judge carole clark’s trauma-informed approach …...is a holistic, attachment-based, and...

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KARYN PURVIS INSTITUTE OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT 2901 W. LOWDEN | REES-JONES HALL, SUITE 314 | FORT WORTH, TX 76109 | 817.257.7415 © Copyrighted materials of the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development, Texas Christian University | Copied with Permission 1 JUDGE CAROLE CLARK’S TRAUMA-INFORMED APPROACH TO FAMILY/DRUG COURT BY: SHERI PARRIS, JUDGE CAROLE CLARK, JENNIFER GREGORY, AND ELIZABETH WATKINS ALL RISE: For the Good of the Children, a documentary from the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development at TCU, takes you inside the courtroom of an unconventional East Texas judge who uses a trauma-informed, trust-based approach to healing broken families in the child welfare system. Two families share how they transformed their lives through the support and intervention offered by Judge Carole Clark and her team of lawyers, mental health experts and child advocates. This video companion guide details the trauma-informed practices and approach of Judge Clark’s court that was featured in the film. OVERVIEW Under the leadership of Judge Carole Clark, the family/drug court in Smith County, Texas implemented Trust-Based Relational Intervention ® (TBRI ® ) and created a trauma-informed court system that improved the quality of outcomes for children and families. TBRI ® is a holistic, attachment-based, and trauma-informed intervention designed to meet the complex needs of vulnerable children and families. TBRI is comprised of strategies grouped into three evidenced-based principles: (a) Empowering principles to address biological needs (b) Connecting principles to build trust and meaningful relationships (c) Correcting principles to disarm fear-based behaviors More information about TBRI and the effects of early trauma that compelled Judge Clark to adopt a trauma-informed approach can be found in the following article, which is available for free download at allriseforchildren.com/resources: Purvis, K. B., Cross, D. R., Dansereau, D. F., & Parris, S. R. (2013). Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI): A Systemic Approach to Complex Developmental Trauma. Child & Youth Services, 34(4), 360–386. http://doi.org/10.1080/0145935X.2013.859906 BACKGROUND After years of frustration with results of traditional handling of a Child Protective Services Docket, Judge Carole Clark, 321st District Court, Tyler, Texas implemented trauma-informed practices. The primary purpose was to achieve better outcomes for children and families. She also wanted to break family cycles of abuse and negative patterns that passed from one generation to the next. Judge Clark’s shift to a trauma-informed approach began in 2007 after she met Dr. Karyn Purvis. Dr. Purvis (then Director of what is now known as the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development at TCU) introduced Judge Clark to the TBRI model that she and Dr. David Cross developed to help

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© Copyrighted materials of the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development, Texas Christian University | Copied with Permission 1

JUDGE CAROLE CLARK’S TRAUMA-INFORMED APPROACH TO FAMILY/DRUG COURT

BY: SHERI PARRIS, JUDGE CAROLE CLARK, JENNIFER GREGORY, AND ELIZABETH WATKINS

ALL RISE: For the Good of the Children,adocumentaryfromtheKarynPurvisInstituteofChildDevelopmentatTCU,takesyouinsidethecourtroomofanunconventionalEastTexasjudgewhousesatrauma-informed,trust-basedapproachtohealingbrokenfamiliesinthechildwelfaresystem.TwofamiliessharehowtheytransformedtheirlivesthroughthesupportandinterventionofferedbyJudgeCaroleClarkandherteamoflawyers,mentalhealthexpertsandchildadvocates.Thisvideocompanionguidedetailsthetrauma-informedpracticesandapproachofJudgeClark’scourtthatwasfeaturedinthefilm.

OVERVIEW

UndertheleadershipofJudgeCaroleClark,thefamily/drugcourtinSmithCounty,TexasimplementedTrust-BasedRelationalIntervention®(TBRI®)andcreatedatrauma-informedcourtsystemthatimprovedthequalityofoutcomesforchildrenandfamilies.

TBRI®isaholistic,attachment-based,andtrauma-informedinterventiondesignedtomeetthecomplexneedsofvulnerablechildrenandfamilies.TBRIiscomprisedofstrategiesgroupedintothreeevidenced-basedprinciples:

(a) Empowering principlestoaddressbiologicalneeds(b) Connecting principlestobuildtrustandmeaningfulrelationships(c) Correcting principlestodisarmfear-basedbehaviors

MoreinformationaboutTBRIandtheeffectsofearlytraumathatcompelledJudgeClarktoadoptatrauma-informedapproachcanbefoundinthefollowingarticle,whichisavailableforfreedownloadatallriseforchildren.com/resources:

Purvis,K.B.,Cross,D.R.,Dansereau,D.F.,&Parris,S.R.(2013).Trust-BasedRelationalIntervention(TBRI):ASystemicApproachtoComplexDevelopmentalTrauma.Child & Youth Services,34(4),360–386.http://doi.org/10.1080/0145935X.2013.859906

BACKGROUND

AfteryearsoffrustrationwithresultsoftraditionalhandlingofaChildProtectiveServicesDocket,JudgeCaroleClark,321stDistrictCourt,Tyler,Texasimplementedtrauma-informedpractices.Theprimarypurposewastoachievebetteroutcomesforchildrenandfamilies.Shealsowantedtobreakfamilycyclesofabuseandnegativepatternsthatpassedfromonegenerationtothenext.

JudgeClark’sshifttoatrauma-informedapproachbeganin2007aftershemetDr.KarynPurvis.Dr.Purvis(thenDirectorofwhatisnowknownastheKarynPurvisInstituteofChildDevelopmentatTCU)introducedJudgeClarktotheTBRImodelthatsheandDr.DavidCrossdevelopedtohelp

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childrensufferingfromtheeffectsofabuse,neglect,and/ortrauma.Bylearningabouttheimpactofearlymaltreatmentandtrauma-informedinterventions,JudgeClarkandherteamwereempoweredtoimprovethehandlingofcasesofchildabuseandneglectwithinsightsfromthefieldsofchilddevelopment,neurodevelopment,andattachment.

