs and early childhood programs such as Head Start; and provides a checklist to help professionals link healthy development and permanency in practice. New York Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Ensuring the Healthy Development of Infants in Foster Care: A Guide for Judges, Advocates and Child Welfare Professionals, Sheryl Dicker and Elysa Gordon, Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children and Zero to Three Policy Center, January 2004 28 pgs. NY-04-01 As part of the "Babies Can't Wait" Project, this booklet contains a checklist of questions around the medical, developmental, and attachment needs of infants. The booklet also addresses potential challenges faced by caregivers that could impact on the ability to parent an infant, as well as resources available to enhance the infant's healthy development and prospects for permanency. New York Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Infant Checklist, Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children, 2004 1 page NY-04-02 As part of the Babies Can't Wait Project, this checklist contains five questions to consider when dealing with an infant in the child welfare system. These five questions cover medical issues, developmental issues, emotional health, caregiver capacity, and resources. New York Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Other Initiatives Building Bridges for Babies in Foster Care, Sheryl Dicker and Elysa Gordon, The Juvenile and Family Court Journal, 2004 13 pages NY-04-03 This article traces the history of the Babies Can't Wait Project. It describes the creation, implementation, and impact of the initiative. Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Other Initiatives Opening the Door to Early Intervention for Abused and Neglected Children: A New CAPTA Requirement, Sheryl Dicker and Elysa Gordon, ABA Child Law Practice, 2004 NY-04-04 (For copies, please contact the ABA Center on Children and the Law, Lisa Waxler at waxlerl@staff.abanet.org) This article explores the requirement under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) that states refer abused and neglected young children to the Early Intervention Program (Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act or "EIP"). The article addresses the types of services available, the eligibility standards, strategies to ensure EIP referral, and monitoring and tracking of strategies. New York Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Other Initiatives Since Babies Can't Wait for Services, They Need to Have Their Day in Court, Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children, 2004 1 page NY-04-05 This article describes the Permanent Judicial Commission's Babies Can't Wait Project. New York Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Other Initiatives Seize the Promise of Early Intervention for the Abused, Neglected/Legislation Affirms Need to Increase Access to Services, Sheryl Dicker and Elysa Gordon, Early Childhood Report, 2005 2 pages NY-05-01 These articles address an equitable referral system for all maltreated children under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA), as well as early intervention services that states must provide under IDEA. New York Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Other Initiatives Suffolk County Family Court, Family Drug Treatment Court: Concept Paper, , February 1998 9 pgs. On Disc NY-98-01 This paper discusses the genesis of the Family Drug Treatment Court within the Family Court of Suffolk County, New York. Specifically, this paper provides an overview of the number of abuse and neglect cases in Suffolk County involving parents with substance abuse problems; details the population targeted for participation in the Treatment Court; outlines the operational plan of the court, including the roles of the drug court coordinator and the case management teams; reviews the monitoring process, as well as program sanctions and rewards; highlights the phases of progress in drug court to graduation; and discusses the role of court attorney/referee and government and private agency cooperation. New York Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Other Initiatives The Promise of Early Intervention for Foster Children and their Families, Sheryl Dicker, Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children, 7 pgs. Available Now - Adobe PDF 85KB NY-99-01 This article, which was published in Interdisciplinary Report on At Risk Children and Families, reviews the health status of foster children, provides an overview of the federal Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities, and discusses key strategies to ensure that foster children and families receive early intervention services. Specifically, it profiles the health status of young foster children; reviews federal early intervention law, including eligibility, referral, and evaluation; and addresses the "special hurdles" parents and surrogates parents may face in attempting to secure early intervention services. New York Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Safeguarding Foster Children's Rights to Health Services, Sheryl Dicker and Elysa Gordon, Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children, July 1999 14 pgs. Available Now - Adobe PDF 138KB NY-99-02 This article addresses the general health needs and profiles of foster children. Specifically, it reviews the connection between healthy development and permanency; profiles the health status of foster children nationwide; discusses the legal requirements regarding foster children's health needs; and details the role of the court in ensuring healthy development for foster children, including law guardians and other child advocates, such as CASAs. New York Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Fast Facts on the Health Status of Foster Children, Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children, 4 pgs. NY-XX-02 This fact sheet highlights statistics on the health status of foster children nationwide. It addresses such issues as the percentage of foster care children with chronic health problems, exposure rates to HIV and other life-threatening diseases, social and mental development rates, and access to health care. It also reviews basic health care needs not received by many foster children. New York Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties North Carolina To Table of Contents Report on the Status of North Carolina's Drug Treatment Court Program, North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts, 2002 10 pgs. NC-02-03 This document is a report on the status of North Carolina's Drug Treatment Court (DTC) program, updating the status of the program through 2001. It includes a list of program highlights for 2001; a summary listing of the current local DTC programs in the state such as pre-plea and post-sentence DTC and Family DTC and post-adjudication Juvenile DTC; and aggregate program data from local DTCs that were operational throughout 2001. North Carolina Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Other Initiatives Evaluation Evaluation: General North Carolina Guardian Ad Litem Attorney Practice Manual, Volumes I & II, Kella W. Hatcher, J.D., Administrative Office of the Courts, Guardian Ad Litem Program (West Group 2002), West Group 2002 online at http://www.nccourts.org/Citizens/GAL/ResAtt.asp or by calling Keynisha Powell, 919 571-4816 NC-02-01 The Guardian Ad Litem Attorney Practice Manual is a reference for attorneys representing abused, neglected, and dependent children in North Carolina Juvenile Courts. According to the Manual's introduction, Volume I serves as the "nuts and bolts" portion of the Manual that guides the user through the proceedings and contains statutes, checklists, and tools for legal representation. Volume II provides additional reference materials, including general information about the roles and responsibilities of guardians, ethical issues, and relevant federal laws. North Carolina Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Training and Education Child Planning Conferences Best Practices and Procedures for Juvenile Abuse, Neglect and Dependency Cases in North Carolina, North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts, Court Programs Division, 2009 27 pgs. Available online at http://www.nccourts.org/Citizens/CPrograms/Improvement/Documents/CPCBestPractices_May09.pdf. NC-09-01 These guidelines address how best to conduct a Child Planning Conference, and include sections entitled Proactive Judicial Leadership, Collaboration among Court Partners, Signed Memorandum of Agreement, Appropriate Meetnig Enviroment, and Structured Process. North Carolina Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks North Carolina Guardian Ad Litem Attorney Practice Manual, Volumes I & II, Kella W. Hatcher, J.D., Administrative Office of the Courts, Guardian Ad Litem Program (West Group 2002), West Group 2002 online at http://www.nccourts.org/Citizens/GAL/ResAtt.asp or by calling Keynisha Powell, 919 571-4816 NC-02-01 The Guardian Ad Litem Attorney Practice Manual is a reference for attorneys representing abused, neglected, and dependent children in North Carolina Juvenile Courts. According to the Manual's introduction, Volume I serves as the "nuts and bolts" portion of the Manual that guides the user through the proceedings and contains statutes, checklists, and tools for legal representation. Volume II provides additional reference materials, including general information about the roles and responsibilities of guardians, ethical issues, and relevant federal laws. North Carolina Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Training and Education CaseWise/JWise System Sample Screens, North Carolina Court System, 2005 12 pages - Available Now - Word 420 KB NC-05-01 North Carolina is implementing the CaseWise/JWise System to collect data on juvenile court cases, including abuse, neglect, and dependency cases. The following sample screens are available for review: Main Screen; Juvenile Adjudication Order; Juvenile Allegation Assignment Page; Parent/Guardian/Custodian Add Page; Parent Maintenance Edit; Juvenile Disposition Order; and Party to Allegations Page. North Carolina Technology Technology: Data Collection Technology: Case Tracking and Management Systems Shaping the Change for Children and Families in the Court System, The Second Annual Court Improvement Project Statewide Conference, 2000 1171 pgs. NC-00-01 This training manual contains information on the following topics: court coordination of family cases; court-based child care; appellate procedures; legislative and case law update; teen court programs; conflict management; family group conferencing; special education; mediation; life books; females in the juvenile justice system; EPSDT; family drug treatment courts; and ASFA. North Carolina Training and Education Training and Education: Multidisciplinary Training Final Report on The Evaluation of the North Carolina Court Improvement Project, Raymond S. Kirk, Ph. D., 2001 47 pgs. Available Now - Adobe PDF 310KB NC-01-01 This report details the evaluation of new rules developed to process juvenile cases, conducted by the Jordan Institute for Families at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Over 1250 cases were reviewed to consider the courts' ability to implement the rules and the effectiveness of the new rules in achieving intended outcomes. Overall, the evaluation indicated positive changes, such as reductions in continuances and the number of out-of-home placements, with general stakeholder support for the new rules. North Carolina Evaluation Evaluation: General Collaborating for Success, North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts, 3rd Annual Court Improvement Conference Participant Notebook, 2001 509 pgs. NC-01-02 This notebook provides an overview of the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts and the Court Improvement Project (CIP). It documents the progress that has been made in North Carolina since the CIP was developed. Resources for the practicing child abuse and neglect lawyer are provided. Conference presenters included handouts from the various presentations including: parent education program, family court timelines, changes in legislation, dispositions in delinquency cases, TPR case building, drug treatment court, mediation in permanency planning, and creating LINKS for teens in foster care. North Carolina Training and Education Training and Education: Multidisciplinary Training Training and Education: Training Materials and Benchbooks North Carolina Juvenile Court: Child Protection Hearings - A Handbook for Parents, Guardians, Custodians, and Children, , 13 pgs. Available Now - 182 KB NC-02-02 The Handbook for Parents, Guardians, Custodians, and Children describes who will be involved in the court process and the types of hearings the parties will be expected to attend. It also provides a juvenile court checklist to help parents keep track of court dates, and a page to write down important contact information. North Carolina Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Report on the Status of North Carolina's Drug Treatment Court Program, North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts, 2002 10 pgs. NC-02-03 This document is a report on the status of North Carolina's Drug Treatment Court (DTC) program, updating the status of the program through 2001. It includes a list of program highlights for 2001; a summary listing of the current local DTC programs in the state such as pre-plea and post-sentence DTC and Family DTC and post-adjudication Juvenile DTC; and aggregate program data from local DTCs that were operational throughout 2001. North Carolina Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Other Initiatives Evaluation Evaluation: General The Choice is Yours, North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts, 2003 NC-03-01 (Contact North Carolina Court Improvement Project for ordering information.) This video describes the dependency court process from the filing of the petition to termination of parental rights. The video contains both English and Spanish language versions on the same tape, and is closed captioned for the deaf. North Carolina Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Ohio To Table of Contents Chronology of the Permanency Planning-Best Practices Initiative, Magistrate Judith A. Fornof on behalf of the Permanency Planning Team, 2001 9 pgs. OH-01-01 This document is a timeline of Ohio's permanency planning-best practices