Permanency Summit October 7-9, 2012 Hilton Bella Harbor – Rockwall, Texas

1. Permanency Summit October 7-9, 2012 Hilton Bella Harbor – Rockwall, Texas Safety v. Risk: The Travis County Experience

2. Interrupt, ask questions, please

3. Caveats and Confessions

4. 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

5. 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

6. Work still to do in Travis County

7. 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

10. Edward died in 2009, just after his 17th birthday

11. Robert, in 2011, just after his 13th

13. 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

14. During PMC, I have to guard against playing it safe, closing the door to imperfect parents or families, leaving a child in foster care

15. 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

19. Children Under Travis County Court Jurisdiction • COS: 197 • TMC: 737 • PMC: 304 • Total: 1,238

20. 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)

21. 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

22. 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)

23. Why?

24. 3 Suggested Factors CPS CASA Judicial Leadership

25. CPS • Permanency Roundtables • PCA and kinship workers • TARE revisions and Project PUSH • PMC unit(s) • Shift in focus and philosophy

26. CASA • More CASA volunteers • Power to request hearings • Transitional Youth Specialists • Shift in focus and philosophy

27. Judicial Leadership: Pre-2007 Long history of strong judicial leadership Judge Scott McCown Judge Jeanne Meurer

28. 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

29. Lessons Learned

30. The Fierce Urgency of Now

31. There Should be Nothing Permanent About PMC Every Child Should Be Moving Off the PMC Docket

32. Parents Change Older Youth Will Often Return to Parents, Regardless Let the Youth Gain Information/ Prepare a Youth For a Safer Return Home

33. There Is Always Family

34. Every Child is Adoptable There Is No Such Thing as Long-Term Foster Care

35. APPLA Means Never Having to Say Long-Term Foster Care There Can Be No APPLA Without a Caring Adult

36. 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

37. 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

38. Children and youth need to understand what we’re saying Words Are Powerful PMC Placement Level of care

39. Isolate and Focus on PMC (With 1 Judge, If Possible)

40. Hold More Frequent Hearings

41. Question Use and Dosage of Psychotropic Medications

42. 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

43. Keep Fighting the Good Fight With Passion and Urgency