Althoughthereisnosingledefinitionoftrauma-informedcareacrosssystems,thisisacommonlyciteddefinitionfromtheNationalTraumaticStressNetwork:

Atrauma-informedchild-andfamily-servicesystemisoneinwhichallpartiesinvolvedrecognizeandrespondtotheimpactoftraumaticstressonthosewhohavecontactwiththesystemincludingchildren,caregivers,andserviceproviders.Programsandagencieswithinsuchasysteminfuseandsustaintraumaawareness,knowledge,andskillsintotheirorganizationalcultures,practices,andpolicies.Theyactincollaborationwithallthosewhoareinvolvedwiththechild,usingthebestavailablescience,tomaximizephysicalandpsychologicalsafety,facilitatetherecoveryofthechildandfamily,andsupporttheirabilitytothrive.

Withtheoverridinggoalofhealthyfamilyreunification,JudgeClarkcommittedtoimplementingacomprehensive,trauma-informedapproachinhercourt.Shefocusedonrecognizingandtreatingthetraumaofeachchildandparentinanefforttostopthecycleofchildabuse.

OBJECTIVES

JudgeClarkfocusedondevelopingatrauma-informedcourtbecausetheparentsandchildrenneedtohealfromtheirtraumaexperiencesifthereistobealong-termresolutionoftheissuesthatre-quiredtheState’sinvolvementinthefirstplace.Thebasiccomponentsofhertrauma-informedcourtinclude:(1)meaningfulassessmentstoidentifythetraumaofallparties,(2)specializedtreatmentplanstailoredtothetraumaandtrauma-relatedbehaviors,and(3)phaseplanstoimplementtreat-mentandreturnthechildrenhometoasafeandappropriatefamily.Specifically,thecourtimple-mentedtrauma-informedpracticesto:

• Improveoutcomesforchildrenandfamilies• Lowerrecidivismrateswithinthechildwelfaresystem• Reducetheintergenerationalpatternofchildabuseandmaltreatment

OUTCOMES

InJudgeClark’scourt,theuseofTBRIprinciplesandtrauma-informedpracticeshasbeensuccessfulinimprovingoutcomesforchildrenandfamilies.Itresultedinlowerratesofre-victimizationofchildrenreturninghomeorreceivingin-homeCPSserviceswiththeTexasDepartmentofFamilyandProtectiveServices(DFPS).

Basedonfive-yearoutcomesofchildreninDFPScareinSmithCountyandthefourTexascountieswiththemostsimilarnumbersofchildrenincare,SmithCountyhadthelowestpercentageofreconfirmedvictims(PotterCounty,22.4%;TomGreenCounty,20.4%;JohnsonCounty,15.8%;

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WebbCounty,14%;SmithCounty,9.4%).Also,basedonfive-yearoutcomes,whencomparingSmithCountyandthetwoTexascountiesmostsimilarinchildpopulationsize,SmithCountyhadthelowestpercentageofreconfirmedvictims(JeffersonCounty,20.7%;BrazosCounty,18.9%;SmithCounty,9.4%(DFPSDatabook,2018).

Between2008andJuly2018,JudgeClarkhadzerojurytrials–anotherindicatorofthesuccessofacollaborativeapproachoveranadversarialapproachtoresolvingcases.Thecourtalsosawareductioninthenumberofcontestedhearingsinmostcases.

TEAM-BASED APPROACH

Toimplementtrauma-informedpracticesinhercourt,JudgeClarkusedateam-basedapproach.Bycreatingateamofadvocatesandchildwelfareprofessionalswithasharedvisionandcommongoals,theyhavebeenabletoengageparentsandimproveoutcomesforchildrenandfamilies.Keystakeholdersontheteaminclude:

• Judge• Traumaandsubstanceabuseevaluators• Psychologicalevaluators• ChildProtectiveServices(CPS)supervisors• CPSattorneys• Parentattorneys• Children’sattorneys• CASAvolunteers• Mentalhealthproviders• Substanceabuseproviders

Theteammeetsatleastonceamonthtodiscusscourtprocessesandrelatedissues.Specificcasesarenotdiscussed.Newprovidersorothervisitorswhowouldliketoprovideservicesaregivenanopportunitytopresenttheirservicesandtheteamthendeterminesiftheservicesarealignedwiththecourt’strauma-informedpractices.

TRAUMA-INFORMED TRAINING FOR THE COURT

JudgeClark’sintentisforeverypersonwhoprovidesanyservicetotheCPSchildrenorparentsservedbyhercourttobeawareoftheimpactoftrauma,andtobetrainedintrauma-informedpractices.Theleveloftrainingrequireddependsontheservicesprovided.

SmithCountyhasseveralpeoplewhohavebeentrainedextensivelyintheTBRImodelandwhoareabletotrainothers.ManyprofessionalsfromJudgeClark’scourt(includingattorneys,traumaevaluators,mentalhealthproviders,etc.)havecompletedtheKarynPurvisInstituteofChildDevelopment’sTBRIPractitionerTraining.Itisrecommendedthatarepresentativefromeachagencybetrainedsothattheycantrainotherswithintheirorganization.

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Providingtrauma-informedtrainingtosomanyprofessionalsworkingwiththecourthashelpedtocreateasupportnetworkforthepractitioners,strengthentheteam,andexpandthetrauma-informedservicesandresourcesavailabletotheparentsandchildren.

THREE-PHASE SERVICE PLANS

InSmithCounty,JudgeClarkandherteamworkedwithCPStoinstitutethree-phaseserviceplans(AddresstheSafetyRisk,AddresstheTraumaandParentingIssues,andMonitoredReturn).AFamilyGroupConferenceisconvenedbeforetheserviceplangoesintoeffect.

Theclientmustcompletethephasesinthecorrectordertogainthemostbenefit.Forexample,apsychologicalevaluationcannotprovideavalidresultunlesstheclienthasbeendrugfreeforatleast90days.Further,lackofsobrietyforasignificantlengthoftimeimpedestheclient’sabilitytolearnfromparentingclassesandothertypesoftrainingsthatareoffered.