initiative for Lucas County. The initiative is pursuing the goal of having the court continue in its efforts to prioritize the issue of permanency and the goal of educating professionals on the importance of timely permanency. The document lists the various stages and events of the process. It discusses various meetings, reports, site visits, concept papers, work plans, and mission statements regarding achieving permanency for children. The county proposes to use a multi-system case analysis. Ohio Evaluation Evaluation: General Family Court Feasibility Study & Governor's Task Force on the Investigation and Prosecution of Child Abuse and Child Sexual Abuse Cases, The Supreme Court of State of Ohio, 1999 51 pgs. online at http://www.sconet.state.oh.us OH-99-01 The Family Court Feasibility Study (FCFS) refers to a constellation of activities jointly administered by the Supreme Court of Ohio and the Ohio Department of Human Services to improve the interaction between the child welfare and judicial systems and the effectiveness of intervention in family related court cases. This packet of material reviews the genesis of FCFS, details current activities, includes draft revisions to the Ohio Family Code, and highlights FCFS pilot projects. Recent FCFS initiatives discussed in the packet include: the development of judicial and cross-training education programs; case tracking information from the juvenile data network; expansion of the CASA/GAL program; and the exploration of working with the Ohio State Bar to develop training requirements and certification procedures for attorneys who practice in family law. In addition, Family Court Bulletins from Winter 2000 and Fall 1999 and an April 1999 Juvenile Data Network bulletin are provided. Ohio Evaluation Evaluation: General Mentor Pilot Program Checklist, Toledo Model Court, 2004 2 pages - Available Now - PDF 172 KB OH-04-01 The Toledo Model Court has developed an attorney mentor pilot program for attorneys with limited experience in child protection cases who are interested in accepting appointments. Each inexperienced attorney is assigned to three experienced attorney mentors. The Mentor Pilot Program Checklist contains a list of the types of hearings at which the inexperienced attorney must attend and observe an assigned mentor(s). Ohio Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Pilot Projects and Model Courts Crisis Counselor Protocol for Shelter Care Hearings, Toledo Model Court, 2004 2 pages - Available Now - PDF 172 KB OH-04-02 The Toledo Model Court provides a Crisis Counselor at shelter care hearings and to provide follow-up home services. The Crisis Counselor Protocol provides guidelines for how to process cases eligible for these services. Ohio Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Pilot Projects and Model Courts Ohio Juvenile Court Clerk's Best Practices, Supreme Court of Ohio, 2004 Available online here OH-04-03 The Juvenile Court Clerk's Best Practices manual provides information about relevant statutes and rules, as well as ideas from juvenile clerks across the state. The recommendations in the manual are designed to assist Juvenile Court clerks develop practices and procedures. Ohio Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Oklahoma To Table of Contents Oklahoma Court Reassessment Project, Amy Barnett, M.S., Ken Rose, Ph.D, Randy Barnett, M.S., Barbara Lueck, Jeannette Shaw, and Ashley Slemp, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, 2006 194 pgs. OK-06-01 This report is the final reassessment report for the Oklahoma Court Improvement Project. Oklahoma Evaluation Evaluation: General Oregon To Table of Contents Evaluability Assessment Site Visit Summary (Draft), James Bell Associates, 2002 21 pgs. Available Now - 136 KB Word OR-02-02 This draft report by James Bell Associates, the Children's Bureau contractor, is the result of site visits conducted to consider the mediation pilot project in Marion County. The report addresses implementation history and administration, the dependency mediation process, the mediation model, and the results and benefits of mediation. The report concludes that, if certain issues were addressed, a rigorous evaluation would be possible supplemented by an evaluation of the process of reform. A detailed scheme for such an evaluation is included in the report. Oregon Alternative Dispute Resolution Evaluation Evaluation: General Evaluability Assessment Site Visit Summary (Draft), James Bell Associates, 2002 21 pgs. Available Now - 136 KB Word OR-02-02 This draft report by James Bell Associates, the Children's Bureau contractor, is the result of site visits conducted to consider the mediation pilot project in Marion County. The report addresses implementation history and administration, the dependency mediation process, the mediation model, and the results and benefits of mediation. The report concludes that, if certain issues were addressed, a rigorous evaluation would be possible supplemented by an evaluation of the process of reform. A detailed scheme for such an evaluation is included in the report. Oregon Alternative Dispute Resolution Evaluation Evaluation: General Juvenile Court Improvement Project Reassessment Executive Summary, Oregon Juvenile Court Improvement Project, 2004 OR-04-01 The Oregon Juvenile Court Improvement Project (JCIP) used an evaluation team, consisting of court employees with expertise in juvenile courts, juvenile law, dependency mediation, and research/evaluation, to complete its reassessment. The JCIP also formed the Assessment Review Committee to work with the evaluation team. The evaluation team obtained statewide data and conducted an in-depth study of five counties’ juvenile court systems, using Oregon’s case tracking and management system to analyze the data. The final report includes recommendations for future improvements. Oregon Evaluation Evaluation: General Juvenile Court Dependency Benchbook, Oregon Juvenile Court Improvement Project, 2002 online at http://www.ojd.state.or.us/JuvenileBenchBook.nsf OR-02-01 The Oregon Juvenile Court Improvement Project staff developed the Juvenile Court Dependency Benchbook for judges and their staff. The Benchbook currently contains statutes, flow charts, forms, and procedures for juvenile dependency type cases. The Benchbook will be updated to reflect any changes arising from the 2003 legislative session, information for juvenile delinquency cases, and technical support papers on the Indian Child Welfare Act and permanency hearings. Oregon Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Mentor Contact Sheets, Oregon Juvenile Court Improvement Project, 2003 Available now - 12 KB DAT OR-03-01 The Oregon Juvenile Court Improvement Project established a judge mentorship program, where a champion judge supports new judges or those who infrequently hear child abuse and neglect cases. The Court Improvement Project developed mentor contact sheets, which are submitted monthly and indicate the amount of time judges have spent in the mentoring relationship and the nature of the mentoring contacts (phone call, e-mail, site visits). Oregon Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Pilot Projects and Model Courts Principles and Standards for Counsel in Criminal, Delinquency and Dependency Cases, Oregon Juvenile Law Task Force, 2006 30 pgs. OR-06-01 Oregon revised its comprehensive standards for legal representation of children and parents in child abuse and neglect cases.  