court’s role in system reform efforts to improve education outcomes for children in care
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Court’s Role in System Reform Efforts to Improve Education Outcomes For
Children in Care
CIP MeetingJuly 23, 2010
Kathleen McNaughtRay Wahl
Magistrate Carla GuenthnerElaine Fink
Overview of Session
Court’s Role in Direct Advocacy and System Reform
Key Themes in System Reform around Education Issues
Examples of Court Leadership Utah Kids in School Rule! Ohio County-based collaborative
initiatives
2
Court Role in Direct Advocacy Court’s clear role in overseeing the “well
being” of children in foster care- this includes their education needs
Link between addressing education needs and achieving permanency
New Program Instruction (released on July 9th, 2010): the courts “play an important role in education stability”
Example of issues: Who makes education decisions Access to education records Needs identified; services provided
Direct Advocacy Resources for Judges
Technical Assistance Brief: Asking the Right Questions II: Judicial Checklists to Meet the Educational Needs of Children and Youth in Foster Care- NCJFCJ Outlines questions that should be asked in a courtroom with respect to the educational needs of children and youth in foster care.http://www.ncjfcj.org/content/blogcategory/363/432/
Blueprint For Change: Detailed framework is structured around eight concrete goals for youth and include benchmarks that demonstrate progress toward achieving Education Success for children in foster care. www.abanet.org/child/education/blueprint
Coming Soon Fall 2010 - Judicial Guide to Implementing the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 will be available at www.grandfamilies.org
Why do we need system reform for the education issues? To hard to solve individually for each child Coordination between child welfare and
education agencies, the courts, and others, is needed
Collaborative protocols and policies must be created to ensure all are on same page.
Consistent practices across jurisdiction or state are necessary when issues involve mobility in the child’s living and school placements.
CFSRs – Well Being Outcome #2
Court’s Role in System ReformKey Themes Prioritize education as an key issue in achieving
permanency for children in care; Securing buy-in support and participation by leadership
from education agencies and child welfare agencies; maintaining progress and momentum over time; addressing the need for data to demonstrate how
children are doing educationally and identify larger picture view on greatest areas of need;
identifying “small wins” and reachable short term goals; and
strategies for working with LEAs and child welfare agencies and interpreting and coordinating languages and priorities of each agency
Prioritizing Education Needs of Children in Foster Care
For Child Welfare Agencies: the need is to prioritize education
For Education Agencies: the need is to prioritize children in foster care
For Courts: the need is to help ensure that the courts themselves, as well as the agencies and all other critical stakeholders, are prioritizing education
Leadership Buy-In and Participation Court Leadership on issue of education
Austin Summit
Court role is securing participation of leadership of other critical agencies Example: Texas
Order creating Education Committee of the Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth and Families and required participants, including state Commissioner of Education, Executive Directors of the State Association of School Boards and State Association of school Administrators
Maintaining Progress and Momentum Cross agency collaboration is hard work Changes come over time and with
sustained commitment from all participants Key is to have both short and long term
goals and consistent participation by the right stakeholders
Way to celebrate “victories” Way to revisit goals and plans as revise as
needed to stay current Way to learn from others in the field and
seek external support and assistance
Need for DataIf we haven’t measured it, it didn’t happen.
Don’t wait for “perfect” data
Need to know status of how children in care are doing, and where the gaps and needs are; AND
Need to be able to track improvements as strategies and policies are implemented.
Child welfare agencies: changes to SACWIS and state data systems to allow for education information
Education agencies: NCLB requirements for education data for all students; need method to obtain that information for subset of children who are in care.
Cross system sharing is critical but challenging; court can play critical role is assisting to address confidentiality issues
Data Resources Mythbusting: Downloadable at
http://www.abanet.org/child/education/
publications/dataexchange.html
Solving the Data Puzzle: http://www.abanet.org/child/education/publications/solvingthedatapuzzle.pdf
Small Wins and Short Term Goals
Critical to sustain momentum Examples:
Creation of forms to help facilitate communication across agencies
Reviewing and analyzing existing data Changes to court orders to address access to
education records Letter from State Education commissioners to all
LEAS to inform them of the Fostering Connections education provisions
Strategies for Working Collaboratively Over Time
Examples we are highlighting today:
Utah Kids in School Rule! Ohio County Collaborations
We All Are FOR Education:“By all rights, education should be an easy sell
because you never find anyone who is ‘against’ it. No advocacy groups clamor for its overthrow, no politicians or columnists protest its irrelevance. Unlike nuclear power, or abortion rights, or the graduated income tax, education has no enemies. The trouble, therefore, can only be with those who are ‘for’ it. In education, I’ve found, you can easily mistake the actions of those who are for it as being against it.”
Joseph Fernandez, former Chancellor of the New York City Public Schools JOSEPH A. FERNANDEZ WITH JOHN UNDERWOOD, TALES OUT OF SCHOOL 1 (Little, Brown 1993).