JudgeClarkapprovesthephasedserviceplanspursuanttotheTexasFamilyCoderequirementsforplansofservice.Theyareenteredasacourtordertosatisfythelegalcomponentoftheprocess.CPScontinuestopreparethetraditionalcomputerizedserviceplansandrecordsallthesamedetailsforservicesontheformrequiredtocomplywithfederalregulations.Thissystemrequirescourtordersandenforcement,andparticipationbybothCPSandtheparent.

Eachparentorpartyisrequiredbythecourttocompleteallthreephasespriortodismissalofthecase.Theprogressoftheplansisaddressedateveryhearing,andacopyofthesignedplanisprovidedtoallpartiespriortothehearing.Dependingontheneedsoftheclient,plansmaybemodifiedorchangedbyagreementofthepartieswiththecourt’sapproval.

Thesethree-phaseserviceplanswereadoptedtoallowforincrementalsuccessbyparents,simplifiedinstructions,andeasiermonitoringbythecourt.Thephasesaredesignedtoaddresstheneedsoftheparentandchildwiththeunderstandingthatallpartieshaveexperiencedaleveloftraumathataffectstheirabilitytomulti-taskandachievesuccess.Thistrauma-focusedapproachallowstheCourttoaddressspecificneedsoftheclientswhileallowingforadequatesupportandtimelyintervention.

Inaddition,thecourtgainsabetterunderstandingofprogressbymonitoringthestatusofeachphase.Thephasesaresetuptobecompletedwithinthe12-monthperiod,however,moretimemayberequiredbasedontheparents’history(i.e.,parentswhowerevictimsofabuseandneglectand/orhavelonghistoriesoftraumamaytakelonger)and/orifthecasemeetstheguidelinesforextension.Thecourtcanaskforadditionalplanstobedevelopedwhenalackofprogressisshown.Forexample,iftheclientisstillinPhase1atthe9monthmark,thecourtmaylookforaPlanBoptionsinceitislikelytheserviceswillnotbecompletedpriortothedeadlineofthecaseandinconjunctionwiththeneedforpermanencyforchildrenwithinacertaintimeframe.

Detailsofthefamilygroupconferenceandeachofthethreephasesareprovidedbelow.

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FAMILY GROUP CONFERENCE

InSmithCounty,aFamilyGroupConference(FGC)takesplacesbeforethefirsthearing(AdversaryHearing)whichiswithinapproximatelytwoweeksofremovalofthechildren.AnFGCisastructuredmeetingwiththeparents,relatives,friends,partners,orotherstakeholderstodevelopaplanforthesafecareandprotectionofthechildinvolved.The‘teammembers’fromJudgeClark’scourtwhoareassignedtothatfamilyarepresent,andtheyarticulatethatthegoalisreunificationwithinthe12-18monthperiodmandatedbystatelaw.

Thisearlymeetingsetsthetoneforthecase,andisscheduledassoonaspossibleafterCPSremovesthechildren(ideallythenextday).Anabrupt,forcefulremovalcreatesmoretraumaandrampsupfearandangerforbothparentandchild,causingmoredistrustofthesystem.Therefore,JudgeClarkalsoworkedwithCPStocreatespeciallytrainedremovalexpertswhousetrauma-informedpracticesduringtheremovalprocessitselftolowerfearsandstress.They(ratherthantheinvestigator)stepintoworkwiththefamilyandbeginsettingthetoneforhowthisprocesswillbedifferentthanwhattheymayhaveexperiencedinthepast.Then,whentheycometocourt,theprocessisexplainedinfurtherdetail.

Bysettinggoalsandexpectationsinatrauma-informedmanner,everyoneinvolvedmovesfromapunitiveandpower-basedapproachtoonethatisrespectfuloftheparents,andwitharecognitionofwhatbroughtthechildrenintostatecustody.Themessageconveyedbytheteamisthatsuccessisexpectedandforthattohappen,everyoneontheteam,includingtheparents,mustdotheirpart.

Below is a list of goals for the Family Group Conference:

o Assessthefamily’sneedsanddiscusstheneedforCPSinvolvement.Theinitialmeetingwillincludeparentsandotherfamilymembers,attorneys,CPS,andCASA.

o Developrapportbetweenfamilyandinvestigativeandremovalstaff.o Reduceparentfearsbyensuringtheparent(s)understandsthatthegoaloftheprocessisto

provideasafeandhealthyenvironmentfortheirchildandreunificationwiththeirchildren,andthatthecourtteamistheretohelpachievethatgoal.

o Convincetheparent(s)thattheywillachievethebestoutcomesbytakingadvantageofthecourt-mandatedservices.

o Empowerallparties,especiallytheparentsandfamily,tobetterunderstandwhyCPSisinvolvedandwhattheCPSplanisgoingforward.

o Discussthecaseindetailandhavetheattorneysexplainandpreparethefamilyforwhatwillhappenattheinitialcourthearing.

o DiscussCPS’timelineforthecase(i.e.,familieshave12monthsinitiallybutmayseekasix-monthextension,etc.).

o Outlinethethree-phasedapproachemployedinSmithCounty.Discussthefocusofeachphaseandwhatcontactparentswillhavewiththeirchildrenduringtheprocess.

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PHASE 1: ADDRESS THE SAFETY RISK (GETTING CLEAN AND SAFE)

Approximately 3 months, Supervised Visitation with Children

TheprimarypresentingissueinJudgeClark’scourtisdrugabuse.Somecasespresentwithotherissues(e.g.,mentalhealth,intellectualdisabilities,severephysicaldisabilitiesofparentsand/orchil-dren,etc.),butmostcasesaredrug-related.Inthesecases,thefirststepisfortheparentwhowasinvolvedinthenon-protectivesituationthatrequiredremovaltoundergoariskassessment.Thisshouldbeperformedbyatrauma-informedclinicalsocialworker,licensedprofessionalcounselor,ordrugcounselor.