The Standards contain three sections: 1) General Standards of Representation for All Criminal, Deliquency, Dependency, and Civil Commitment Cases; 2) Specific Standards for Representation in Criminal and Juvenile Deliquency Cases; and 3) Specific Standards for Represention in Juvenile Dependency Cases.  The Standards are available at http://www.osbar.org/barnews/juveniletaskforce.html. Oregon Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Legal Representation of Parties Model Juvenile Dependency Forms, Juvenile Court Dependency Benchbook, 2003 Available online atwww.ojd.state.or.us/JuvenileBenchBook.nsf OR-03-02 Oregon developed model forms for court orders. The forms were drafted to facilitate use of the data entry protocols that the Oregon Juvenile Court Improvement Project developed for child abuse and neglect cases. The forms can be viewed and downloaded from the Juvenile Court Dependency Benchbook. Oregon Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders: Forms and Orders Oregon's Juvenile Dependency Court: A Guide for Foster Parents, Oregon Juvenile Court Improvement Project, 2003 Available now - 41 KB Adobe OR-03-03 The Juvenile Court Improvement Project developed a pamphlet for foster parents designed to educate them about their role in court proceedings. The pamphlet provides an overview of juvenile dependency court proceedings, the right to notice and opportunity to be heard, and helpful information foster parents can provide to the court. Oregon Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Pennsylvania To Table of Contents Pennsylvania Court Improvement Project Assessment of 2001 Initiatives in the Philadelphia Dependency Court, National Center for Juvenile Justice, March 2002 77 pgs. PA-02-01 In 2002, the National Center for Juvenile Justice (NCJJ) evaluated the progress of the Dependency Court in implementing 15 specific requirements as part of a settlement agreement to a class action lawsuit brought on behalf of abused and neglected children in Philadelphia. These 15 requirements correlate with or enhance many of the existing initiatives in the Dependency Court, and the NCJJ's evaluation fulfilled one of the 15 requirements, i.e., that an independent assessment of the Dependency Court be obtained. The resulting report provides extensive data and analysis on such reforms as drug, alcohol, and behavioral services, early assignment and notice of counsel, prehearing conferences and adjudicatory hearings, facilitation conferences, and permanency hearings. Recommendations for improvement, such as refined procedures for court-ordered behavioral services and continued development of active case flow management, are also included. Pennsylvania Evaluation Evaluation: General Evaluability Assessment Site Visit Summary (Draft), James Bell Associates, 2002 54 pgs. PA-02-02 This draft report by James Bell Associates, the Children's Bureau contractor, is the result of site visits conducted to consider the use of prehearing conferences and specialized courts. The report details the purpose and procedures for both prehearing conferences and specialized courts. Regarding the prehearing conferences, the draft report found that a quasi-experimental pre/post comparison group design is feasible, and recommended it be supplemented with a process of reform analysis. The quasi-experimental pre/post comparison group design would compare the outcomes of cases filed before the prehearing conference was implemented statewide with those filed after statewide implementation. The report also recommended a quasi-experimental evaluation for the Accelerated Adoption Review Court. For the Alternative Planned Permanency Living Arrangement/Kinship Care Court, the report suggested postponing an evaluation until additional "fine-tuning" of referral criteria and hearing protocols could be achieved. A detailed scheme for each proposed evaluation is included in the report. Pennsylvania Evaluation Evaluation: General Rhode Island To Table of Contents Rhode Island Case Management Conference and Pre-Trial Conference Orders, , 10 pgs. Available Now - Adobe PDF 105KB RI-FORMS01 This packet includes the following sample documents from the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations: Notice of Case Management Conference; Notice of Mediation and Pre Trial Conference; Case Management Conference Order (On Disc); Pre-Trial Conference Order (On Disc). Rhode Island Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders: Forms and Orders Rhode Island Family Court Juvenile Caseflow Model, , Available Now - Adobe PDF 235KB RI-FORMS02 Rhode Island Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders: Forms and Orders Rhode Island Family Court Administrative Order 98-2: Termination of Parental Rights (TPR) Caseflow Calendar, , April 1998 5 pgs. Available Now - Adobe PDF 319KB RI-98-01 Rhode Island Family Court Administrative Order 98-2: Termination of Parental Rights (TPR) Caseflow Calendar Rhode Island Timeliness of Decisions South Carolina To Table of Contents Relative Placement: Information for Relatives, Children's Law Office of the University of South Carolina School of Law, 2006 15 pgs. Available online at http://childlaw.sc.edu/frmPublications/RelativePlacementInformationforRelatives.pdf. SC-06-01 This guide provides information for relatives of children removed from their parents, and includes such topics as types of placements, custody and guardianship, resources and services available to caregivers, issues affecting parents, and issues affecting children. South Carolina Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties South Dakota To Table of Contents South Dakota Guidelines for Judicial Process in Child Abuse and Neglect Cases, South Dakota Unified Judicial System, December 1999 176 pgs. SD-99-01 These guidelines were developed pursuant to a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the purpose of reforming the handling of child abuse and neglect court cases in South Dakota. They address all aspects of child abuse and neglect proceedings, outlining necessary procedural steps for each phase in the process and the role of each participant. Specifically, the guidelines detail general issues, such as the definition of abuse and neglect and other statutes relating to child abuse; reporting and investigating, including taking the report, conducting the investigation, and interviewing parents and children; protective custody, including assessing imminent danger and determining if a child should be removed; the role and appointment process of CASAs; intake, including contacting and working with the intake officer and the procedure for holding an intake hearing; the purpose, procedure and scope of the 48-hour hearing, including what factors to consider, how to expedite cases, and determining if ICWA applies; South Dakota Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks They Need Someone on Their Side: Legal Representation for Abused and Neglected Children, Child Protection Services, South Dakota Department of Social Services, 2002 7 pgs. SD-02-01 This pamphlet was developed for attorneys to explain