court observation form webinar office of the child’s representative november 5 th, 2013 | linda...
TRANSCRIPT
Court Observation Form Webinar
Office of the Child’s RepresentativeNovember 5th, 2013 | Linda Weinerman, Executive Director
Purpose of theCourt Observation Form Webinar
Inform attorneys of the OCR’s court observation process
Share the court observation forms used in D&N and JD cases
Provide data points based on observations from the previous year
Answer questions from OCR attorneys
Why does the OCR conduct court observations?
Court Observations Provide:
Objective and independent information about OCR attorneys
A sense of child welfare practice in individual judicial districts
An opportunity for self-evaluation during the OCR renewal application and evaluation process
OCR’s Considerations OCR recognizes that court observations provide only
a snapshot of an attorney in the courtroom
In evaluating attorneys, OCR considers the following:
Court Observations Writing Sample References CARES Reports Stakeholder Survey Data Self-reporting questions on the actual OCR application
The court observation forms represent an evolving process as we fine-tune the questions and categories in the forms
Dependency & NeglectCourt Observation Form
Data points collected are based on CJD 04-06 requirements and OCR practice expectations for GALs
Form was designed to collect objective data, as the OCR has multiple observers completing the form
OCR reviews dockets and pulls case information prior to court observations, so that forms are pre-populated with case-specific data
Q1) Child present? (including any electronic means)
Basis for data point FY13 Data
Nationally recognized best practice
GAL responsibility to give children voice
Statutory provisions: §19-1-106(5) § 19-3-502(7) § 19-3-702(2), (3.7)
Impact on the proceedings
216 Observations 358 Children
Q2) Was this child given the chance to address the Court?
FY13 Data
216 Observations 358 Children
Q3) Did GAL address efforts to get child to attend?
FY13 Data
216 Observations 358 Children
Q4) Did GAL provide current, independent info about this child?
CJD Provision FY13 Data
04-06(V)(D)(1) 216 Observations 358 Children
Q5) Did GAL state last contact with child? (In FY13, “...when s/he last saw child?”)
CJD Provisions FY13 Data
CJD 04-06(V)(D)(4)(a),(5)(a), 06(V)(D)(5)(b)
CJD 04-06(V)(B)
216 Observations 358 Children
Q6) Did GAL clearly state a position?
CJD Provision FY13 Data
CJD04-06(V)(C) CJD 04-06(V)(D)(1)
216 Observations 358 Children
Q7) Did GAL state child’s position?
CJD Provision FY13 Data
Providing current information to the court includes a statement of the child’s position, when the child’s position is ascertainable based on the child’s developmental level. CJD 04-06(V)(D)(1)
216 Observations 358 Children
Juvenile DelinquencyCourt Observation Form
The JD form is a data collection tool, used to inform practice standards and collect general information about GALs in JD cases
The JD form is one way to investigate anecdotal information about GALs in JD cases
Questions?
To ask a question, type into the “Questions” box in the GoToWebinar toolbar.