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The COURT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

The COURT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. PHILADELPHIA PENNSYLVANIA Presented by the THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND FAMILY COURT OF PHILADELPHIA 05/09/02. The COURT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. COLLABORATION COOPERATION COMMUNICATION CONCURRENT PLANNING. The COURT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.

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The COURT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

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  1. The COURT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT PHILADELPHIA PENNSYLVANIA Presented by the THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND FAMILY COURT OF PHILADELPHIA 05/09/02

  2. The COURT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT • COLLABORATION • COOPERATION • COMMUNICATION • CONCURRENT PLANNING

  3. The COURT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT Each new adjudicatory hearing will have a pre-hearing conference that is scheduled at a specific time and lasts for 30-45 minutes. The Pre-Hearing Conference

  4. The COURT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT The pre-hearing conference is focused upon providing the parents / caregivers with the opportunity to receive front-loaded services. The Pre-Hearing Conference

  5. The COURT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT • the DHS and provider social worker, • the parents/ caregiver and their legal representative, • the child and child advocate attorney, • the solicitor, • the Behaviors Health Services clinician (BHS) and • the facilitator The Pre-Hearing Conference participants includes

  6. The COURT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT At each pre-hearing conference the focus is on: • Services • Placement • Visitation • Adjudication The Pre-Hearing Conference focus

  7. The COURT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT • The social worker should be prepared to review the reason the family is involved with court. • If there are indications that parents are drug dependent or have mental health issues discuss what behaviors you have observed. • An informed social worker or supervisor must appear at the conference and the following hearing. The Social Workers role at the Pre-Hearing Conference

  8. The COURT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT • The Behavioral Health assessors’ role is to provide a recommendation regarding mental health and drug & alcohol services that meet the family’s individual needs. • The BHS assessor may recommend a family assessment, psychological or other clinical treatment for one or more family members. The Behavioral Health Services role at the Pre-Hearing Conference

  9. The COURT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT • To ensure that all parties have an equal role in developing the recommendations. • Prepare the recommendation in a written format for the judge to review. The Facilitator’s role at the Pre-Hearing Conference

  10. The COURT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT The Hearing • Cases that receive a pre-hearing conference will receive priority when being called into the courtroom. • The judge will ask for an overview of the case and whether there were agreements. • If there are no agreements the case will proceed as a normal adjudicatory hearing. • A court order will be distributed at the hearings end.

  11. COLLABORATION • PARENTS, SOCIAL WORKERS AND ADVOCATES WORK TOGETHER TO FIND SOLUTIONS. • PROFESSIONAL MEDIATORS ARE USED TO RESOLVE CONFLICTS. • HALF-HOUR PRE-HEARING CONFERENCES ENCOURAGE WORKING ON AGREEMENTS BEFORE THE HEARING. • PRE-HEARING CONFERENCES ARE SET AT SPECIFIC TIMES DURING THE MORNING.

  12. COOPERATION • BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (Psychological, Drug/ Alcohol) TREATMENT IS FRONT LOADED AND AVAILABLE AT FAMILY COURT. • PLACEMENT, VISITATION AND SERVICES ARE THE FOCUS OF EACH PRE-HEARING CONFERENCE. • THE SERVICES ARE FOCUSED TOWARD IDENTIFYING A PERMANENT HOME FOR EACH CHILD IN PLACEMENT OR KEEPING CHILDREN FROM BEING PLACED.

  13. COMMUNICATION • PARENTS ARE INVOLVED DIRECTLY. • ALL PARTIES ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE INPUT INTO THE PLAN AT THE PRE-HEARING CONFERENCE. • ATTORNEY SHOULD CONTACT PARENTS BEFOR THE HEARING. • TIME IS PROVIDED BEFORE EACH HEARING TO RESOLVE ISSUES. • AN ACTION PLAN IS DEVELOPED IN A NON-ADVISORIAL AND PLANNED MANNER.

  14. CONCURRENT PLANNING • ADOPTION and SAFE FAMILIES ACT TIMEFRAMES AND GUIDELINES ARE UTILIZED. • RELATIVES ARE INVOLVED AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE WELCOMED. • INCREASED FOCUS ON THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD. • THE PLAN IS OUTLINED AND DETAILED TO ALL PARTIES. • USE THIS FORUM AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SCHEDULE THE FAMILY SERVICE PLAN.

  15. Roles for DHS Social Workers • DHS SOCIAL WORKER WILL NEED TO APPEAR ON TIME FOR THE PRE-HEARING CONFERENCE /ADJUDICATORY HEARING. • DHS SOCIAL WORKER WILL NEED TO BRING A SUMMARY OUTLINING THE REASON THE CASE IS IN COURT (court report or petition). • DHS SOCIAL WORKERS FROM INTAKE AND FAMILY REGIONS WILL NEED TO JOINTLY ATTEND WHEN THE CASE HAS BEEN RECENTLY TRANSFERRED. • DHS SOCIAL WORKER WILL NEED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES OF SERVICES, VISITATION AND PLACEMENT.

  16. Court Improvement Overview • EARLY ASSESSMENT AND REFERRAL FOR SERVICES • EMPOWERING PARENTS • ENCOURAGING COMMUNICATION • EFFECTIVE TIME USAGE • FOCUS ON CHILD’S PERMANENCY NEEDS • MEASURED RESULTS

  17. The COURT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT If you have questions on the Pre-hearing process please contact your supervisor, a member of the ‘DHS court unit’ or the solicitors office.

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