the child welfare process and how to represent children. The pamphlet includes specific tips and sources of relevant information. South Dakota Training and Education Training and Education: Attorney/GAL Programs Tennessee To Table of Contents A Re-Assessment of Tennessee's Judicial Process in Foster Care Cases, Tennessee Court Improvement Program, 2005 121 pgs. TN-05-02 This report is the final reassessment report for the Tennessee Court Improvement Program and can be obtained at http://www.tsc.state.tn.us/geninfo/programs/CourtImprovement/Docs/reassessment.pdf. Tennessee Evaluation Evaluation: General Advocacy in Child Dependency and Termination of Parental Rights Cases, Tennessee Court Improvement Program, Fourth Edition, 2004 Available online at http://www.tsc.state.tn.us/geninfo/programs/CourtImprovement/Advocacy3.pdf TN-04-01 This manual is designed for attorneys who represent parents, guardians ad litem, and agency attorneys. The manual addresses practice and procedure, case law, and resources for advocates. The manual also contains sample forms. Tennessee Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Child Dependency Benchbook, Tennessee Court Improvement Program, Fourth Edition, 2005 Available online at http://www.tsc.state.tn.us/geninfo/Programs/CourtImprovement/BB.PDF TN-04-02 The Tennessee Court Improvement Program issued the fourth edition of this judicial benchbook. The benchbook addresses practice and procedure, case law, and resources. The benchbook also contains forms and checklists. Tennessee Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Training Manual for Foster Care Review Boards, Tennessee Court Improvement Program, Administrative Office of the Courts, Tennessee Supreme Court, 2004 Available online at http://www.tsc.state.tn.us/geninfo/programs/CourtImprovement/CourtImprovement.htm TN-04-03 The Tennessee Court Improvement Program has developed a third edition of its training manual for Foster Care Review Boards. The manual provides information about the permanency plan, legal process, and forms. Tennessee Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Legal Advocacy in Child Dependency and Termination of Parental Rights Cases 5th edition, Tennessee Court Improvement Program, 2006 approx. 300 pgs. TN-06-01 The manual is a fifth edition of the original published in 1998. It is designed for attorneys who represent parents, guardians ad litem, and agency attorneys. It includes sections on statutory law, case law, sample forms and orders, hearing checklists, and resource information. The manual can found at http://www.tsc.state.tn.us/geninfo/programs/CourtImprovement/Advocacy3.pdf. Tennessee Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Legal Advocacy in Child Dependency and Parental Rights Cases, Tennessee Court Improvement Program, Tennessee Supreme Court, and the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts, 2002 online at http://www.tsc.state.tn.us/geninfo/Programs/CourtImprovement/advocacy.pdf TN-02-01 The Tennessee Court Improvement Program, in conjunction with the Tennessee Supreme Court and the Administrative Office of the Courts, published the second edition of this manual. The publication covers practice and procedure, case law, and resources for advocates. It also contains sample forms, motions, and orders, as well as checklists adopted from the Resource Guidelines. Tennessee Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Training and Education Training and Education: Attorney/GAL Programs Power of Attorney Forms, Tennessee Court Improvement Program, Administrative Office of the Courts, Tennessee Supreme Court, 2004 TN-03-01 Tennessee enacted power of attorney legislation in May 2003. The Tennessee Court Improvement Program assisted in the development of these forms to implement the legislation. The forms are written in both English and Spanish, and are available in every office of the Department of Children’s Services throughout the state. Tennessee Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders: Forms and Orders Legal Advocacy in Child Dependency and Parental Rights Cases, Tennessee Court Improvement Program, Tennessee Supreme Court, and the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts, 2002 online at http://www.tsc.state.tn.us/geninfo/Programs/CourtImprovement/advocacy.pdf TN-02-01 The Tennessee Court Improvement Program, in conjunction with the Tennessee Supreme Court and the Administrative Office of the Courts, published the second edition of this manual. The publication covers practice and procedure, case law, and resources for advocates. It also contains sample forms, motions, and orders, as well as checklists adopted from the Resource Guidelines. Tennessee Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Training and Education Training and Education: Attorney/GAL Programs The Tennessee Handbook for Parents and Guardians in Child Abuse and Neglect Cases, The Tennessee Supreme Court/Court Improvement Program and The Tennessee Department of Children's Services, 20 pgs. TN-XX-01 This short, easy-to-read pamphlet contains information regarding the rights and duties of a parent/guardian who is involved in the child welfare system. It provides a description of the juvenile court and discusses the parties in each case. It briefly describes the stages of an abuse and neglect case from removal through preliminary hearing, permanency planning staffing, adjudicatory hearing, dispositional hearing, a judicial review or review board hearing, permanency hearing, and finally, the Termination of Parental Rights hearing. Tennessee Treatment of Parties Treatment of Parties: Information to Parties Texas To Table of Contents Evaluability Assessment Site Visit Summary (Draft), James Bell Associates, 2002 21 pgs. Available Now - 115 KB Word TX-02-01 This draft report by James Bell Associates, the Children's Bureau contractor, is the result of a four-day visit to review various CIP reforms, particularly Texas' permanency legislation and the implementation of the cluster courts. The draft report concluded that evaluation would be most feasible through a "quasi-experimental design." This design would review pre-intervention implementation, pre-cluster court implementation but post-12 month permanency legislation, and post-cluster court implementation. A detailed scheme for such an evaluation is included in the report. Texas Evaluation Evaluation: General Attorney's Desk Reference, Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, Child Protection Services, November 1997 414 pgs. TX-97-01 This reference guide was developed to make it easier for attorneys to quickly digest and implement new changes and to offer a standardized, efficient approach to child welfare litigation. It reviews new federal and state legislative requirements and provides information and practice tips on a wide ranges of issues including: alternatives to removal; notice; absent fathers; child support; emergency removal; hearings; judgments; TPR; evidence; experts; jury issues; and special cases such as those involving ICWA and immigrant children. It also discusses issues that arise after the trial is over including post-trial matters and appeals. Numerous flowcharts, timelines, worksheets and sample scripts are provided throughout the guide on