1. Judge Kim Berkeley Clark
Creating a Trauma Informed Court through Servant Leadership: The Role of the Judge
Judge Kim Berkeley Clark

2. Servant Leadership
The servant-leader is servant first… It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead.

3. My Journey Getting Hooked on FGDM Culture Change Paradigm Shift
Servant Leader

4. Why are they here? Abused & Neglected Children Removed TPR Hearing
Domestic Violence
Arrested & Accused
Victim of Crime
Divorce
Custody
Support

5. TRAUMA!!

6. On the Road to Becoming a Trauma-Informed Court through Servant Leadership: 10 Recommended Changes

7. Be Humble

8. RESPECT! Overarching theme: Promoting Dignity & Respect within the Family Division

9. “Too many people see leadership as the right to dominate rather than the responsibility to serve.”

10. Embrace Teamwork

12. Encourage

13. Set Examples

14. Begin & End With Strengths

15. Communicate Effectively

16. Speak Softly, but Carry a Big Stick

17. Get Off the Bench (or Out of the Office)!

18. Walk in Their Shoes… (But for the Grace of God)

19. TRAUMA AUDIT
Allegheny County selected to be a Model Court through NCJFCJ
Pre-survey of Stakeholders (200)
Site Visit October of 2014

20. SITE VISIT Observation of Physical Facility Courtroom Observation
Focus Groups & Interviews

21. Developing and implementing a trauma-specific policy and protocol
RECOMMENDATIONS
Developing and implementing a trauma-specific policy and protocol

22. Adopting a universal precautions model throughout the court system
RECOMMENDATIONS
Adopting a universal precautions model throughout the court system

23. RECOMMENDATIONS
Identifying trauma-focused, evidence-based providers and community resources in Allegheny County

24. RECOMMENDATIONS
Developing and implementing a written trauma-specific policy for employees faced with secondary trauma or “burnout.”

25. Developing and integrating a trauma screening tool
RECOMMENDATIONS
Developing and integrating a trauma screening tool

26. Providing a brief explanation of the purpose of the court hearing
RECOMMENDATIONS
Providing a brief explanation of the purpose of the court hearing

27. RECOMMENDATIONS
Making an effort to schedule hearings and other court appearances at the convenience of families and children

28. Increasing security monitoring in the courthouse waiting areas
RECOMMENDATIONS
Increasing security monitoring in the courthouse waiting areas

29. Increasing safety measures in the courtrooms
RECOMMENDATIONS
Increasing safety measures in the courtrooms

30. RECOMMENDATIONS
Increasing the security presence in the PFA waiting areas & Having separate check-in areas for plaintiffs and defendants in PFA cases

31. RECOMMENDATIONS
Making the courthouse and certain courtrooms more child-friendly and family-friendly

32. RECOMMENDATIONS
Providing training to all court stakeholders on cultural and implicit bias competency

33. RECOMMENDATIONS
Implementing a court-wide signage and court forms renovation initiative

34. RECOMMENDATIONS
Modifying courtroom doors and windows to reduce noise during court hearing

35. RECOMMENDATIONS
Developing a policy and practice to reduce staff traffic during court hearings

37. RECOMMENDATIONS
Designating attorney/client consultation rooms on each courthouse floor

38. WHAT WE’VE DONE
Motivational Interviewing Training for Judges & Judicial Officers
Exit Survey
Training on Implicit Bias & Cultural Competence (ongoing)
Changes in Website
Changes in scheduling practices (ongoing)

39. WHAT WE’RE IMPLEMENTING
Developing a policy and practice to reduce staff traffic during court hearings & signage for courtroom doors
Mediation prior to adjudication
Creating a video to explain the court process etc.

40. WHAT WE’RE IMPLEMENTING
Major renovations to the PFA Department to increase safety and reduce trauma including:
Separate check-in areas
Private space for confidential communications with lawyers and advocates and to complete lethality assessments
Play area/child-care area within the Unit
Secure doors

41. WHAT WE’RE CONSIDERING
Commendation letters & other rewards
Therapy/comfort dogs

42. RESULTS (SO FAR) Peaceful Hearings Parties thank/compliment CWs & JPOs
I get hugs
People show up on time!
Virtually no appeals: 2010—10; 2011—7; 2012—9; 2013—6; 2014—5;
2015—1 APPEAL!!

43. Servant Leader Are other’s highest priority needs being served?
Do those served grow as persons?
Do those served become healthier safer, more capable?

44. Who Benefits?
Children & Families
The Community
Taxpayers

45. ME!!!!!

46. All are WELCOME!

47. “Caring for persons, the more able and the less able serving each other, is the rock upon which a good society is built. If a better society is to be built, one that is more just and more loving, one that provides greater creative opportunity for its people

48. then the most open course is to raise both the capacity to serve and the very performance as servant of existing major institutions by new regenerative forces operating within them." The Institution as Servant, Robert K. Greenleaf

49. Thank You!!
It Has Been
An Honor
&
A Privilege

50. The Paradoxes of Servant Leadership
For a copy of this poem please go to the following website:
decker.typepad.com/the-paradoxes-of-servant-leadership.html

51. Contact Judge Clark Judge Kim Berkeley Clark
Family Law Center—Suite 5059
440 Ross Street
Pittsburgh, PA (U.S.A.)