The assessment, at a minimum, includes:

o SASSI(SubstanceAbuseSubtleScreeningInventory)–TheSASSIquestionnaireisusedasadrugandalcoholabuseassessment.Thisscreeninginstrumenthelpstheassessordeterminewhatsubstanceabusetreatment,ifany,isappropriate.ThetreatmentdeterminationisguidedbythefourlevelsofcaredevelopedbyDr.DouglasMarloweoftheNationalAssociationofDrugCourtProfessionals.Hiscategorizationiscommonlyusednationwideindrugcourts,andthismodelisusedaspartoftheassessmentportionoftheprograminSmithCounty.Everypersonwhopresentstothecourtwithadrugissuereceivesanassessmentandtreatmentrecommendations.

o AdverseChildhoodExperiences(ACE)Questionnaire–Thisself-reportingtoolisusedtoidentifychildhoodtrauma.ThehighertheACEscore,thehighertheriskforhealth,social,andemotionalproblems.

o Interview–Aninterviewisconductedinconjunctionwiththeuseofself-reportingtoolstoidentifyanyhistoryoftraumaandtrauma-relatedissues.

Afterassessment,CPSsubmitsanindividualizedserviceplanforPhase1withinputfromallinvolvedandthecourtreviewsit.

Parentsreceivesupervisedvisitationwithchildrenduringthisphase.Theyareexplicitlytoldwhattheyneedtodotostarttheprocessofreunification,andtheyarealsogiventheoptionofaquickstart,inwhichtheycanbeginserviceswithintwoweeksoftheirchild’sremoval(asopposedto60daysatthestatushearing,whichisstandardpracticeinmanyothercourts).

Itisimportanttonotethatvisitationduringthisphaseremainsnecessarytocontinuethechild’scon-nectiontotheirparent.Unlessitisunsafeordetrimentaltothechild’swellbeing,thecourtwillalwaysallowthevisitationtoencourageandmaintainthevitalparent-childrelationship.

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Approximately 6 months, Unsupervised Visitation with Children

DuringPhase2,parentscanbeginunsupervised,therapeuticallyinformedcontactwiththeirchildren.Phase2beginsaftertheparentcompletesdrugtreatmentand/oraddressesotheracuteissues.Parentsundergoapsychologicalexam,administeredbyatrauma-informedpsychologisttodetermineiftherearementalhealthissuesthatneedtobeaddressed.Theseexaminationsareinvalidunlesstheparenthasbeendrugandalcoholfreeforatleast60days.

Thetraumaandmentalhealthissuesareaddressedinindividualcounselingandtraumagroup.Anarrowlytailoredplantospecificallyaddressaparent’scoretraumaisnecessarytoallowtheparenttodealwiththeissuesthatbroughtCPSintotheirlives,andtobegintorecognizeandpreventthoseissuesfromhappeningagain.Thisisintensiveworkthattakestime.Itshouldnotberushed.Allavailablecounselingandservices/programsshouldbeutilized.

Theprimarytrauma-informedinterventions,programs,andcounselingservicesusedbyJudgeClark’scourtinclude:

o Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI)–Aholistic,attachment-based,trauma-informedinterventionthatreducestheeffectsoftrauma(Purvis,Cross,Dansereau,&Parris,2013).

o Circle of Security® (COS)–Aninterventionbasedonattachmenttheorythateducatescaregiversinbecomingmoreresponsivetotheirchildren’sneeds(Yaholkoski,Hurl,&Theule,2016;CEBC,2018a).

o Brain Gym–Calmingtechniquesthroughmovement(www.braingym.org).

o Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)-Evidence-basedpsychotherapytreatmentdesignedtoreducetraumasymptoms(CEBC,2018b,c).

o Fostering Connections (Texas DFPS program)(seeFosteringConnectionstoSuccessandIncreasingAdoptionsActof2008).

o Trauma Counseling Sessions–PerformedbyaTBRIPractitioner.

o Group Therapy-TBRI-basedtraumagrouptherapy(onehourperweek)includeseveryoneinphase2foraslongastheircaseisopen.Someclientscontinuewithgrouptherapyaftertheircaseisclosedorreturntomentorothers.

Duringthisphase,parentsalsocontinuewithsubstanceabusesupportservices(e.g.,AA,NA,CelebrateRecovery,etc.).Theclientshouldattendafter-careprogramswithemphasisonpeople,placesandthingsthattriggerthemandhinderrecovery.Sponsorsandasupportsystemshouldtakeshape.Often,thereisarequirementthattheparentcomplete90meetingsin90days,obtainasponsorandbeginworkinga12-StepProgram.

PHASE 2: ADDRESS THE TRAUMA AND PARENTING ISSUES

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Employmentandhousingaresecured.Forthisclientpopulation,theseareoftenchallengingtasks.ParentsshouldalsoworkonbuildingwhatJudgeClark’steamcalls“intentionalfamily”–peopleintheclient’ssupportnetwork(includingmentorsandotherpartiesinthecourt)whocanbecalledonduringstressfultimes.

Asparentsachievesmallsuccesses,buildtheirpositivesupportnetworksandgainindependencefrominfluencesofnegativepeople,placesandthings,thenumberofvisitationsshouldincreaseandtransitiontoincludeunsupervisedvisitation.Thisgivesparentssomethingtostrivefor,andonceachieved,motivatesthemtocontinuemakingpositivechanges.

Relapseisnotuncommoninthisphase.Asparentsidentifytheirowntraumaticexperiencesandbegintorealizethetraumathattheycreatedfortheirchildren,theybegintohealbutitisapainfulprocess.Ifarelapseoccurs,theparentshouldbeginthestepsagain,getclean,seekcounselingfromaproviderwhounderstandsissuesthatarisefromtrauma,andcontinuetobuildtheirsupportnetwork.WhileaPlanBshouldbestarted,relapseshouldbemetwithsupportiveencouragement.

