parent support groups in juvenile drug courts
DESCRIPTION
Presented at the Specialized Dockets Conference in Columbus, OH November 20, 2014TRANSCRIPT
PARENT SUPPORT IN
DRUG COURT
Victoria Kamm
Reclaiming Futures Parent Peer Support Group Facilitator
Lucas County Juvenile Treatment Court
OBJECTIVES FOR TODAY
How to use a strengths based approach with parents.
The value of evidence based programs to launch discussions around
common problems.
Individualizing support based on parent needs.
THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD
I am a drug court mother.
Ashley was in the Lucas
County JTC in 2008 and 2009.
I became passionate about
the parent side of the story
and it has become my
mission.
HOW DID THESE PARENTS FAIL?
ARIZONA LAW REVIEW Vol 56:3
The American Bar Association
did a comprehensive survey of
juvenile drug courts to
determine best practices in
parental involvement. Not a
single parent was asked to
participate.
The general consensus is the
parents are the problem so
what is the benefit in
including them in the
solution.
FLIP THE SCRIPT
We know better.
Because we know better we do better.
When we do better with parents we do better with youth.
STRENGTHS BASED APPROACH
Parents are made part of the orders
They become invested in their child’s progress
They are required to be on a schedule that is often
overwhelming and exhausting
Once they learn they can manage like their kids
they feel empowered.
STRENGTHS BASED APPROACH
Close relationships with staff
Parents meet with all the people who are now part
of their child’s team
They are contacted by the probation officer and case
manager regularly and have all their contact
information including cell numbers
Parents are required to attend status review
hearings and participate
STRENGTHS BASED APPROACH
Parent Support Group
o Focused on support
o Speakers and updated materials
o Mid-week text messages and other contacts
o Evidence based lessons to help change perspectives
EVIDENCE BASED PROGRAMS
Evidence-based programs refer to a set of activities that evaluation
research has shown to be effective and attributable to itself and not
other factors.
PARENTING WISELY
1. “exemplary” OJJDP
2. “model” CSAP
3. “evidence-based”
NREPP
4. “best practices” CAPT
ADAPTABILITY
There is a set of common problems for parents of JTC involved youth.
If a lesson is not relevant either time wise or to the current group of
parents it has to be changed or discarded for the moment.
At any time a parent is in crisis the lesson is discarded until s/he has the
opportunity to feel more stable and supported.
INDIVIDUALIZING SUPPORT
At the disposition hearing parents are
Fragile
Overwhelmed
Exhausted
Relieved
INDIVIDUALIZING SUPPORT
Orientation
Background info
Discipline report
Group rules and hard truths
Group Guidelines
Confidentiality
Respect
Support
Dignity
HARD TRUTHS
Raising my kids like I was raised? Ain’t
nobody got time for that.
If any of these make me feel defensive,
I need to pay attention to it.
We can be as compliant as we want but
commitment makes success more likely.
Nothing changes if nothing
changes. Jamie Lasinski
My child is not against me; s/he is for
themselves.
The more control I impose the less
successful I will be. This is unrelated to
setting rules and boundaries.
I am not a victim.
My dreams are not my child’s dreams
even if they sound alike.
The JTC program is not a guarantee of
success
INDIVIDUALIZING SUPPORT
Meeting off-site in person or via phone and texts
Getting background information from the treatment team.
Public recognition at the end of status review hearings for
completion of the Parenting Wisely curriculum
Attending review hearings and offering support for the efforts and
progress of parents
THE RIGHT FACILITATOR
Ideally a former parent
No bias around support systems
Open to training
Advocates for parents at team meetings
Likes to plan for meetings*
Uses reports and evaluations to improve his/her performance
THE PARENT DIFFERENCE
Better outcomes for youth
More complete information at the beginning of the process to
determine service gaps
Transference of knowledge between Court and home
Empowering families
SUMMARY
Use a strengths based approach with parents.
Evidence based programs are valuable in launching discussions
around common problems.
Individualized parent support addresses service gaps that may
adversely affect youth.
A FINAL WORD
CONTACT INFORMATION
Victoria Kamm
Parent Partner
Lucas County Juvenile Treatment Court
1801 Spielbusch Toledo, OH 43604
419.213.6770 [email protected]
567.225.0877