Transcript Moving Children to Timely Permanence

Moving Children to
Timely Permanence
Training for Legal Representation for
Children and Parents
A Report to the State Roundtable
of Pennsylvania
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Timeline
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March 2009 SRT approves formation
of workgroup
Fall 2009 Workgroup convenes
March 2010 SRT approves
Workgroup Report (Core &
Mandatory Pre-service)
2010 Workgroup develops training
March 2011 initial session for
GAL/Parent Advocates at PJC
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The Curriculum
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Developed by cross-system
team
Includes Mission & Guiding
Principles, Best Practices
related to Shelter, Adjudication,
Disposition, Permanency
Hearings
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The Curriculum
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Includes:
Talking to children
 Interacting with Parents
 Youth Panel discussion
 Grief & Loss
 Mock Permanency Hearing
 Focus on safety threats
 Moving from compliance to real
behavioral changes
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The Pre-work:
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Included reviewing:
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Pennsylvania Dependency Bench
Book
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Juvenile Court Procedural Rules
(Dependency)
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Juvenile Act
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The Presenters (volunteers):
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Mix of judges, attorneys and
child welfare professionals.
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Justice Max Baer
Judge Kelley Streib
Judge Brian Johnson
Frank Cervone, Esq.
Kathy Gomez, Esq.
Kerith Strano-Taylor, Esq.
Christy Stanek, MSW
Sandy Moore, MSW
Eleanor Bush, Esq.
Sharon Biasca, Esq.
Tracey Thomasey, MSW
Sarah Katz, Esq.
Ron Thomas, Esq.
Ron Ayler, MSW
Sharon England, JD, LSW
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The participants:
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50 Guardians ad Litem & Parent
Attorneys from 31 Permanency
Practice Initiative counties
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Experience range of one week –
20 years
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The Feedback:
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4.5 out of 5 overall rating
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.”
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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”
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Feedback: Things they’ll do
differently (themes):
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Interact more with opposing
counsel at all stages
More interaction with clients and
done earlier
More effort into locating clients
Make attending FSP meeting a
priority
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Feedback: Themes for further
training:
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TPR/Appeals/Post TPR representation
Act 101 – working out contact agreements
Question & Answer Session
Case Discussion/Group Sharing/Affinity
Networking
Case Law Updates/Statutory Reviews
Emotions Stress/Vicarious Trauma/Coping
for Attorneys
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Feedback: Themes for further
training:
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Delinquent/Dependent youth
Inclusion of solicitors
MH/MR issues
Understanding what caseworkers do
Interstate Compact
Engaging fathers
Incarcerated parents
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2010 Next Steps:
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Six Regional Trainings
Week of October 10th: Wilkes Barre
 Week of October 10th: Lock Haven
 Week of October 25th: Cranberry
 Week of October 25th: Monroeville
 Week of November 14th: Carlisle
 Week of November 14th: Villa Nova
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2010 Next Steps:
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Pre-service DVD completion and
distribution to counties/courts
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Annual offering of CORE session
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2011 Recommendations:
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Continue to work on issues pertaining
to legal representation of parties in
dependency proceedings
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Develop Core II session
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Termination of Parental Rights
Appeals process
Issues of Trauma
Use of FGDM in multiple situations
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2011 Recommendations:
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Explore need for advanced
training, providing further
recommendations to 2012 SRT
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Explore ways to develop a
network for GALs and parent
attorneys, providing further
recommendations to 2012 SRT
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2011 Recommendations:
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Begin discussions regarding potential:
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Standards of practice,
Caseload size, and
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.
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Respectfully submitted to the
Pennsylvania State Roundtable
by the Legal Representation
Workgroup, May 2011
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