varying subjects. Texas Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Representing Texas Children in Abuse and Neglect Cases: A Manual for Attorneys, Children's Justice Act, October 1998 188 pgs. TX-98-02 This manual provides a basic guide for representing children in civil abuse and neglect cases. It covers the role of a child's lawyer, the relationship between the Attorney ad Litem and Guardian ad Litem, and communicating with children and children's testimony. The manual also provides an overview of Child protection litigation and presents guidelines on working with the social services agency. There is a chapter on planning for permanency including timelines for foster care and a description of permanency planning teams. The chapter on international issued on child protection discusses special immigration for juvenile status and notice to foreign counsel. Texas Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Representing Texas Children in Abuse and Neglect Cases: A Manual for Attorneys, Children's Justice Act, October 1998 188 pgs. TX-98-02 This manual provides a basic guide for representing children in civil abuse and neglect cases. It covers the role of a child's lawyer, the relationship between the Attorney ad Litem and Guardian ad Litem, and communicating with children and children's testimony. The manual also provides an overview of Child protection litigation and presents guidelines on working with the social services agency. There is a chapter on planning for permanency including timelines for foster care and a description of permanency planning teams. The chapter on international issued on child protection discusses special immigration for juvenile status and notice to foreign counsel. Texas Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Legal Forms Manual, Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, Child Protection Services, 1998 294 pgs. TX-98-01 This manual includes annotated excerpts from the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services' legal forms, as well as related legal annotations, analyses and discussions. It was designed to explain the legal reasoning behind, and legal support for, selected pleadings and orders being provided to agency attorneys. Individual sections are included for the following topics: pre-removal forms; initial pleadings and orders; temporary orders; review orders; final orders; and ancillary forms such as writ of attachment, default judgment where an Attorney Ad Litem is required, parentage, procedural issues, and medical or mental health records. Texas Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders: Forms and Orders Utah To Table of Contents An Evaluation of Utah Court Improvement Project Reforms and Best Practices: Executive Summary, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges and Utah Court Improvement Project, 2002 19 pgs. UT-02-01 Funded by the Utah Court Improvement Project, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges evaluated CIP reforms and best practices. The CIP Executive Committee and the Utah Administrative Office of the Courts posed eight specific questions to be addressed by the evaluation, encompassing issues such as timeliness of court steps, concurrent planning, reasonable efforts, reviews, and best practices. In addition to providing and analyzing the data in each area, the report includes numerous recommendations for consideration by the Court Improvement Project. Utah Evaluation Evaluation: General Child Welfare Statutory Time Requirements Report, Utah Administrative Office of the Courts, 2002 8 pgs. UT-02-02 The Utah Administrative Office of the Courts submitted this report to the Utah Legislature in October 2002. Data presented in the report was derived from cases entering the court system through a shelter hearing between October 2001 and September 2002, and generally addressed compliance with timelines set forth under the law. Several recommendations were included in the report, including the need for additional judicial resources to address increased child welfare cases, improvement of the case management system, and development of uniform practice standards for parents' counsel. Utah Evaluation Evaluation: General Utah's Foster Care Review at a Crossroads: An Evaluation of System Performance and Stakeholder Perceptions, Voices for Utah Children, 2004 http://www.utahchildren.net/pdf_files/katieallpdf.pdf UT-04-01 The Utah Court Improvement Project contracted for a study of Utah's Foster Care Citizen Review process with Voices for Utah Children, a non-profit child advocacy organization. The study examined current foster care review systems in Utah and other states. The report provides recommendations regarding the future of periodic reviews for children in foster care. Utah Evaluation Evaluation: General Juvenile Child Welfare Time Standards Report, Utah Court Improvement Project, 2005 2 pages - Available Now - PDF 43.4 KB UT-05-01 Utah uses the Juvenile Child Welfare Time Standards Report to enter performance data that tracks certain ASFA time elements, which are required by the state legislature for a report each September. Local juvenile courts in all eight districts around the state manually enter data from which the Time Standards Report can be run. After Utah’s Court Agency Records Exchange (CARE) system is fully implemented, the data will be retrievable without separate data entry at the local level. Utah Technology Technology: Data Collection Technology: Case Tracking and Management Systems Vermont To Table of Contents Family Court Judges' Resource Book, Vermont Court Improvement Project, 2004 60 VT-04-02 The Vermont Court Improvement Project developed a Family Court Resource Book for each of the 14 Family Courts. The Resource Book contains forms, a summary of new developments, caseflow charts, and a copy of the 0 - 6 Permanency Protocol. The Resource Book is intended to remain in the judge¿s chambers and will be updated annually. Vermont Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Guidelines, Manuals, and Benchbooks Juvenile Management Reports, Vermont Court Improvement Project, 2004 8 pages VT-04-01 The Vermont Court Improvement Project began making weekly Juvenile Management Reports available to all Family Court judges and managers. The reports show juvenile cases pending initial disposition after adjudication and cases with pending TPRs. There are also reports that show, on a monthly basis, cases pending initial disposition, new cases filed, cases reaching initial disposition, and clearance rates. Vermont Technology Technology: Data Collection Technology: Case Tracking and Management Systems Expediting Appeals Involving Abused or Neglected Children, Vermont Supreme Court, September 1999 8 pgs. VT-99-01 This handout reviews efforts taken by the Vermont Supreme Court to expedite appeals in child protection cases. It profiles the number of juvenile appeals closed in the Vermont Supreme Court over the past ten years; provides a chronology of events leading to new procedures for expediting CHINS/TPR appeals at the Vermont Supreme Court; highlights problems and solutions for expediting CHINS/TPR appeals; and provides a summary of what was done to establish procedures for expediting CHINS/TPR cases, including initial outreach, changes in