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Moving Children to Moving Children to Timely PermanenceTimely Permanence

Training for Legal Representation for Training for Legal Representation for Children and ParentsChildren and Parents

A Report to the State Roundtable of Pennsylvania

22

TimelineTimeline

March 2009 SRT approves formation March 2009 SRT approves formation of workgroupof workgroup

Fall 2009 Workgroup convenesFall 2009 Workgroup convenes March 2010 SRT approves March 2010 SRT approves

Workgroup Report (Core & Workgroup Report (Core & Mandatory Pre-service)Mandatory Pre-service)

2010 Workgroup develops training2010 Workgroup develops training March 2011 initial session for March 2011 initial session for

GAL/Parent Advocates at PJCGAL/Parent Advocates at PJC

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The CurriculumThe Curriculum

Developed by cross-system Developed by cross-system teamteam

Includes Mission & Guiding Includes Mission & Guiding Principles, Best Practices Principles, Best Practices related to Shelter, Adjudication, related to Shelter, Adjudication, Disposition, Permanency Disposition, Permanency HearingsHearings

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The CurriculumThe Curriculum

Includes:Includes: Talking to childrenTalking to children Interacting with ParentsInteracting with Parents Youth Panel discussionYouth Panel discussion Grief & LossGrief & Loss Mock Permanency HearingMock Permanency Hearing Focus on safety threats Focus on safety threats Moving from compliance to real Moving from compliance to real

behavioral changesbehavioral changes

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The Pre-work:The Pre-work:

Included reviewing:Included reviewing: Pennsylvania Dependency Bench Pennsylvania Dependency Bench

Book Book

Juvenile Court Procedural Rules Juvenile Court Procedural Rules (Dependency)(Dependency)

Juvenile ActJuvenile Act

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The Presenters (volunteers):The Presenters (volunteers): Mix of judges, attorneys and child Mix of judges, attorneys and child

welfare professionals.welfare professionals. Justice Max BaerJustice Max Baer Judge Kelley StreibJudge Kelley Streib Judge Brian JohnsonJudge Brian Johnson Frank Cervone, Esq.Frank Cervone, Esq. Kathy Gomez, Esq.Kathy Gomez, Esq. Kerith Strano-Taylor, Esq.Kerith Strano-Taylor, Esq. Christy Stanek, MSWChristy Stanek, MSW Sandy Moore, MSWSandy Moore, MSW Eleanor Bush, Esq.Eleanor Bush, Esq. Sharon Biasca, Esq.Sharon Biasca, Esq. Tracey Thomasey, MSWTracey Thomasey, MSW Sarah Katz, Esq.Sarah Katz, Esq. Ron Thomas, Esq.Ron Thomas, Esq. Ron Ayler, MSWRon Ayler, MSW Sharon England, JD, LSWSharon England, JD, LSW

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The participants:The participants:

50 50 Guardians ad LitemGuardians ad Litem & Parent & Parent Attorneys from 31 Permanency Attorneys from 31 Permanency Practice Initiative countiesPractice Initiative counties

Experience range of one week – Experience range of one week – 20 years20 years

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The Feedback:The Feedback:

4.5 out of 5 overall rating4.5 out of 5 overall rating 4.7 out of 5 for content areas4.7 out of 5 for content areas

““This training is and would This training is and would have been essential for have been essential for

preparation to take a position preparation to take a position in this area of the law.”in this area of the law.”

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The Feedback:The Feedback:

““Not sure exactly what I was Not sure exactly what I was expecting, but this exceeded expecting, but this exceeded

my expectations and believe it my expectations and believe it will be well received, will be well received,

particularly by those just particularly by those just getting involved in this area of getting involved in this area of

the law.”the law.”

““Definitely invaluable to parent’s Definitely invaluable to parent’s attorneys regardless of length attorneys regardless of length

of practice in the area”of practice in the area”

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Feedback: Things they’ll do Feedback: Things they’ll do differently (themes):differently (themes):

Interact more with opposing Interact more with opposing counsel at all stagescounsel at all stages

More interaction with clients and More interaction with clients and done earlierdone earlier

More effort into locating clientsMore effort into locating clients Make attending FSP meeting a Make attending FSP meeting a

prioritypriority

1111

Feedback: Themes for further Feedback: Themes for further training:training:

TPR/Appeals/Post TPR representationTPR/Appeals/Post TPR representation Act 101 – working out contact agreementsAct 101 – working out contact agreements Question & Answer SessionQuestion & Answer Session Case Discussion/Group Sharing/Affinity Case Discussion/Group Sharing/Affinity

NetworkingNetworking Case Law Updates/Statutory ReviewsCase Law Updates/Statutory Reviews Emotions Stress/Vicarious Trauma/Coping Emotions Stress/Vicarious Trauma/Coping

for Attorneysfor Attorneys

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Feedback: Themes for further Feedback: Themes for further training:training:

Delinquent/Dependent youthDelinquent/Dependent youth Inclusion of solicitorsInclusion of solicitors MH/MR issuesMH/MR issues Understanding what caseworkers doUnderstanding what caseworkers do Interstate CompactInterstate Compact Engaging fathersEngaging fathers Incarcerated parentsIncarcerated parents

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2010 Next Steps:2010 Next Steps:

Six Regional TrainingsSix Regional Trainings Week of October 10Week of October 10thth: Wilkes Barre: Wilkes Barre Week of October 10Week of October 10thth: Lock Haven: Lock Haven Week of October 25Week of October 25thth: Cranberry: Cranberry Week of October 25Week of October 25thth: Monroeville: Monroeville Week of November 14Week of November 14thth: Carlisle: Carlisle Week of November 14Week of November 14thth: Villa Nova : Villa Nova

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2010 Next Steps:2010 Next Steps:

Pre-service DVD completion and Pre-service DVD completion and distribution to counties/courtsdistribution to counties/courts

Annual offering of CORE session Annual offering of CORE session

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2011 Recommendations:2011 Recommendations:

Continue to work on issues pertaining Continue to work on issues pertaining to legal representation of parties in to legal representation of parties in dependency proceedingsdependency proceedings

Develop Core II sessionDevelop Core II session Termination of Parental RightsTermination of Parental Rights Appeals processAppeals process Issues of TraumaIssues of Trauma Use of FGDM in multiple situations Use of FGDM in multiple situations

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2011 Recommendations:2011 Recommendations:

Explore need for advanced Explore need for advanced training, providing further training, providing further recommendations to 2012 SRTrecommendations to 2012 SRT

Explore ways to develop a Explore ways to develop a network for GALs and parent network for GALs and parent attorneys, providing further attorneys, providing further recommendations to 2012 SRTrecommendations to 2012 SRT

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2011 Recommendations:2011 Recommendations:

Begin discussions regarding potential:Begin discussions regarding potential: Standards of practice,Standards of practice, Caseload size, andCaseload size, and Compensation structureCompensation structure

……as they related to supporting the work of as they related to supporting the work of best practice and high quality best practice and high quality representation, providing specific representation, providing specific recommendations (which include recommendations (which include implementation strategies during times of implementation strategies during times of limited resources) to 2012 SRT. limited resources) to 2012 SRT.

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Respectfully submitted to the Respectfully submitted to the Pennsylvania State Roundtable Pennsylvania State Roundtable by the Legal Representation by the Legal Representation Workgroup, May 2011Workgroup, May 2011