Legal Center for Foster Care and Education Resources
www.abanet/org/child/education/publications
Data and Information Sharing (Manual and Tools)
Special Education Decisionmaking Series (includes Attorney Factsheet)
Questions & Answer Factsheets about critical issues
Fostering Connections Implementation Materials
Contact Information
ABA Center on Children and the LawLegal Center for Foster Care and Education
www.abanet.org/child/education
Kathleen McNaughtProject Director
mcnaughk@staff.abanet.org
EDUCATION MATTERS:EDUCATION MATTERS:UTAH’S CHILDREN IN CAREUTAH’S CHILDREN IN CARE
Presentation at the National Court Improvement ConferenceJuly 2010
ORGANIZATIONORGANIZATION
• Unified Juvenile Court- 8 Judicial Districts- Dependency/ Delinquency
• State Office of Education- 40 School Districts-
• Department of Human Services- DCFS/ DJJS
YIC ORGANIZATIONYIC ORGANIZATION
Youth in Custody •18 million dollars•24 school districts• Dependency/ Delinquency
EDUCATION PATHWAYSEDUCATION PATHWAYS
INITIATIVE ON UTAH CHILDREN INITIATIVE ON UTAH CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE (IOU)IN FOSTER CARE (IOU)
•Builds collaboration between all branches of Utah government and other key participants in the child welfare system, including leaders of the business, education, religious and charitable community.
•Chaired by the Chief Justice
•Work through subcommittees•Public awareness•Kinship caregiver support•Youth transitioning to adult living support•Education
IOU EDUCATION WORKGROUPIOU EDUCATION WORKGROUP
Discoveries•Role Confusion
•System Incompatibility
•Lack of Information/Data
Transferring
•Quality of Teachers
Solutions•Immersion/ Summit
•Education Guide/ Website
•Getting Connected Trainings
•Site Visits
•Admission Protocols
•Statewide Education Specialist
•Evaluate and adjust membership of the
Coordinating Council for Youth In
Custody
DiscoveriesDiscoveries ActivitiesActivities
EDUCATING YOUTH IN STATE CAREEDUCATING YOUTH IN STATE CAREhttp://www.hs.utah.gov/education/http://www.hs.utah.gov/education/
EDUCATING YOUTH IN STATE CAREEDUCATING YOUTH IN STATE CAREhttp://www.hs.utah.gov/education/http://www.hs.utah.gov/education/
EDUCATING YOUTH IN STATE CAREEDUCATING YOUTH IN STATE CAREhttp://www.hs.utah.gov/education/http://www.hs.utah.gov/education/
GETTING CONNECTEDGETTING CONNECTED
MOVING FORWARDMOVING FORWARD
YIC StudyYIC Study
•How well is the YIC program educating youth in state care?
•What key elements are important for educational success for youth in state care?
•How can YIC improve its practices in order for youth in care to achieve better educational outcomes?
CONTACT INFORMATIONCONTACT INFORMATION
Ray WahlJuvenile Court Administrator
450 South State StreetSalt Lake City, UT 84111
(801) 578-3812rayw@email.utcourts.gov
Laurieann ThorpeStatewide Education Liaison
195 North 1950 WestSalt Lake City, Utah 84116
801 538-8294lthorpe@utah.gov
IMPROVING EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES FOR YOUTH IN
FOSTER CARE
HAMILTON COUNTYCincinnati, Ohio
DEMOGRAPHIC DATA
Hamilton County: 851,494 City of Cincinnati: 332,458 Children in agency custody or under
agency supervision: 1525 (2009 year end) Race:
African American: 63% Caucasian: 30% Multi-racial: 6% Hispanic: 1%
Gender: Male: 51% Female: 49%
SCHOOLS
County Districts:22 Cincinnati Public Schools: 58 schools
16 high schools 42 elementary schools
Race: African American: 68.8% Caucasian: 23.7% Multi-racial: 4.6% Hispanic: 1.9% Other: .9%
Free lunch: 68.7%
IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T SUCCEED….
A bend in the road is not the end of the road…unless you fail to make the turn.