internal operating procedures, and rules amendments. The handout also includes two charts: TPR Appeals Pending Supreme Court Decision More than Six Months (August 1997 - August 1999) and Vermont Supreme Court Juvenile Decisions: Number of Days from Appeal to Ready for Decision and from Ready for Decision to Decision (1998 - 1999). Vermont Timeliness of Decisions Timeliness of Decisions: Appeals Virginia To Table of Contents Final Report: To Assess the Court Handling of Child Abuse, Neglect, Foster Care and Termination of Parental Rights Cases in the "Anytown" Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, Court Improvement Program - Foster Care and Adoption, Office of the Executive Secretary, Supreme Court of Virginia, January 2000 128 pgs. VA-00-04 This report, which has had its identifying information removed, addresses the impact of new legislation on the court's processing of child abuse, neglect, foster care and permanency planning and TPR cases. The report is framed by three key questions: has court procedure in "Anytown" been altered as a result of these laws; is the "Anytown" court Virginia Evaluation Evaluation: General Expediting Appeals in the Court of Appeals in Virginia: An Analysis of Timeframes in Termination of parental Rights Cases, Court Improvement Program Foster Care and Adoption Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia, December 2001 95 pgs. VA-01-01 This study extracted data from the Virginia Court's management information system to compare the timing of termination of parental rights cases with domestic relations cases and appeals with workmen's compensation cases to analyze how the court prioritizes termination cases. The study compared time intervals in cases with and without oral arguments. This report discusses the findings of this study, analyzes delays in the system, and includes the court's response to the study. Virginia Timeliness of Decisions Timeliness of Decisions: Appeals Evaluation Evaluation: General Evaluability Assessment Site Visit Summary (Draft), James Bell Associates, 2002 21 pgs. Available Now - 150 KB Word VA-02-01 This draft report by James Bell Associates, the Children's Bureau contractor, is the result of site visits to review various CIP reforms. The draft report concludes that, due to the multiple and simultaneous reforms underway, an evaluation emphasizing the reform process would be preferable to an outcome evaluation. The report also noted that, pending a process evaluation, limited outcome evaluations might be feasible in some locations around the state. A detailed scheme for the evaluation process is included in the report. Virginia Evaluation Evaluation: General Court Improvement Program Foster Care and Adoption Survey for CASA Programs, Virginia Court Improvement Program - Foster Care and Adoption, June 1999 12 pgs. Available Now - Adobe PDF 131KB VA-99-02 This survey is one of several sent to professionals working directly with the Court Improvement Program in order to assess what is and what is not working in the permanency planning process for children in foster care in Virginia. CASA programs were asked questions on numerous issues, including: general background information on the specific program; the frequency of various court practices when a CASA volunteer has been appointed (e.g., completion of an independent investigation, submission of a written report, use of the report at various hearings, meeting with key stakeholders and participants, receipt of various reports and court documents, etc.; the timing and content of the program's involvement at various stages of the case; perceptions of CASA programs among other stakeholders and participants; barriers to full implementation of court improvement initiatives; and the program's involvement with the Court Improvement Program. Virginia Evaluation Evaluation: General Court Improvement Program Foster Care and Adoption Survey for Foster Parents, Virginia Court Improvement Program - Foster Care and Adoption, June 1999 8 pgs. Available Now - Adobe PDF 100KB VA-99-03 This survey asks Virginia foster parents numerous questions about their background and experiences. Specifically, foster parents are asked about: their background experience as foster parents; knowledge of the court process for foster children; the frequency of various events, including how often they help formulate a foster care plan, receive such a plan, receive written notice of hearings, are asked various questions by the judge, meet with various stakeholders and participants, know or meet with a GAL, are familiar or work with CASA programs, etc.); and general opinions about their role as foster parents and their interactions with the agency and the court. Virginia Evaluation Evaluation: General Court Improvement Program Foster Care and Adoption Survey for Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Clerks, Virginia Court Improvement Program -- Foster Care and Adoption, June 1999 15 pgs. Available Now - Adobe PDF 145KB VA-99-04 This survey is one of several sent to professionals working directly with the Court Improvement Program in order to assess what is and what is not working in the permanency planning process for children in foster care in Virginia. Clerks were asked questions on numerous issues, including: estimates of the number of specified cases; the frequency of several courtroom routines (e.g., the appointment of a CASA, GAL or parents' attorney, the timing of the issuance of various orders, the production of various orders and reports, when hearings are scheduled, interactions with other key stakeholders and participants, etc.); general opinions about the court process; time estimates for scheduling and conducting various hearings; barriers to full implementation of court improvement initiatives; the use of new court forms; and general characteristics of the court. Virginia Evaluation Evaluation: General Court Improvement Program Foster Care and Adoption Survey for Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Judges, Virginia Court Improvement Program -- Foster Care and Adoption, June 1999 16 pgs. Available Now - Adobe PDF 137KB VA-99-05 This survey is one of several sent to professionals working directly with the Court Improvement Program in order to assess what is and what is not working in the permanency planning process for children in foster care in Virginia. Judges were asked questions on numerous issues, including: the number of cases heard and hearings held in a given month; the frequency with which various actions are taken (e.g. appointing a CASA, GAL or parents' attorney, issuing specific orders, making specified findings, producing written reports, receiving various reports, permitting continuance, etc.); barriers to full implementation of court improvement initiatives; use of new district court forms; and general, personal background information. Virginia Evaluation Evaluation: General 1999 Report to the General Assembly and Supreme Court of Virginia, Judicial Council of Virginia, 136 pgs. current report is online at www.court.state.va.us VA-99-07 This report highlights the work undertaken in 1999 within the Virginia court system to lay the foundation for continued innovation, progress and service. It describes the structure and activities of the Judicial