Zero To Five Family Drug Treatment Court Judge Douglas F. Johnson Omaha, NE April 14, 2007

1. Zero To Five Family Drug Treatment Court Judge Douglas F. Johnson Omaha, NE April 14, 2007

2. Douglas County Zero to FiveFamily Drug Treatment Court Est. May 3, 2005 Our Team: Douglas Johnson, Judge Beth Morrissette, Coordinator Joni Scheef, County Attorney Lynette Boyle, Attorney Maureen Monahan, GAL Candice Novak, GAL Ann Marcuzzo,Public Defender Linda Gomez-Torres, NDHHS Case Manager Kinsey Baker, NDHHS Supervisor Nanon Perdaems-Vigen, Heartland Family Service Jill Ramet, Child Saving Institute Nancy Wilson, CASA

3. Why Zero To Five? • 1 in 5 foster care placements are infants • Once in care, they remain twice as long as older children • Babies under age 1 make up 25% of the children in the child welfare system • 76% of child abuse fatalities occur to children under age 4 • Multiple foster placements • Developmental Delays &/or Damage • WHY NOT help the youngest of the young?

4. Why FDTC? • Parental Substance Abuse is the reason children are placed in foster care in 70% of all abuse & neglect cases • Through the National Council of Juvenile & Family Court Judges we “field acquired” best practices from existing FDTCs. FDTC WORKS!!

5. Mission Douglas County Zero to Five Family Drug Treatment Court seeks to achieve healthy, safe, permanent homes for infants and young children in state custody due to parental substance abuse. It provides for the timely resolution of child maltreatment for the benefit of children, families, and society through intense supervision and special collaboration of the court, child welfare, community and treatment providers.

6. Goals for Children • Achieve a safe, secure, permanent home in a timely fashion according to ASFA guidelines: 12 Month PPH • Secure placements with few moves • Developmental needs met through evaluation and appropriate intervention—Part C, Early Headstart • Concurrent plan: Reunification/Adoption

7. Goals for Parents • Active participation & responsibility • Achieve parenting skills and demonstrate the ability to provide a safe, healthy family environment for their children • Achieve a clean and sober lifestyle—Get TX, Stay in TX, Complete TX—dual diagnosis SA/Mental Health • Due Process & Fair Hearings

8. Eligibility Criteria • At least one child age 0-5, will accept older siblings • Parent has been voluntarily adjudicated—some exceptions • No violent felony charges or convictions • Not in Adult Drug Court • Voluntarily choose to participate and abide by program rules • No severe mental illness where reunification is unlikely

9. Key Elements • Focus on holistic child/parent well-being • Frequent therapeutic visitation with safety plan • Parents and children reside together as soon as safely possible • Parent/Child Relationship assessments and therapy • Early intervention--access to immediate evaluations and TX

10. Key Elements • Intense judicial monitoring through frequent court appearances • Collaborative, non-adversarial team supported by cross-training • Service plan based on incremental goals, expectations, requirements • Use of graduated incentives and sanctions to effect behavior change • Enhanced case management to monitor progress/facilitate access to services

11. Key Elements • Diet, exercise • Smoking cessation • Education, job skills, time management • Planned Activities: parental, social, self • Safety: DV, housing, relationships, friends & family

12. Phase Structure: 12-18 Months • Phase 1 Choice: 45 days • Phase 2 Challenge: 60 days • Phase 3 Commitment: 90 days • Phase 4 Commencement: 90 days • Phase 5 Change: 90 days

13. Incentives • Research-based: Affirmation & Motivation Works!! • Praise in courtroom by the judge and team • Claps of encouragement • Forgiveness for mistakes—next right step • “Treasure Chest” • Gift certs, medallions, certs for phase advancement • Fewer court appearances • Random drug testing—1 to 2 times per week • Permission to leave FDTC hearing early

14. Sanctions • Pay $10 fee for missed, diluted, or positive drug tests • Set back in phase • Increased level of treatment or # of sessions • Write essay • Community Service • Observe Adult Drug Court or TPR hearing • More frequent court appearances/drug tests • Not jail—jurisdictional issue, trauma, questionable effectiveness *Denial of visitation never used as sanction

15. Role of the Judge • Sets problem-solving tone • Affirmation with accountability • Focus on strengths • Child best interests for permanency • Handling contested matters ethically • Work collaboratively with community partners • Training, training, training • Affiliation with ZTT and NCJCJ to promote best practice

16. Child-Parent Relationship Questions • Describe one highlight/challenge of being a mother/father this past week. How did that feel? • What is your child’s favorite color? Food? Special toy? Blanket? • What frightens your child? What do you do to comfort/calm her? How does that feel? • How does your child react when he sees you? How does that feel? • Describe your child in one, two or three words.

17. Child-Parent Relationship Questions • What books do you read to your baby? How does your baby react? What words does your child say? How did that make you feel? • Describe the kind of father/mother your toddler needs? Are you that man/woman? Do you want to be? Are you getting there? What gets in the way? • How does it feel to hold your child?

18. Evidence Based Outcomes • Not yet. Anecdotal but positive so far • Planning a Study

19. Parents • 84 % White • 8% African American • 4% Native American • 4% African American/Native American

20. Substances • 68% Methamphetamine • 12% Alcohol • 8% Marijuana • 8% Unknown • 4% Cocaine

21. So Far . . . • To date 22 families served: 33 children, 21 mothers, 4 fathers • Permanency for 8 children achieved • 2 Voluntary Relinquishment of Parental Rights • 1 Adoption, 1 child awaiting Adoption • Secure placements with parents/relatives: 25 of 33 children • Three Commencements: 4 mothers & 3 fathers • 6 Parents dismissed • Currently 10 active cases: 10 mothers, 1 father, 16 children

22. What Are Your Questions? We invite you to observe Zero To Five Family Drug Treatment Court To make arrangements, Please contact: Beth Morrissette: bmorrissette@childsaving.org , 402-504-3645 or Judge Doug Johnson: djohnson@co.douglas.ne.us, 402-444-7881

23. THANK YOU!