Community AllianceCommunity AllianceUnified Family Court Unified Family Court

Social Service Social Service ComponentComponent

Assessment Phase ReportAssessment Phase ReportAugust 11, 2006August 11, 2006

Mary E. Hurm, LCSWMary E. Hurm, LCSW

UFC Social Service UFC Social Service ComponentComponent

• In November 2005, Chief Judge Kathleen J. In November 2005, Chief Judge Kathleen J. Kroll and the Community Alliance of Palm Kroll and the Community Alliance of Palm Beach County collaborated regarding the Beach County collaborated regarding the development of a social service component development of a social service component for Unified Family Courtfor Unified Family Court

• Social Service Component development Social Service Component development consists of three phases:consists of three phases:

• Assessment Phase: May-August 2006Assessment Phase: May-August 2006• Protocol Development Phase: August -September 2006Protocol Development Phase: August -September 2006• Implementation Phase: September-October 2006Implementation Phase: September-October 2006

Assessment Task:Assessment Task: Identify what Services are Needed Identify what Services are Needed

by Children and Familiesby Children and Families

• Judiciary-13Judiciary-13• State Attorney’s Office-2State Attorney’s Office-2• Public Defender Office-4Public Defender Office-4• Domestic Violence Council-7Domestic Violence Council-7• Child and Family Connections-16Child and Family Connections-16• Juvenile Probation Officers-9Juvenile Probation Officers-9

• Department of Department of Children and Children and Families-4Families-4

• Legal Aid-2Legal Aid-2• Detention Detention

Personnel-18Personnel-18• JAC Screeners-5JAC Screeners-5

Individuals from the following groups were Individuals from the following groups were surveyed to determine what social services are surveyed to determine what social services are needed by children and families in Palm Beach needed by children and families in Palm Beach County:County:

Total Number of Total Number of Responses=80Responses=80

Survey Results:Survey Results: Barriers to Clients Achieving their Barriers to Clients Achieving their

GoalsGoals

Responses were grouped into the following Responses were grouped into the following categories:categories:

• Service ProblemsService Problems• Uncooperative FamiliesUncooperative Families• Family/Individual IssuesFamily/Individual Issues• Environmental StressorsEnvironmental Stressors

Survey Results:Survey Results: Barriers to Clients Achieving Barriers to Clients Achieving their Goalstheir Goals

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

Barriers

Money

UncooperativeFamilies

Service Problems

Family/IndividualIssues

EnvironmentalStressors

Transportation

Survey Results:Survey Results: Services that are Most Difficult Services that are Most Difficult to Accessto Access• Affordable HousingAffordable Housing• Family Therapy- Family Therapy-

Quality and AffordableQuality and Affordable• Child CareChild Care• EmploymentEmployment• Substance Abuse Substance Abuse

ServicesServices• Mental Health Mental Health

ServicesServices• Parenting ClassesParenting Classes• Visitation ServicesVisitation Services

• Random drug screensRandom drug screens• Relative Caregiver FundsRelative Caregiver Funds• Sexual Abuse CounselingSexual Abuse Counseling• In Home Therapeutic In Home Therapeutic

ServicesServices• Batterers Intervention Batterers Intervention

Programs (due to fees)Programs (due to fees)• Information about Adult Information about Adult

Probation (communication Probation (communication between DJJ and Adult between DJJ and Adult System)System)

Survey Results:Survey Results: Services that are Needed MostServices that are Needed Most

ParentingClassesFamily Therapy

Education

Transportation

Substance AbuseTreatmentIndividualTherapyEmployment

Survey Results:Survey Results: Other Services Identified as Other Services Identified as High NeedHigh Need

• Affordable Mental HealthAffordable Mental Health• Multilingual Psychotherapy Multilingual Psychotherapy

in Gladesin Glades• Foster Home PlacementsFoster Home Placements• Anger Management ClassesAnger Management Classes• Domestic Violence ClassesDomestic Violence Classes• Children’s ClassesChildren’s Classes• Random Drug Screens that Random Drug Screens that

are really randomare really random• Local Psychological Local Psychological

Evaluation SitesEvaluation Sites• Residential placements like Residential placements like

group homes for delinquent group homes for delinquent youthyouth

• Affordable housingAffordable housing

• In home servicesIn home services• After hours servicesAfter hours services• Drug testing center for Drug testing center for

Riviera BeachRiviera Beach• Community Activities/Social Community Activities/Social

skillsskills• Child CareChild Care• LegalLegal• MedicationMedication• English as a second English as a second

languagelanguage• Respite Beds for DV casesRespite Beds for DV cases• Shelter beds for Shelter beds for

delinquency casesdelinquency cases• Sex Offender Treatment Sex Offender Treatment

Survey Results:Survey Results: Services Consistently Services Consistently Benefiting FamiliesBenefiting Families

• Group CounselingGroup Counseling• Free School for Free School for

parents (trade parents (trade school)school)

