1 Moving Children to Timely Permanence Training for Legal Representation for Children and Parents A Report to the State Roundtable of Pennsylvania

2 Timeline March 2009 SRT approves formation of workgroup March 2009 SRT approves formation of workgroup Fall 2009 Workgroup convenes Fall 2009 Workgroup convenes March 2010 SRT approves Workgroup Report (Core & Mandatory Pre-service) March 2010 SRT approves Workgroup Report (Core & Mandatory Pre-service) 2010 Workgroup develops training 2010 Workgroup develops training March 2011 initial session for GAL/Parent Advocates at PJC March 2011 initial session for GAL/Parent Advocates at PJC

3 The Curriculum Developed by cross-system team Developed by cross-system team Includes Mission & Guiding Principles, Best Practices related to Shelter, Adjudication, Disposition, Permanency Hearings Includes Mission & Guiding Principles, Best Practices related to Shelter, Adjudication, Disposition, Permanency Hearings

4 The Curriculum Includes: Includes: Talking to children Talking to children Interacting with Parents Interacting with Parents Youth Panel discussion Youth Panel discussion Grief & Loss Grief & Loss Mock Permanency Hearing Mock Permanency Hearing Focus on safety threats Focus on safety threats Moving from compliance to real behavioral changes Moving from compliance to real behavioral changes

5 The Pre-work: Included reviewing: Included reviewing: Pennsylvania Dependency Bench Book Pennsylvania Dependency Bench Book Juvenile Court Procedural Rules (Dependency) Juvenile Court Procedural Rules (Dependency) Juvenile Act Juvenile Act

6 The Presenters (volunteers): Mix of judges, attorneys and child welfare professionals. Mix of judges, attorneys and child welfare professionals. Justice Max Baer Justice Max Baer Judge Kelley Streib Judge Kelley Streib Judge Brian Johnson Judge Brian Johnson Frank Cervone, Esq. Frank Cervone, Esq. Kathy Gomez, Esq. Kathy Gomez, Esq. Kerith Strano-Taylor, Esq. Kerith Strano-Taylor, Esq. Christy Stanek, MSW Christy Stanek, MSW Sandy Moore, MSW Sandy Moore, MSW Eleanor Bush, Esq. Eleanor Bush, Esq. Sharon Biasca, Esq. Sharon Biasca, Esq. Tracey Thomasey, MSW Tracey Thomasey, MSW Sarah Katz, Esq. Sarah Katz, Esq. Ron Thomas, Esq. Ron Thomas, Esq. Ron Ayler, MSW Ron Ayler, MSW Sharon England, JD, LSW Sharon England, JD, LSW

7 The participants: 50 Guardians ad Litem & Parent Attorneys from 31 Permanency Practice Initiative counties 50 Guardians ad Litem & Parent Attorneys from 31 Permanency Practice Initiative counties Experience range of one week – 20 years Experience range of one week – 20 years

8 The Feedback: 4.5 out of 5 overall rating 4.5 out of 5 overall rating 4.7 out of 5 for content areas 4.7 out of 5 for content areas “This training is and would have been essential for preparation to take a position in this area of the law.”

9 The Feedback: “Not sure exactly what I was expecting, but this exceeded my expectations and believe it will be well received, particularly by those just getting involved in this area of the law.” “Definitely invaluable to parent’s attorneys regardless of length of practice in the area”

10 Feedback: Things they’ll do differently (themes): Interact more with opposing counsel at all stages Interact more with opposing counsel at all stages More interaction with clients and done earlier More interaction with clients and done earlier More effort into locating clients More effort into locating clients Make attending FSP meeting a priority Make attending FSP meeting a priority

11 Feedback: Themes for further training: TPR/Appeals/Post TPR representation TPR/Appeals/Post TPR representation Act 101 – working out contact agreements Act 101 – working out contact agreements Question & Answer Session Question & Answer Session Case Discussion/Group Sharing/Affinity Networking Case Discussion/Group Sharing/Affinity Networking Case Law Updates/Statutory Reviews Case Law Updates/Statutory Reviews Emotions Stress/Vicarious Trauma/Coping for Attorneys Emotions Stress/Vicarious Trauma/Coping for Attorneys

12 Feedback: Themes for further training: Delinquent/Dependent youth Delinquent/Dependent youth Inclusion of solicitors Inclusion of solicitors MH/MR issues MH/MR issues Understanding what caseworkers do Understanding what caseworkers do Interstate Compact Interstate Compact Engaging fathers Engaging fathers Incarcerated parents Incarcerated parents

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

Next Steps: Pre-service DVD completion and distribution to counties/courts Pre-service DVD completion and distribution to counties/courts Annual offering of CORE session Annual offering of CORE session

Recommendations: Continue to work on issues pertaining to legal representation of parties in dependency proceedings Continue to work on issues pertaining to legal representation of parties in dependency proceedings Develop Core II session Develop Core II session Termination of Parental Rights Termination of Parental Rights Appeals process Appeals process Issues of Trauma Issues of Trauma Use of FGDM in multiple situations Use of FGDM in multiple situations

Recommendations: Explore need for advanced training, providing further recommendations to 2012 SRT Explore need for advanced training, providing further recommendations to 2012 SRT Explore ways to develop a network for GALs and parent attorneys, providing further recommendations to 2012 SRT Explore ways to develop a network for GALs and parent attorneys, providing further recommendations to 2012 SRT

Recommendations: Begin discussions regarding potential: Begin discussions regarding potential: Standards of practice, Standards of practice, Caseload size, and Caseload size, and Compensation structure Compensation structure …as they related to supporting the work of best practice and high quality representation, providing specific recommendations (which include implementation strategies during times of limited resources) to 2012 SRT.

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