Court Observation Form Webinar Office of the Child’s Representative November 5 th, 2013 | Linda Weinerman, Executive Director

Purpose of the Court Observation Form Webinar  Inform attorneys of the OCR’s court observation process  Share the court observation forms used in D&N and JD cases  Provide data points based on observations from the previous year  Answer questions from OCR attorneys

Why does the OCR conduct court observations? Court Observations Provide:  Objective and independent information about OCR attorneys  A sense of child welfare practice in individual judicial districts  An opportunity for self-evaluation during the OCR renewal application and evaluation process

OCR’s Considerations  OCR recognizes that court observations provide only a snapshot of an attorney in the courtroom  In evaluating attorneys, OCR considers the following:  Court Observations  Writing Sample  References  CARES Reports  Stakeholder Survey Data  Self-reporting questions on the actual OCR application  The court observation forms represent an evolving process as we fine-tune the questions and categories in the forms

Dependency & Neglect Court Observation Form  Data points collected are based on CJD requirements and OCR practice expectations for GALs  Form was designed to collect objective data, as the OCR has multiple observers completing the form  OCR reviews dockets and pulls case information prior to court observations, so that forms are pre-populated with case- specific data

Q1) Child present? (including any electronic means) Basis for data pointFY13 Data  Nationally recognized best practice  GAL responsibility to give children voice  Statutory provisions:  § (5)  § (7)  § (2), (3.7)  Impact on the proceedings  216 Observations  358 Children

Q2) Was this child given the chance to address the Court? FY13 Data  216 Observations  358 Children

Q3) Did GAL address efforts to get child to attend? FY13 Data  216 Observations  358 Children

Q4) Did GAL provide current, independent info about this child? CJD Provision FY13 Data  04-06(V)(D)(1)  216 Observations  358 Children

Q5) Did GAL state last contact with child? (In FY13, “...when s/he last saw child?”) CJD Provisions FY13 Data  CJD (V)(D)(4)(a),(5)(a), 06(V)(D)(5)(b)  CJD 04-06(V)(B)  216 Observations  358 Children

Q6) Did GAL clearly state a position? CJD Provision FY13 Data  CJD04-06(V)(C)  CJD 04-06(V)(D)(1)  216 Observations  358 Children

Q7) Did GAL state child’s position? CJD Provision FY13 Data  Providing current information to the court includes a statement of the child’s position, when the child’s position is ascertainable based on the child’s developmental level. CJD 04-06(V)(D)(1)  216 Observations  358 Children

Juvenile Delinquency Court Observation Form  The JD form is a data collection tool, used to inform practice standards and collect general information about GALs in JD cases  The JD form is one way to investigate anecdotal information about GALs in JD cases

Questions?  To ask a question, type into the “Questions” box in the GoToWebinar toolbar.