• LegalLegal• EmploymentEmployment• Individual & Individual &

Family TherapyFamily Therapy• Parenting ClassesParenting Classes

• Family Violence Family Violence Intervention Intervention ProgramProgram

• CINS/FINSCINS/FINS• Psychological Psychological

EvaluationsEvaluations• MediationMediation• UFC Case ManagersUFC Case Managers• Self Service CenterSelf Service Center• DOVE and Victim DOVE and Victim

AdvocatesAdvocates

Survey Results:Survey Results: Services Not Consistently Services Not Consistently Benefiting FamiliesBenefiting Families

• Any program with a Any program with a long wait timelong wait time

• Welfare/Housing Welfare/Housing AssistanceAssistance

• DCFDCF• Mental HealthMental Health• LegalLegal

• Substance AbuseSubstance Abuse• MedicationMedication• EducationEducation• Custody EvaluationsCustody Evaluations• DOR phone serviceDOR phone service

Survey Results:Survey Results: Where/Why do Families Fall Where/Why do Families Fall Through the Cracks?Through the Cracks?

• After 1After 1stst or 2 or 2ndnd visit- visit- families don’t follow families don’t follow throughthrough

• Once referrals for Once referrals for services are made (no services are made (no follow up)follow up)

• After reunification, After reunification, only 6 more months of only 6 more months of services- not enoughservices- not enough

• Lack of services for Lack of services for mentally ill kids mentally ill kids

• High caseloads make it High caseloads make it hard for Dependency hard for Dependency CM’s to follow upCM’s to follow up

• Turn around time in Turn around time in services (referrals services (referrals expiring before intake)expiring before intake)

• Medicaid CoverageMedicaid Coverage• Urgency in receiving Urgency in receiving

inpatient/residential inpatient/residential treatmenttreatment

Assessment Task:Assessment Task: Brief Survey of UFC Court Brief Survey of UFC Court FilesFiles

• 16 families examined16 families examined

• Approximately 60 total court casesApproximately 60 total court cases

• 59 adults, 44 children59 adults, 44 children

• 16 Mothers, 29 Fathers, 6 Grandparents, 5 16 Mothers, 29 Fathers, 6 Grandparents, 5 Aunts/Uncles, 2 Non-relative custodians, and Aunts/Uncles, 2 Non-relative custodians, and 1 stepmother1 stepmother

Brief Survey of UFC Court Brief Survey of UFC Court Files:Files: StatisticsStatistics

• 39 Abuse Reports Filed, Children 39 Abuse Reports Filed, Children removed 7 times, 1 TPRremoved 7 times, 1 TPR

• 75 Delinquency Charges between 12 75 Delinquency Charges between 12 childrenchildren

• Crossover Case Types:Crossover Case Types:• Dependency, Delinquency, Domestic Dependency, Delinquency, Domestic

Relations, Civil Domestic Violence and Relations, Civil Domestic Violence and Misdemeanor DVMisdemeanor DV

Brief Survey of UFC Brief Survey of UFC Court Files:Court Files: Main Issues IdentifiedMain Issues Identified

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Number of Families

Substance Abuse

Mental Health

Parental Criminal Charges

Parental Absence

Domestic Violence

Multiple Parents

Custody Disputes

Sexual Assault

Housing

Caregiver Changes over 2

Brief Survey of UFC Case Brief Survey of UFC Case Files:Files: Most Commonly Referred to Most Commonly Referred to ResourcesResources

• Children’s Home Children’s Home SocietySociety

• St. Mary’s St. Mary’s • MultilingualMultilingual• Youth Services Youth Services

BureauBureau• Parent Child Parent Child

CenterCenter

• Family CentralFamily Central• Drug Abuse Drug Abuse

FoundationFoundation• Court PsychologyCourt Psychology• Forest Hill Forest Hill

Counseling Counseling • Girls and Boys Girls and Boys

TownTown

Assessment Task: Assessment Task: Identify Community ResourcesIdentify Community Resources

• DV Council DV Council Resource GuideResource Guide

• Palm Beach County Palm Beach County Guide to ServicesGuide to Services

• NAMI of Palm NAMI of Palm Beach County Beach County Mental Health Mental Health Resource GuideResource Guide

• Children Services Children Services Counsel Directory of Counsel Directory of Funded ProgramsFunded Programs

• United Way Funded United Way Funded Program ListProgram List

• Palm Beach County Palm Beach County Family Almanac Family Almanac

• 211 –includes the 211 –includes the Youth Yellow Pages Youth Yellow Pages and Senior Guideand Senior Guide

• No Substance No Substance Abuse Guide for Abuse Guide for Palm Beach Palm Beach CountyCounty

Assessment Task: Assessment Task: Model Programs and Best Model Programs and Best PracticesPractices

• King County, WAKing County, WA• Fulton County, GAFulton County, GA• Jackson County, ORJackson County, OR• Deschutes County, OR Deschutes County, OR • Denver Juvenile Justice Integrated Denver Juvenile Justice Integrated

Treatment NetworkTreatment Network• NYC Mid Town Community CourtNYC Mid Town Community Court• Palm Beach County Community Palm Beach County Community

CourtCourt

Assessment Task: Assessment Task: Model Programs and Best Model Programs and Best Practices, King County, WAPractices, King County, WA• Has been in operation for 6 YearsHas been in operation for 6 Years