Council of Virginia, including the Council's legislative proposals; the 2000-2002 strategic plan; the request for new judgeships in selected circuits; a report on jury reform, and local court rules. The report also features an update on the Court Improvement Program and on Foster Care and Adoption initiatives, including efforts made to improve court technology. It evaluates how Virginia juvenile courts process child maltreatment and foster care cases, provide training programs, and develop related policy and legislation; details standards for the qualification of lawyers as guardians ad litem; and provides guidelines for certification of court-referred mediators. Work-plans, charts and timelines reviewing various programs and initiatives are provided throughout. Virginia Evaluation Evaluation: General Best Practice Court Matters: An Update on the Latest Events of Best Practice Courts of Virginia, Court Improvement Program, Office of the Executive Secretary, Supreme Court of Virginia, Spring 2003 4 pgs. VA-03-01 The Virginia Court Improvement Program publishes a newsletter to highlight the activities of Best Practice Courts. Best Practice Courts are committed to implementing the Resource Guidelines, and receive specialized training and technical support from the Court Improvement Program. Best Practice Court Matters serves to link the courts, professionals, and communities that have committed to examining their local practices and sharing their successes and innovations with other Best Practice Court participants. Virginia Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Pilot Projects and Model Courts Best Practice Court Matters: An Update on the Latest Events of Best Practice Courts of Virginia, Court Improvement Program, Office of the Executive Secretary, Supreme Court of Virginia, Fall 2003 4 pgs. VA-03-02 The Virginia Court Improvement Program publishes a newsletter to highlight the activities of Best Practice Courts. Best Practice Courts are committed to implementing the Resource Guidelines, and receive specialized training and technical support from the Court Improvement Program. Best Practice Court Matters serves to link the courts, professionals, and communities that have committed to examining their local practices and sharing their successes and innovations with other Best Practice Court participants. Virginia Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Pilot Projects and Model Courts Best Practice Court Matters: An Update on the Latest Events of Best Practice Courts of Virginia, Court Improvement Program, Office of the Executive Secretary, Supreme Court of Virginia, Winter 2004 4 pgs. VA-04-01 The Virginia Court Improvement Program publishes a newsletter to highlight the activities of Best Practice Courts. Best Practice Courts are committed to implementing the Resource Guidelines, and receive specialized training and technical support from the Court Improvement Program. Best Practice Court Matters serves to link the courts, professionals, and communities that have committed to examining their local practices and sharing their successes and innovations with other Best Practice Court participants. Virginia Hearing Quality and Depth Hearing Quality and Depth: Pilot Projects and Model Courts Order for Appointment of Guardian Ad Litem, Commonwealth of Virginia, 2003 2 pgs. VA-03-03 The front page of the Order for Appointment of Guardian Ad Litem is a standard form. The reverse side of this Order contains the Standards to Govern the Performance of Guardians Ad Litem for Children, as adopted by the Judicial Council of Virginia effective September 2003. The Standards describe the duties of the guardian ad litem, address the consequences for failing to fulfill the prescribed duties, and detail those individuals the guardian can access. Virginia Legal Representation of Parties Legal Representation of Parties: Appointing and Regulating Attorneys Safety and Permanency for Dependent Children Before the Courts of the Commonwealth, CIP Foster Care and Adoption Office of the Executive Secretary, Supreme Court of Virginia, 2000 475 pgs. VA-00-02 This program report discusses Virginia's Court Improvement initiatives designed to assist Virginia courts in their efforts to comply with ASFA. This report includes an outline of the state's legal structure as well as the tools used to improve court practice in dependency cases. The report also includes the training and technical assistance opportunities for all parties to a dependency case. The report includes information on the computer systems case and timeframe tracking. The report includes analysis on the changes and impact in the court since the initiation of the court improvement program and provides survey data to supplement the analysis. The report also provides a review of Virginia's child welfare law including charts timelines and forms. Virginia Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Timeline and Related Forms for Child Abuse, Neglect and Foster Care Cases, Supreme Court of Virginia, July 1999 37 pgs. Available Now - Adobe PDF 80KB VA-99-06 This packet of information, which was developed by Virginia Court Improvement Project staff, seeks to assist the courts, agencies and the Bar in understanding how the child abuse, neglect and foster care statutes, hearings and forms are all related to each other. It provides a timeline detailing the court process and scheduling requirements, including hearing type, relevant statute, and timing. It also includes several related court forms, including emergency and preliminary removal orders, preliminary child protective order, child protective order, custody/visitation order, dispositional order, petition for foster care review hearing, foster care review order, petition for permanency planning order, permanency planning order, permanent foster care placement order, orders for voluntary and involuntary TPR, order for the appointment of a CASA, and the foster care plan transmittal form. Virginia Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders Legislation, Court Rules, Forms, and Orders: Forms and Orders Automating Permanency: A Management Information System for Tracking Child Dependency Cases in Virginia, Office of the Executive Secretary's Department of Management information, September 2000 20 pgs. VA-00-01 This proposal plan is for the development of a system to track child welfare cases. The proposal outlines the goal, objectives and general characteristics, system requirements and outcome reports for the Virginia Automated Information system that will track child welfare cases in the Virginia Courts. Virginia Technology Technology: Case Tracking and Management Systems Expanded Codes For Use in Child Abuse, Neglect, Foster Care and Termination of Parental Rights Cases, Supreme Court of Virginia, January 1999 4 pgs. VA-99-01 Virginia has a centralized Court Automated Information System (CAIS) that is maintained and supported for use by all of the state's juvenile and domestic relations districts courts. This packet reviews new codes for use in child abuse, neglect, foster care and TPR cases. The use of these codes, which were effective January 1, 1999, is mandatory and is included in training material distributed to court clerks. Virginia Technology Technology: Data Collection