PHASE 3: MONITORED RETURN

Approximately 3 months, Monitored Return of Child to Parent

Phase3seesthemonitoredreturnofthechildwiththeapprovalofallthoseinvolvedincludingthecourt.Duringthistime,parentscontinuerecoveryworkifindicated.Arelapsepreventionplanshouldbefirmlydeveloped.Allstepsinrecoveryshouldbestartedand/orcompleted.Theclientshouldhaveasponsororsobrietysupportnetworkinplace.Thecourtwillonlyorderamonitoredreturnofthechildifitbelievesthechildcanbereturnedtotheparentsafely.

Housingandemploymentneedtobemaintained.Atthisstage,thecounselingmayleveloffandbecomelessfrequent.Theclientthenhasmoretimetofocusonajob,realliferesponsibilitiesandexpectations.Transportationisoftenanissueinthesecases.Parentsshouldworkthisissueoutpriortothechildbeingreturned.Whethertheneedisareliableride,publictransportation,orvalidlicensetodrive,theparentmustdemonstratetheycanhandletheseresponsibilities.

Parentsshouldbealignedwith/andprovidedamentorgroup.Thisgroupshouldprovidebothmeetingsandpositiverolemodelingfortheparent.Thegroupshouldbearesourcewhenissuesarise,andshouldplayapartinhelpingtheparentdealwithresponsibilitytheyhavepreviouslynotknown.Mostoftheseparentshavehadverypoorrolemodelsinthepast.Itisimportantthatthisresourceisavailablemovingforwardsothattheycanseehowappropriateparentingishandled.

Parentsalsoreceivein-homecoachingfromatrauma-informedcounselortohelpthempracticetheparentingskillslearnedinPhase2.Theseparentingskillsareimplementedwhenthechildrenandparentsarereunited,andassistanceiscriticalbecausethesearenewforboththeparentsandthechildren.

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Duringthisphase,parentsareexpectedtobeabletoarticulatewhattheyhavelearned,whattheyaredoingtosupporttheirrecoveryandstayclean,andwhatparentingstrategiestheyareusingtoprovideasafeandhealthyenvironmentfortheirchildren.

Court Hearing Process

Eachmemberoftheteam,includingtheJudge,haslegalandethicaldutiesandresponsibilitiestothecourtsystem.Beingtrauma-informedandhavingallteammembersoperatewithinthatframeworkiswhatmakesthetrauma-informedsysteminJudgeClark’scourtwork.

Duringallcourthearings,JudgeClarktellstheparent(s)thatthefirsthopeofthecourtistoreunitethemwiththeirchildren.However,shewillalsotelltheparent(s)thattheirparentalrightsaresubjecttorestrictionorterminationiftheyarenotwillingandabletoprovidetheirchildrenwithasafehome,andthat“wewantyourchildtohaveahappy,healthy,safehome.”

Thejudgethenaskstheparent(s)questionsabouttheirchildrenandtheirownprogress.Parentsareexpectedtoarticulatetothejudgewhattheyarelearningfromtheirservicesandcounseling.Typicalquestionsmayinclude:

• Tellmeaboutyourweek,howisyourapplicationfortransitionalhousing/jobsearch/jobgoing?• Tellmeaboutyourparentingclassthisweek,whatdidyoulearn?• Tellmeaboutyourson/daughter,howwasyourtimewiththemthisweek?• Howdidyoufeelaboutyourinteractionswithyourchild?• Doyouneedanythingfromusthisweek?

Membersofthecourtteamsupportparentsthroughouttheprocess,whichisreinforcedbythejudgewhocomplimentstheparent(s)foreverystepoftheirindividualizedserviceplantheycompletesuccessfully.Whenthejudgehearspositivenews,he/sheprovidespositiveencouragementsuchas“I’msoproudofyouforstayingsober,”andshemayendthe sessionwith“goodforyou”andathumbsuporahandshakethatgivesparentsapersonalconnectiontothejudge.

Thejudgeasksattorneysaboutthechildrenandtheparent(s)andrequiresthattheyvisitthechildseparatelyintheircurrentlivingenvironmentandnotjustrelyonareportfromaCPSorvolunteerCASAworker.Thisisacriticalaspectofthetrauma-informedapproachbecauseitforcestheteamtokeepthechildren’sneedsattheforefrontofdecision-making.Typicalquestionsmayinclude:

• Howisthechilddoing?• Howarethechild’sinteractionswiththeparent?• Whatresourcesmightbeneededforthechildren/fosterparents?• Whatisthestatusoftheparent(s)regardingtheirassignedprograms?

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Thejudgeassessesparents’ongoingneeds(physicalandpsychological)anddetermineshowtobestmeetthoseneeds.Progressontheservicesisreviewedateachhearing,andthepartiesinvolveddiscussanydisputesoveralackofprogresspriortocourt.Ifadisagreementovercompletionoccurs,thenitisbroughttothecourt’sattention.Otherwise,thecourtreceivesaprogressreportthatsaysparentsareincompliance.

SettlementConferences/Mediation–Ifthecourtseesthataftersixmonthsthereislittleprogressonthephases(i.e.,stillinPhase1),thecourtcanorderasettlementconferenceormediationtodevelopPlanB.Atthisstage,therequirementsfortheparentshavebeenveryclear,thechild’sneedforstabilityisincreasing,andCPScanmakeadecisionastoplacement.However,inthecontextofusingthesethree-phaseplans,mediationsoftenturnupplacementspreviouslynotknown,especiallywhenaparentacknowledgestheynevergotoutofPhase1.

