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Permanency Summit October 7-9, 2012 Hilton Bella Harbor – Rockwall, Texas. Safety v. Risk: The Travis County Experience. Interrupt, ask questions, please. Caveats and Confessions. I have to fight against thinking The case is over when CPS is appointed PMC
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Permanency Summit October 7-9, 2012 Hilton Bella Harbor – Rockwall, Texas Safety v. Risk: The Travis County Experience
I have to fight against thinking The case is over when CPS is appointed PMC Placement hearings are straightforward and easy I have plenty of time to get it right There is no danger, no risk, in placing or leaving a child in foster care The child or youth need not be, even shouldn’t be, present at court
You may not be able – or want – to replicate what we’ve done in Travis County But you may be able to make a change that does work in your jurisdiction
Adjust policies and procedures to allow youth to lead “normal” lives and to remove the stigma of being in foster care Locate or create lasting connections (caring adults) for youth leaving care – prepare them for leaving, starting at least by 16, if not 15 Push harder to consummate adoptions sooner rather than later Establish ways to avoid the use of psychotropic medications, monitor them when prescribed, and prepare youth for their continued use after leaving foster care Harness the knowledge and power of faith-based and civic organizations Bring healing to children and youth in or leaving foster care – help make them whole
Edward died in 2009, just after his 17th birthday
During TMC, I worry about returning a child home and learning she’s then injured or killed I’m inclined to play it safe, to close the door to a return home
During PMC, I have to guard against playing it safe, closing the door to imperfect parents or families, leaving a child in foster care
There are risks in foster care - There is damage done, unintentionally, by our system There are reasonable risks to open doors so children can exit to legal permanency
Children Under Travis County Court Jurisdiction • COS: 197 • TMC: 737 • PMC: 304 • Total: 1,238
Travis County CPS Dockets 262, Status, and Permanency Hearings – Mondays and Fridays Darlene Byrne (Lead District Judge) Texanna Davis (Associate Judge) Final Trials - weekly Central Docket (District Judges) Placement Hearings - Wednesdays John Hathaway (Associate Judge)
Types of Hearings on PMC Docket Initial Placement Reviews - within 2 months of final trial Placement Reviews - generally, every 4 months Special Reviews - as needed, pending Placement Review
Types of Placement Hearings on PMC Docket Simple Adoption - 5 minutes or less (9:00, 1 day/month) Complex Case - 30 – 60 minutes (2:00-4:00) Basic Case - 20 minutes (9:00-1:00 pm, 3 per hour) Special Reviews - 15-30 minutes (8:30 and noon)
3 Suggested Factors CPS CASA Judicial Leadership
CPS • Permanency Roundtables • PCA and kinship workers • TARE revisions and Project PUSH • PMC unit(s) • Shift in focus and philosophy
CASA • More CASA volunteers • Power to request hearings • Transitional Youth Specialists • Shift in focus and philosophy
Judicial Leadership: Pre-2007 Long history of strong judicial leadership Judge Scott McCown Judge Jeanne Meurer
Judicial Leadership: Post-2007 • 2007 – Judge Darlene Byrne assumed responsibility for CPS docket • 2008 – Judge Darlene Byrne established Travis County Model Court for Children and Families • Ongoing – Judge Darlene Byrne empowers AJs to imagine and initiate
There Should be Nothing Permanent About PMC Every Child Should Be Moving Off the PMC Docket
Parents Change Older Youth Will Often Return to Parents, Regardless Let the Youth Gain Information/ Prepare a Youth For a Safer Return Home
Every Child is Adoptable There Is No Such Thing as Long-Term Foster Care
APPLA Means Never Having to Say Long-Term Foster Care There Can Be No APPLA Without a Caring Adult
Permanency is someone to Contact in an emergency To see or visit when nearby Spend the holidays with Walk you down the aisle Cheer when you get your PhD
A Youth’s Well-Being (Quality of Life) is Critical Socializing with friends Social media Number of youth in home/facility Contact with siblings/other family School Extra-curricular activities Sense of control/lack of control
Children and youth need to understand what we’re saying Words Are Powerful PMC Placement Level of care
Isolate and Focus on PMC (With 1 Judge, If Possible)
Bring the Child or Youth to Court In-person, if at all possible – video or phone in rare circumstances Allow the child or youth to be present in the courtroom and to participate Talk to the child or youth in chambers (door open, staff outside of door) Assure the child or youth you will listen, but can’t promise to deliver Actively listen Give the child or youth a sense of significance and control Judges – do it for yourself
Keep Fighting the Good Fight With Passion and Urgency