Author Unknown
HAMILTON COUNTY CHILD PROTECTION REPORT CARD
Placements: 60% experience one or more placements
Grade Level: 32% at appropriate grade level
Mental/Behavioral Health: 48% diagnosed
COLLABORATION STRUCTURE
12 3
4
3. Stakeholder Kick-Offs/Trainings4. Outreach
1. Leadership Team2. Advisory Committee, Model Court
Committee and Workgroups
KEY STAKEHOLDERS
Hamilton Co. Dept. of Job & Family Services
Cincinnati Public Schools Hamilton Co. Juvenile Court Legal Aid Society of SW Ohio Public Defender: GAL Office ProKids: CASA Agency
TARGET POPULATION
Kindergarten through 12th grade Children in agency custody Children attending one of the
22 participating schools (identified through mapping)
Minimum of 100 children in the pilot
EDUCATION AS A PRIORITY
Execution of a MOU Inclusion of Schools/Education
Representatives on Model Court Team
Judicial Checklist Court Reports on Education Cross-Training Youth Engagement
SCHOOL STABILITY
Development of strategies for maintaining stability in school and substitute care placements
Creation of plans for maintaining school stability if agency placement disrupts
Development of seamless transition plans when change in school placement cannot be avoided
IMPROVED COMMUNICATION/ ENHANCED COORDINATION
2 child protection caseworkers serve as liaisons to the participating schools
One representative at each school serves as a liaison to Children’s Services
Access to Power School
REFORM POLICIES AND PRACTICES
Create visitation plans/policies that avoid school disruption
Implement case plan services during non-traditional hours or access school-based services to minimize school disruption
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES
Education Advocacy and Legal Representation
Interventions and Supports to Promote Academic Success and Achievement Tutoring Higher Education Mentoring Initiative Extracurricular Activities Summer Reading Program
DATA COLLECTION AND PROGRAM EVALUATION
Key Outcome Measures:
1. Youth in foster care will experience increased stability in their placement and at school.2. Youth in foster care will demonstrate improvement in school attendance.3. Youth in foster care will achieve school promotion and grade advancement.4. Youth in foster care with identified special needs will receive appropriate and supportive educational services.5. The public and private partners will create a collaborative structure that enhances the coordination and implementation of educational plans for youth in foster care.
DATA/EVALUATION (continued)
Critical but often elusive Persevere Document small successes You can do it!
Nine tenths of education is encouragement.
Anatole France, writer
He who opens a school door, closes a prison.
Victor Hugo, poet
CONTACT INFORMATION
Carla GuenthnerDeputy Chief MagistrateHamilton County Juvenile Court800 BroadwayCincinnati, Ohio 45202513.946.9381Carla.Guenthner@juvcourt.hamilton-co.org
Elaine E. FinkManaging Attorney
Legal Aid Society of Southwest Ohio, LLC
Collaboration for Education Success of Children in Foster
Care
Opportunity to Improve the Education of Children in Foster Care
Cincinnati Public SchoolsCommunication
problems with Children’s Services
Difficulty accessing agency case workers
Ignorance about child welfare
Awareness that foster youth not performing well
Misconceptions about Children’s Services
Children’s ServicesCommunication
problems with school district
Difficulty accessing school district personnel
Frustrations with school district
Foster students failing in school
Misconceptions about school district
Getting Cincinnati Public Schools and Children’s Services to table
Legal Aid trusted by both groupsCreated Committee to improve education
for foster youth through strategy of training and communication Juvenile Court Children’s Services Schools Legal Aid
Foster Care Committee
Effective collaboration
Urban school district invested and at the table
Small working group able to identify issues and set priorities
Growing desire to increase impact
ExpansionDetermined to expand Committee to
increase impact Invited additional school districts within same
county (Hamilton) Added 2nd county (Butler County)Became multi-disciplinary across 2 countiesChanged nameCreated mission statement
To improve school experiences and
strengthen educational outcomes and opportunities
for children in the foster care system.
Collaboration for Education Success of Children in Foster Care
Who Participates in the Collaboration?
School District AdministratorsJuvenile Court Magistrates and Court
AdministratorsChildren’s Services AdministratorsChildren’s Mental Health and Social Service
Administrators and Case ManagersCounty ProsecutorsHomeless Student Liaison (McKinney Vento)Attorney/Guardian ad Litem and CASA programsLegal Aid Society Attorneys
Why do schools participate?Participant contact list provides valuable
networking opportunities and access for problem-solving
Access to Juvenile Court Magistrates or Court StaffDirect access to Children’s ServicesStrategies for trauma-informed responses within
schoolsEnvironment encourages dialogue and
respect/safe to raise questionsLegal mandates as well as practical challenges of
implementing laws addressedSource for crucial information
Maintaining MomentumKeep agenda relevantAnticipate opportunities for assistance and
successMaintain collaborative / non-judgmental
environmentBe flexible about school representativesFacilitate effectivelyBe productive – seek deliverables and
concrete outcomes
Threats and ChallengesFinancial stresses – every public system,
agency and school district is running on empty
Resources for administrative tasks & responsibilities
Diverse priorities Time in short supply
How to Get StartedIdentify new partners
Social services Mental health
Juvenile Court leadership Critical glue Resource rich
Willingness to service other priorities Give & take Patience
Contact Information
Elaine E. FinkManaging AttorneyLegal Aid Society of Southwest Ohio, LLC215 E. Ninth Street, Suite 500Cincinnati, Ohio 45202513-362-2821efink@lascinti.org
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