BENEFITS OF JUDGE CLARK’S THREE-PHASED SERVICE PLANS

Thebenefitsofthethree-phasedserviceplansweretransformativeinthe321stDistrictCourt.SomeofthereasonsthisapproachhasbeeneffectiveinJudgeClark’scourtinclude:

• Thesequenceofservicessetsthestageforsuccess.Parentsfirstaddressthesafetyriskbeforetryingtoaddressotherissues.Onlywhentheyareabletomovetothenextphase,dotheylearnabouttraumaandhowtheyandtheirchildrenareaffectedbytheirpasttraumaticexperiences.Atthatpoint,trauma-informedservicesareprovidedtohelpparentsbegintoheal,tolearneffectiveparentingskills,andtounderstandtheirchildren’sneedsforsafeandsecureattachments.Finally,theyputallthepiecestogethertoequipparentswithbettercopingskillswhenstressfulsituationsariseinthefuture.Scaffoldingstrategies(providingguidedsupportappropriatetotheparent’sleveltofacilitatelearning)areusedtoempowerparentstoprovidesafeandhealthyenvironmentsfortheirchildren.

• Theparentshaveabetterunderstandingofthecourtprocessandtherequirementsforreunification.Theyaretoldatthebeginningofthecasewhatisrequiredandwhy.Ateachphase,theparentsareinformedofthestepsthatallofthestakeholderswilltaketomakesuretheyaresuccessful.Iftheychoosenottodothesteps,thentheyaretoldthattheteambeginstoseriouslylookatPlanB.Havingaclearlycommunicatedprocessincreasesthechancesofsuccessfulprogramcompletionandreunification.

• Familiesexperiencemorelasting,positivechangesbecausetheunderlyingtraumahasbeenaddressed.Beforeimplementingthethree-phaseapproach,parentswereabletocompletetheservicesintheordertheychose.Consequently,theservicesmayormaynothavebeenmeaningful.JudgeClark’steamcallsthishaphazardapproach“checkingtheboxes.”Theserviceswerenotdesignedorcoordinatedtomosteffectivelyaddresssubstanceabuseissuesortrauma-relatedbehaviors.Parentscould“whiteknuckle”itlongenoughtogettheirchildrenreturnedunderthetraditionalplans,buttheyoftenrepeatedtheentireprocessbecausetheissueswerenotresolved.

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• Phaseplansareshortandconcise.Thismakesthelistoftasksmoremanageableandlessoverwhelmingfortheclient.Adultsandchildrenalikewhoareinvolvedinthechildwelfaresystemaredealingwithsomeformoftrauma(evenifitisjusttheremovalitself).Atraumatizedbrainhasdifficultieswithconcentrationandprocessinginformation.Complicatedserviceplanscompoundtheproblemandoftenleadtoparents’failureinthesystem,soJudgeClark’scourthasfoundthissimplerplantobemoreeffectiveinmanagingcommunications.

• Everyoneunderstandswhattheclientshouldbedoingandcanmonitorcompliance.Thecourtisrequiredtooverseethiscaseonaregularbasis.Oneofthemainitemstoconsideristheprogressoftheparentstowardsprovidingasafeandsecurehome.Byfocusingeveryone’sattentiononthemorelimitedtaskapproach,thecourtcansharpenthedialogueatthehearings.

• Phaseplanscanbemodifiedascircumstanceschange(suchaspregnancies,boyfriend/girlfriend/relapse)withinputfromtheteam.

• Phaseplansareclearenoughthatintheeventacasemustgototrial,therewouldbenoquestionaboutwhatwasrequiredandwhatwascompleted.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Additionalfundingisrequiredinordertooffertheassessmentsandtrauma-relatedprograms/train-ingsavailablethroughJudgeClark’scourt.The321stDistrictCourthasreceivedsupplementalsup-portfromthefollowing:

1. Drugcourtgrants—ThecourtinSmithCountyhasreceivedannualgrantsfromtheOfficeofthe GovernorofTexas.Grantfundswereusedtopayforthegate-keepingassessmentsforeveryCPS clientwhosechildrenwereremovedasaresultofdrug-relatedissues.

2.Privatefoundations–Thecourtreceivedgrantsfromalocalprivatefoundationthatsupports trauma-informedtrainingforcourtteammembersandin-homecareforreunitedfamilies.

3.CPS–Whengrantfundingislimited,thecourthasorderedCPStopayforservices.Officialswith theU.S.DepartmentofJusticeadvisedtheteamthatparentsinCPScanbecategorizedas disabledbecausetheyhaveoneormanydisabilities,i.e.substanceabuse,ADD,ADHD,etc.Asa result,anyservicerequiredbyacourttoassistaparentinreunificationservicesmustbepaidfor bythecourtandnotbytheclient.TheDepartmenthasauthorized‘specialservicescontracts’to addressthisone-timeneedforclients,andthus,canbeutilizedfortheclients.

4. Scholarships–Thecourtqualifiedforandreceivedscholarshipsforselecttrauma-informed trainingsforitsteammembers.

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FEATURES OF JUDGE CLARK’S TRAUMA-INFORMED COURT

ThereareanumberofkeyfeaturesofJudgeClark’strauma-informedcourtthatdifferentiateitfromothertraditionalfamilycourts:

• Whole team is trauma-informed

EveryonewhoworkswiththecourtinanycapacityreceivessomelevelofTBRItraining.Thishelpstocreateacommonlanguagewitheveryoneonthecourtteam,includingtheparents,whoarealsoreceivingtraining.

• Culture of collaboration and trust

Thereiscooperationandcommunicationinthecourt,aprecedentsetbythejudge.Allprofessionalsinvolvedintheserviceplansharetheirinformationwiththeteam.Everystepintheprocessisdesignedtobuildmutualtrust--notonlybetweenthecourtandthefamilies,butalsobetweencourtpersonnel--sothatfamiliesandthecourtteamareassuredthateveryoneisworkingtogethertoachievethebestoutcomeforthechildren,whichinmostcasesiskeepingthefamilytogether.

• Three-phase plans

IndividualizedPhasePlansarecreatedtomeettheuniqueneedsofeachparent.

• Parents and children are given a voice in the process

Inthiscourt,theattorneysandtheparentsareactiveparticipants.Thejudgeaddressestheparentsdirectly.Parentsfeelsafeenoughtobevulnerableandtalkabouttheirstrugglewithoutfearofanunreasonablepenalty,butknowtheywillstillbeheldaccountable.

