1. SPARC Webinar
September 5, 2012
Family Wellness Court
Judge Erica Yew
California Superior Court
Santa Clara County
1

2. Trauma-Informed Court
Extension of Problem-Solving Courts
 What is it and WHY?
 Therapeutic alliance
 Vivian Brown: 50 to 60% of outcome rests
upon a positive therapeutic alliance
 Only 1 to 2% is related to the treatment
model or methodology used
 20 years of adult drug court research
indicates that the #1 incentive for people is
their relationship with their judge or their
probation officer
2

3. Considerations for a Trauma-Informed Court
 Taking your time, even if it is an illusion
 Reduce waiting if possible
 Noise
 Setting
 Listening and validating where possible
 HONESTY
 RESPECT
 HOPE
 TRANSPARENCY: Clear communications and
expectations
3

4. Trauma-Informed Systems
 FWC values statement includes trauma-
informed system
 Commitments by Partner Agencies
 Provider education
 Continual system assessment and
modification – 360 assessment
 Trauma specific services: DADS
Seeking Safety (PTSD and addiction),
Mental Health trauma based cognitive
behavioral therapy
4

5. FWC Overview
 Target population: Pregnant women and
parents, with children 0 to 3, whose
abuse of methamphetamine and other
substances have placed their children in
or at risk of out-of-home placement.
 Ten year experience, repeated
subsequent pos-tox births
 Started with grant in March 2008
5

6. FWC Primary Partners for Grant
US$ 6.3 million over 5 years
 Superior Court
 Social Services Agency (SSA), SSA’s Department of
Family and Children’s Services (DFCS) and SSA’s
County Counsel
 First 5
 Department of Drug and Alcohol Services (DADS)
 County Mental Health (MH)
 Legal Advocates for Children and Youth (LACY) –
children counsel
 Dependency Advocacy Center (DAC) – parents counsel
6

7. Primary FWC Goals (1)
 Early identification of and intervention
for the needs of pregnant women and
parents with substance use disorders.
 Rapid engagement and successful
retention in treatment and care
 Reduction in subsequent pos-tox births
7

8. Primary FWC Goals (2)
 Early identification and intervention for
developmental delays, disabilities and
concerns for children 0-3 whose parents come
before the FWC
 Creation of a comprehensive System of Care
across all systems serving children in or at risk
of out-of-home placement as a result of
parents’ methamphetamine and other
substance abuse
8

9. FWC Eligibility Criteria
 The parent has given birth to an infant that has
been exposed to methamphetamine or other
substance abuse during the pregnancy; OR
 The parent has a child under the age of three
that was either born drug exposed or has been
raised in a substance abuse afflicted
environment with documented abuse and/or
neglect; AND
 The parent does not demonstrate intractable
mental health issues as presented in the filed
petition; AND
 The parent is not likely to face long term
incarceration
9

10. FWC Customer Characteristics
 Fast-track cases
 History of CWS
involvement as
children
 40% were foster
children themselves
 Prior cases in CWS,
many with prior
termination of
parental rights, 9
prior births, multiple
pos-tox births
10

11. More Customer Characteristics
 Extensive trauma
history (give examples –
multiple deaths,
abandonment,
kidnapping, prostitution
as 8 yo)
 80% cross over with DV
 90% incarceration
history
11

12. More about Customer Characteristics
 Methamphetamine primary drug of choice:
 national, state and local data indicate that 75-80% of child
welfare cases are drug and alcohol related. In Santa Clara
County the drug of choice is methamphetamine where preference
is around 64-67%.
 Homeless or living in substandard housing, 65% chronic
homelessness
 Extremely low income, 66% have annual income of less than
$10,000
 TWD $ 285,000
 Average California income US$ 61,017
 Average U.S. income US$ 52,029
 Federal Poverty Level for parent and 1 child US$ 14,570
12

13. FWC Services (1)
 Therapeutic court environment, with regular reviews
 Early connection to TANF, food stamps, other programs
 Case management by the court
 Legal representation
 Early drug and alcohol assessment and treatment
 Residential inpatient-treatment for women; and for
women with their children
 Transitional Housing Units (THU) for women, men,
children
 Mentor Parent support
 Domestic violence advocacy and services
 Transportation assistance (bus tokens, bus tokens for
children, bicycles, car seats)
 Linkages to shelter and housing
13

14. FWC Services (2)
 Limited funding to assist with barriers to case plan
completion (books, birth certificates, funeral
transportation)
 Linkages to employment and benefits services, record
clearance
 Coordination with Criminal Court partners, fine
conversion
 Therapeutic services, dyadic and PCIT included
 Pregnancy prevention education
 Comprehensive developmental and behavioral
screening, assessment and interventions for all
children
 Child appointed special advocates (CASA’s) for many
children and parents = an extension of role
14

15. FWC Services (3)
 Linkage to health coverage and primary care
physicians
 Linkage to dental and vision care through charitable
organizations
 Access to a wide array of parenting classes
 Home visitation and Public Health Nurses with regular
reporting – transparency
 Diapers, children’s and adult clothing & shoes,
hygiene products, groceries/meals, milk, books, toys,
strollers
 Early care and education services
 GED assistance
 Language assistance
 Budget and nutrition information and workshops
 Medical and dental health care for children
 Tattoo removal and MORE….
15

16. Children’s Services Overview
 Funded by FIRST 5 Santa Clara County
 Medi-Cal/EPSDT (Early Periodic Screening and
Diagnosis and Treatment) is leveraged
 MHSA (Prop 63: Mental Health Services Act – 1%
income tax on excess of personal income of $1 million),
 County General Fund and reimbursement via public
children’s insurance programs are also utilized for Mental
Health services
 System of Care: Tiered system based on level of need
as determined by screening and assessments utilizing
standardized tools and evidence-based practices
16

17. FWC Multidisciplinary Team/MDT
 Judge  Social Work Liaison
 Court Resource  County Counsel
Manager  Child’s Attorney
 DV/Trauma Therapist  Parent
 Victim Witness  Parent’s Attorney &
Advocate♦ Mentor
 Eligibility Worker  Social Worker
 Child Advocate  Therapist
 Home Visitor
 DADS rehab counselor
 Public Health Nurse
 Adult MH Coordinator♦  Special Support People
 First 5 Specialist (SARC, parent advocates)
17

18. FWC Hearings
 Hearings may occur daily, weekly, twice a
month or once monthly depending on
parent progress
 Staffings are held with the court team
prior to the hearing to discuss case
progress, concerns and develop joint
recommendations – COMPREHENSIVE
 Incentives or Sanctions may be given
 Resources given
18

19. FWC Data
 Doors Opened March 14, 2008
 As of April 2011, data below:
 1 to 2+ years of services per family (FR → FM)
 290 parents served
 3 re-entries (mental health and housing) in 3 years
 11-12% re-entry rate in California
 1 subsequent pos-tox births in 3 years (despite
many births and population that had repeated prior
pos-tox births, mothers with 8 children previously
removed)
19

20. More about the Results
 Santa Clara County Reunifications Rates
 2009 = 48%, no separate tracking for Fast
Track cases
 2010 = 53%, FWC may be improving general
outcomes
 FWC as of September 2010 for Fast Track cases
= 71%
 350 children served
 100% of children whether parents succeed or
not
20

21. Primary Keys to Success
 Commitment at highest agency administrative
levels
 Shared values
 Passion and commitment of involved staff
 Comprehensive service model
 Service model that evolves as additional client
needs are identified
 Incorporation of the parents’ voices (through
mentors and the actual parents before the
court – surveys, court experience)
 Promoting the parent-baby bond
21