• Standardized Referral form to create profile of family Standardized Referral form to create profile of family issues, services needed issues, services needed

• Case Manager looks at cases, what services ordered, Case Manager looks at cases, what services ordered, conflicting orders, recommended services that are not yet conflicting orders, recommended services that are not yet orderedordered

• CM will get releases to any agencies families are CM will get releases to any agencies families are connected with and monitor compliance with court connected with and monitor compliance with court ordered servicesordered services

• CM provides a one page Family Update to court at every CM provides a one page Family Update to court at every review hearing – can include various reports for Judge to review hearing – can include various reports for Judge to reviewreview

Model Programs and Best Model Programs and Best Practices:Practices: Fulton County, GAFulton County, GA

• Has been in operation since 2001Has been in operation since 2001• One social service coordinator per judgeOne social service coordinator per judge• SS coordinator provides:SS coordinator provides:

• Home visits/custody evaluationsHome visits/custody evaluations• Scheduling clients for DNA testingScheduling clients for DNA testing• Drug testingDrug testing• Make recommendation to the judge usually around Make recommendation to the judge usually around

custody issuescustody issues• Individual counseling, service referrals, and Individual counseling, service referrals, and

mediationmediation• Collaborates with community agencies to conduct Collaborates with community agencies to conduct

seminars: divorce, child support, DV, responsible seminars: divorce, child support, DV, responsible fatherhoodfatherhood

Model Programs and Best Model Programs and Best Practices:Practices: Jackson County, Jackson County, OROR

• Family Resource Centers- can house as many as 17 Family Resource Centers- can house as many as 17 agencies in one building agencies in one building

• Offers three levels of service:Offers three levels of service:

• Level 1- compile all related casesLevel 1- compile all related cases

• Level 2- assigned to one judge and screens to Level 2- assigned to one judge and screens to determine if family could benefit from integration of determine if family could benefit from integration of servicesservices

• Level 3- Regular court visits and comprehensive family Level 3- Regular court visits and comprehensive family plan- services are through the Family Resource Center plan- services are through the Family Resource Center or interagency service teamor interagency service team

• Utilizes a Family Self-Sufficiency Scale Utilizes a Family Self-Sufficiency Scale

Model Programs and Best Model Programs and Best Practices:Practices: Deschutes County, Deschutes County, OROR

• Initially developed FAST (Family Advocate Initially developed FAST (Family Advocate Screening Team) to screen all family court casesScreening Team) to screen all family court cases

• FAST consists of a group of agency supervisors FAST consists of a group of agency supervisors and bar representatives who review family status and bar representatives who review family status and refer appropriate cases to Multidisciplinary and refer appropriate cases to Multidisciplinary Team representatives Team representatives

• The MDT (Multidisciplinary Team) then develops The MDT (Multidisciplinary Team) then develops a family plan that established services, a family plan that established services, determines delivery dates and evaluation criteria. determines delivery dates and evaluation criteria. The families participate in the plan.The families participate in the plan.

Model Programs and Best Model Programs and Best Practices:Practices: Deschutes County, Deschutes County, OR-Key PointsOR-Key Points

• Has been in operation over 10 yearsHas been in operation over 10 years• Agencies are accountable to the family and groupAgencies are accountable to the family and group• Agencies initially reluctant but have found that Agencies initially reluctant but have found that

planning collaboratively has made their case plans planning collaboratively has made their case plans more specialized and more efficient more specialized and more efficient

• The coordinator is a neutral party whose main role is The coordinator is a neutral party whose main role is to facilitate the meetings to facilitate the meetings

• Can do two separate meetings if there are issues of Can do two separate meetings if there are issues of domestic violence or high conflictdomestic violence or high conflict

• Active case load of 15-16 families at one timeActive case load of 15-16 families at one time• Consistent agency participation at meetings is Consistent agency participation at meetings is

neededneeded

Social Service Social Service Coordination:Coordination: Common Best PracticesCommon Best Practices

• Services and plans are comprehensive and tailored to Services and plans are comprehensive and tailored to specific strengths and needs of families and specific strengths and needs of families and participantsparticipants

• Judges are aware of variety and type of services in Judges are aware of variety and type of services in communitycommunity

• Services are provided in a timely mannerServices are provided in a timely manner• Shared databases and access to information Shared databases and access to information • Culturally competent service provisionCulturally competent service provision• Accessibility- procedures need to be as simple as Accessibility- procedures need to be as simple as

possible and convenient to access possible and convenient to access • Child friendly courts and visiting rooms/child careChild friendly courts and visiting rooms/child care• Accountability of all providers not just families Accountability of all providers not just families • Early assessment and single point of contactEarly assessment and single point of contact• Timelines are established and followed and Timelines are established and followed and

determined with consideration to length of time determined with consideration to length of time viewed through the eyes of a childviewed through the eyes of a child

From, “How are Courts Coordinating Family Cases?” State Justice From, “How are Courts Coordinating Family Cases?” State Justice Institute, 1999Institute, 1999