Texaslawrequireschildrentobebroughttocourthearings.Thispracticecanfurthertraumatizeachildonmanylevels.Insteadofsubjectingthechildtothiskindofstressandharm,JudgeClarkmeetswithchildrenprivatelyinherchambersandencouragesthemandtheirattorneystoexpresstheirneeds.Furthermore,toensurethechild’svoiceisnotlostintheprocess,sherequiresallpartiesrepresentingthechildren(attorney,adlitem,CPS,CASA)toshowherpicturesofthechildrenandgiveherongoingdetailedreportsaboutthechildren’shomeandschoolenvironments,andallmedi-calandmentalhealthservicestheyarereceivingthroughoutthecase.

• Accountability

Thecourtteamisresponsibleforgatheringtheinformationneededtodevelopappropriateserviceplansandtoprovideparentswiththeservicesthatwillhelpthemhealandprovideasafehomefortheirchildren.Parentsareresponsibleforimplementingtheskillstheyarebeingtaught.

• Non-Punitive

Thejudgewantstoknowiftheparentsaregettingtheirneedsmetandisgenuinelyconcernedabouthowtheyaredoingratherthanjustcheckingboxes.Insteadofpunishingtheparents,thisthree-phasesystemsupportsparentsintheirhealingprocessandtheprocessofreunification.

Unfortunately,noteverycaseissuccessfulandthechildrenarenotalwaysreunitedwiththeirparents.However,thegoalistomaketheparentfeeltheyweregiventhetreatments,support,andopportunities

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tosucceed.Ifchildrenmustgosomewherebesideshomewiththeparent,thatdecisionhasbeendiscussedbyallteammembersandisbasedonclearlyidentifiablecriteria,i.e.thephaseplan.

Thechildren’shistory,thefamily’shistory,andtheparent’shistoryinformsettlementnegotiations.Ifparentshavearelapsewithdrugsoralcohol,itcanbecomealearningexperienceinsteadofanautomaticrelinquishmentoftheirrights.Ininstanceswhenparentsrelinquishtheirrightstheyhavehadthereasonsarticulatedonmanyoccasions.

• Fewer contested hearings and trials

Thejudgewantsallteammemberstobringsolutionstothecourthearingsandnotjustproblems.JudgeClarkmaynotalwaysacceptthesolutionbroughtbeforeher,butitprovidesabasisforrobustdiscussionamongthepartiespriortoacourthearing.Theteammemberscollaborateanddiscusstheissuespendingbeforethecourt(i.e.,whatisindispute,whathasbeendonetoaddressit,andwhatistheissuethecourtmustdecide).Beingabletocompromiseandworkoutsolutionspriortoacourthearinggenerallyprovidesbetteroutcomesbecauseeachpartyhashadavoiceinthesolution.Whenthepartiescannotofferajointproposedsolution,thejudgeresolvesthedispute.Inthiscollaborativeenvironment,attorneyscanadvocatefortheirclientswhilealsominimizingand/oravoidingtheadversarialcontestedhearingsandjurytrialsthataremorecommoninothercourts.

• Acquire resources to meet needs

Becausethejudgemandatessomeservicesthatarenottypicallypaidforbythestate,JudgeClarkappliesforgrants,seeksoutcommunityresources,andasksforincreasedbudgetingforresourcesfromtheappropriateauthorities.

• Connection and relationships

TBRIprinciplesareusedtobuildhealthyrelationshipsbetweenparentsandchildren,andbetweenthecourtteamandthefamilies.Evenifachildisnotpermanentlyplacedwiththeparent,theteamexploreseveryoptiontoallowafuturerelationshipwiththeparentinahealthyandsafeway.

• Open adoption/placements/transfer of custody to a third party

Incaseswherereunificationisnotpossible,theteamdevelopsaplanthatisasclosetoreunificationaspossible,byutilizingtransferofcustodytofamily,friends,openadoptions,orfindingcreativesolutions.

CHALLENGES

ImplementingTBRIandtrauma-informedpracticesconstitutedafundamentalshiftinperspectiveandpractices,andJudgeClarkandherteamencounteredanumberofchallengesincluding:

• Training personnel

ItisimportantthateveryonewhoworkswiththiscourtinanycapacityhashadsomelevelofTBRItraining,understandstheimpactoftrauma,andiswellversedinTBRI.ThisincludesCPS,privateandpublicattorneys,courtbailiff,courtreporters,etc.Asaresult,thejudgehastomaketrauma-informedtrainingsavailabletokeystakeholdersandpresentopportunitiestoteachtrauma-informedpracticestotheentirecourtteam(e.g.,bookclub,brownbaglunches).

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• High turnover rate of child welfare professionals

Thecourtneedstodealwiththehighturnoverrateofchildwelfareprofessionalsandthenegativeimpactofthesedisruptedrelationshipsonchildrenandtheirparents.Itisdifficulttokeepalloftheteammembersadequatelytrainedwhenthereisahighrateofworkforceturnoverinchildwelfaresettings.Inaddition,itishardforparentsandothermembersofthecourttoestablishandmaintaintrustwitharevolvingdoorofcaseworkers.

• Funding/finding resources

Statefundingisnormallyprovidedbycontracts,whichisofteninadequatetoobtainthetypeofresourcesrequired.Moreover,newprovidersandprogramsarenotonthestate’scontractingsystem.Thecourttriestofindresourcestheparents,relatives,andchildrenneed(e.g.,bedsforkinwhohaveagreedtokeepchildren,diapers,experthelp,etc.)andmakessureallteammembershavetheinformation.Thecourtalsoworkstosecureadditionalfundingeachyearfromdrugcourtgrants,privatefoundations,etc.However,annualgrantsarenotguaranteed,sothisisanongoingchallenge.

• Lack of providers

Currently,thereisalackoftrauma-informedproviders.Thejudgeandteammembersarealwayslookingfornew,like-mindedprovidersandthentheytrainthem.

