Transcript Slide 1
Pre-filing Pre-filing Family Preservation Court In A Nutshell: Discuss what a pre-filing family preservation court is. Justification for a pre-filing family preservation court. Components of a family preservation court. Establishing a pre-filing family preservation court. Family Preservation Court is Dependency Drug Court Family Preservation Court (or what’s in a name?) Family Preservation Court What is Family Preservation Court? An intensified, minimum of one year, court-supervised substance abuse recovery program designed to enhance the sobriety efforts of parents in dependency matters to enable their children to be safely maintained or returned to them. So, what is Pre-filing Family Preservation Court? An intensified, minimum of one year, court-supervised substance abuse recovery program designed to enhance the sobriety efforts of parents prior to filing a dependency petition to enable children to be safely maintained together with their parent(s). In short: Pre-filing families attend Family Preservation Court! The Need for a Pre-filing Family Preservation Court Why We Need A Family Preservation Court? Approximately 70 to 75% of the abuse and neglect cases filed with the juvenile court involve issues of: Substance Abuse! Pre-placement Preventative Effort Requirement Requirement to make reasonable efforts to prevent or eliminate the need for removal of children. WIC § 319(d)(1) & CRC Rule 1446(c)(1) So, what are reasonable efforts? Efforts reasonably calculated to eliminate the problem causing the abuse and or neglect of children. Pre-placement Preventative Efforts Drug Court (FPC) Pre-Filing Drug Court (FPC) Problems with Current System 1. Unavailability of treatment and other required services. 2. Inadequate time to provide treatment. 3. Untreated substance abuse problem likely to result in removal of children. 4. Overburdened social workers, attorneys and courts. 5. Cycle of abuse/generational. Advantages of Pre-filing Family Preservation Court 1. Provides immediate treatment. 2. Allows longer period of treatment. 3. Preserves integrity of the family. 4. Prevents issues caused by removing children. 5. Eliminates social worker reports. Justification for a Pre-Filing Family Preservation Court Justification to whom? The Court Social Services Substance abuse treatment provider Your mom Motivating Your Court Not another boutique court! Pre-filing Family Preservation Courts Save Resources! Saving Court Resources Judicial resources Filing costs Appointment of counsel Pre-filing Family Preservation Court is, in effect, a Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Program! Need to Deal with Increasing Dependency Caseloads YEAR (Jan-Dec) # OF CASES FILED 2001 3724 2002 4109 10% 2003 4155 1% 2004 4779 15% 2005 6302 38% 2006 6898 11% Original & Subsequent Petitions INCREASE OVER PRECEDING YEAR Total = 75% increase in 6 years. Legal Basis for a Pre-filing Family Preservation Court Welfare & Institutions Code §§ 301 & 360(a) Pre-placement Preventative Effort Requirement Requirement to make reasonable efforts to prevent or eliminate the need for removal of children. WIC § 319(d)(1) & CRC Rule 1446(c)(1) Partnering with Social Services to Establish and Use a Family Preservation Court To Achieve Common Goals. Social Services and Court partnership improves child safety while supporting parental recovery. Court Officer is active on court team and is primary liaison between FPC Team and Social Services. Opportunity for Social Workers to Provide Families with Early Intervention and Prevention Services Components of Pre-filing Family Preservation Court Substance Abuse Treatment Mental Health Systems, Inc. Immediate access to treatment Parenting and child education Relapse prevention/recovery plan for entire family Bi-lingual services Intensified supervision Drug testing Substance Abuse Treatment Mental Health Systems, Inc Nurturing Families Life skills Access to state and federal child care programs Cultural competency Gender responsiveness C.C.I.S.C. (Comprehensive Continuous Integrated System of Care) Nurturing Families Program The Nurturing Families Program for Families in Substance Abuse Treatment and Recovery (an adaptation of the Nurturing Family Programs). It specifically addresses parenting domains known to be associated with drug abusing parents. The focus of the program is on relationships and emotional issues and the impact of drug abuse. Client Supervision Frequent court appearances Frequent FPC Team Meetings Judicial Intervention Home checks by Drug Endangered Children (Sheriff) Public Health Nurse evaluations of family Immediate Incentives and Sanctions Atmosphere of caring Funding a Pre-filing Family Preservation Court Funding Pre-filing Family Preservation Courts (Riverside) Three year - $1.2 million dollar SAMHSA grant – pays for treatment, case management, drug testing, educational components, evaluation, and training. Other grants to apply for: Calif Wellness, Calif Endowment, Annie E Casey Foundation, State and local foundations for families. Check out Department of Health and Human Resources for family funding opportunities http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/grants.html Program Sustainability Components for Obtaining Grant Funding for a Pre-filing Court Focus on goals and objectives outlined in your counties System Improvement Plan and the United Way Community Needs Assessment for your county. Incorporate Drug Endangered Children program into your program Include educational components for whole family Curriculum for treatment and family education should be best practice Create and develop your collaboration of county agencies, court and community Role of the FPC Steering Committee During monthly meetings, the FPC Steering Committee: Evaluates the program’s progress Identifies new members to help support the program Advises in the design and operation of the program Consistent committee meetings ensures ongoing collaboration and transfer of knowledge from a variety of agencies and programs. LONG TERM FUNDING Community volunteers and donation of cloths, food, furniture, bedding, etc. Donation of funding through a 501 3c CAP, PSSF and CalWORKs funding Prop 36 – agreement with DC Oversight that clients attend the FPC to meet Prop 36 requirements – fees go to FPC Dept of Public Social Services – Family Maintenance Funding through Calif Department of Social Services for System Improvement Plans Community Outreach Family Preservation Court Community Outreach We can no longer effectively go it alone! Cannot expect community involvement if we do not tell them: What we do (What is Family Recovery Court?). How they can become involved (help). The Need for Community Involvement & Education Our objectives are to: Educate the community. Invoke community support and involvement. Develop community support systems to promote long-term sobriety. Service Organizations Non-profits Faith Based Institutions Government Questions Want a copy of our procedures and forms? Want to share this presentation with someone else? Go to our website at: http://www.courts.co.riverside.ca.us/famprescrt