• Not understanding the approach

Traditionally,attorneysandjudgesmayhavethoughtitwasimpossibletohaveanon-adversarialsystemandalsobeeffectiveintheirpositions.Theideaofworkingasateamwithatrauma-informedapproachtocreateaserviceplanthathelpsbothparentsandchildrenandreunitesthefamilyisperceivedasbeingdiametricallyopposedtothetraditionalsystem.Itisnot.Thelawmandatesthecourtstoactinthebestinterestofthechild.Sodoesthiscourt.JudgeClarkandherteambelievethathelpingaparentbecomesafer,healthierandbetterskilledatmeetingachild’sneedsisinthebestinterestofthechildandthus,thetwogohandinhand.

Thecourtunderstandsandrespectstheethicalobligationsofeachteammemberandtheneedforcontestedcourthearingsandtrialswhenwarranted.However,implementingthissystemencouragescommunication,andoftentimesthatcommunicationcanresolvewhatotherwisemightleadtoacontestedmatter.ThechildwelfaresystemiscomplexandCPSworkersfaceheavycaseloads.Openandeffectivecommunicationhelpsaddressissuesandleadstobetteroutcomes.

• Honesty is the best policy

Akeycomponenttothetrauma-informedapproachistonotpunishthoseinvolvedinthesystem. Whilethatisespeciallytruefortheparentsandchildren,italsoappliestothecourtteam.Relapse andbadhabitsoftheparentsaremetwithopennessandencouragement–notcondemnation–tofacilitatehonestdialogueabouttheissue.“Ifyoumessup,fessup…”Thesameistrueforthe behaviorsofthechild.Theteamrealizesthroughtheirtraumaeducationthatthechildshouldnotbe punishedforbehaviorsthataremerelyaresultoftraumaticexperiences.However,alsochallenging, ishonestdialogueamongcourtteammembers,whohavetraditionallybeenonopposing“sides.”

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Inthissystem,ifacaseworkerhasfailedtoinitiateaservice,oranattorneyhasmissedanappointmentornotdoneanorderpreviouslyrequestedbythecourt,thatteammember,whetherattorney,providerorcaseworker,isalsometwithnon-punitiveencouragement.Thisincreasestheopenness,franknessandcooperativeworkingrelationshipsamongteammembers.Thereisnohidebehindthelaw,orsabotagingwithinformationinthesecases.Forexample,ifaclienttestspositive,thecaseworkerandCPSattorneycontacttheparent’sattorneyrightaway.Theydonotwaittoambushthatattorneyandparentinfrontofthecourt.Instead,parentsaregivenanopportunitytofessupthemselves,andaremetwithencouragement.Theteammembersalsofollowthissameexpectation.

• Change is difficult

ToimplementJudgeClark’sprogramrequiresadifferentmindset.Itinvolveschangingtoabeliefsystemthatvaluesallparentsandchildren,setshigherexpectationsforsuccess,andrespectschildren’sneedtobeconnectedwiththeirparents.Thebasicpremiseisthateverychilddeserveshis/herownparent,andthatparentsneedtobemadesafeandwholetoendtheintergenerationalcycleofabuse.

• More upfront investment of time

Ittakesanupfrontinvestmentofworkandcollaborationbetweenallpartiestocreateindividualizedserviceplansforeachcase.Thisincludesnarrowingtheissuestoreachanagreementbeforethehearing,ifpossible.However,thisinvestmentsaveseveryonetimeandenergythroughouttheprocessandleadstobetteroutcomes.

SUMMARY

Insummary,atrauma-informedcourthelpsreducefurthertraumatoparentsandchildreninthecourtprocessandleadstopositivelong-termeffectsforfamiliesandsociety.Bybreakingthecycleoftrauma,thesystemisbuildingstrongerfamilieswithparentswhoarelesslikelytoreturntowelfareandcriminalsystems,whichsavesstateandlocalresourcesinthelongrunandbenefitssocietyasawhole.

TBRIstrategiesarefoundthroughoutallstepsofthistrauma-informedcourt.Thecourtadvocatesforbothparentsandthechildren.Keyplayersworkasateam,notasadversaries.Therearemorecompromises,reducingtheneedforexpensiveandtime-consumingcontestedcourtproceedings.Inaddition,whenparentsbecomeactiveparticipantsandembracetheprocess,theyviewthecourtsystemasmorefairandfeellessanger.Parentsleavetheprocessempoweredtoprovideasafeandhappyhomefortheirchildrenthatwilllastintothefuture.

*Note to readers: Judge Clark retired in December 2018. However, we hope that the lessons learnedand positive impact of this court’s efforts will serve as a model to other courts seeking to implement atrauma-informed court system.

*Special thanks to the following people who also provided input for this publication: James Carter,Jeremy Coe, Patrick Dullard, Amy McDonald, Tiffani Wickel, and Dr. Donald “Winn” Winsted.

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REFERENCES

CaliforniaEvidence-BasedPractice(CEBC).(2018a).CircleofSecurity(COS-P).Retrievedfrom

http://www.cebc4cw.org/program/circle-of-security-parenting/

CaliforniaEvidence-BasedPractice(CEBC).(2018b).EyeMovementDesensitizationand

Reprocessing(EMDR)[TraumaTreatment–(Adult)].Retrievedfrom

http://www.cebc4cw.org/program/eye-movement-desensitization-and-reprocessing-for-adults/

CaliforniaEvidence-BasedPractice(CEBC).(2018c).EyeMovementDesensitizationand

Reprocessing(EMDR)[TraumaTreatment–Client-LevelInterventions(Child&

Adolescent)].Retrievedfrom

http://www.cebc4cw.org/program/eye-movement-desensitization-and-reprocessing/

DFPSDatabook(fiscalyear2018).CPS Conservatorship: Six Month, One Year, and Five

Year Outcomes.Retrievedfrom

https://www.dfps.state.tx.us/About_DFPS/Data_Book/Child_Protective_Services/

Conservatorship/Six-Month_One_Five_Year_Outcomes.asp

Purvis,K.B.,Cross,D.R.,Dansereau,D.F.,&Parris,S.R.(2013).Trust-BasedRelational

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