The Georgia Child Welfare Legal Academy hosted The Honorable J. Russell Jackson and The Honorable John Sumner who presented their findings and recommendations for Children in Need of Services.
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Children in Need of Services
1. C.H.I.N.S.
Status Offender Reform in Georgia
Hon. J. Russell Jackson Juvenile Court Forsyth County
Hon. John Sumner Juvenile Court Cherokee County
Georgia Child Welfare Legal Academy
Emory University Barton Center January 20, 2017
2. Children In Need of Services:
CHINS
O.C.G.A.§§ 15-11-380 through 15-11-445
Reclassification of prior “status offenders”
Runaway
Unruly / ungovernable
Truancy
Possession of alcohol by minor now included
Various state approaches:
Family in need of services FINS
Persons in need of services PINS
Conduct indicating a need for supervision CINS
Family with service needs FWSN
Minor in need of services MINS
3. Purpose
O.C.G.A 15-11-380
(1) To acknowledge that certain behaviors or conditions occurring within a
family or school environment indicate that a child is experiencing serious
difficulties and is in need of services and corrective action in order to protect such
child from the irreversibility of certain choices and to protect the integrity of such
child’s family;
(2) To make family members aware of their contributions to their family’s
problems and to encourage family members to accept the responsibility to
participate in any program of care ordered by the court;
(3) To provide a child with a program of treatment, care, guidance, counseling,
structure, supervision, and rehabilitation that he or she needs to assist him or her
in becoming a responsible and productive member of society; and
(4) To ensure the cooperation and coordination of all agencies having
responsibility to supply services to any member of a family referred to the court.
4. Juvenile Justice Reform
Georgia
New classification of youth that come before the court
Strict limitations on incarceration
Changes in how cases are legally filed and handled
Advocate attorneys for children required
Collaboration among agencies rather than one responsible agency
Court directed protocols and system
Prior system: status offenders were treated as a “lighter version” of delinquent:
prosecuted by the district attorney, arraignment calendars, placed on probation
and supervised by DJJ with same detention and dispositional options as delinquent
cases
Reformed system: distinct group of at risk youth treated through community based
risk reduction programs at the direction of the local Juvenile Court in
collaboration with local agencies. Theme is prevention, diversion, and treatment
7. Why is CHINS important?
Basic principle of a Juvenile Court System: youth referred to the court or
experiencing problems in school are not mini adults: they are at-risk children
Youth who present as a status offender can range from a child whose safety is
at risk, whether by the parent or the child’s own actions, to a teenager acting
on heightened emotions or risk taking behavior as a part of normal adolescent
brain development.
Reduce court caseloads, reduce incarceration, better allocate resources,
achieve improved outcomes for young people and families
Community involvement and support opportunities
8. Status Offenses and Underlying Issues
Youth anxiety, depression, poor self esteem, or other mental health issues
Risky adolescent behavior, immaturity
Family substance abuse
Child safety issues: Child abuse/neglect/domestic violence/lack of parental
supervision
Sexual exploitation
Social media bullying, learning disabilities, physical health issues
School issues: school climate, harsh discipline policy, truancy approach
Lack of parental involvement and emphasis on importance of school
attendance and academic achievement
Lack of community resources
“Throwaway Youth”/”Independent youth”/Homeless family
Untreated trauma
9. Outcomes for Untreated CHINS
Victimization: neglect, abuse, sexual exploitation
School dropout or low education success
Long term physical and mental health consequences, including substance
abuse
Escalating behavior leading to criminal justice involvement as youth and adult
Homelessness
Lost opportunity to help youth reach their potential
10. Effective CHINS Systems
Court protocols/ Collaboration
Prompt response and screening
Data
Assessment tools
Diversion programs
Effective treatment
11. Collaboration
Who: judge, court staff, DFCS, DJJ, mental health, school, prosecution
(District Attorney and State Court Solicitor), law enforcement (SROs),
volunteer agencies, county government, child advocate attorney, guardian ad
litem (CASA), child welfare non-profit agencies, community volunteers
Method: role of the judge (leader, co-leader, advisory), system establishment,
ongoing meetings, decision making process, participation by all members
12. Assessment
Initial intake/ Screening
Determine underlying cause and what services, if any, are needed
Direct on system path
Needs assessment
Judgement call, Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument (MAYSI-2), Child and
Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS), Family Strengths and Needs Assessment,
Washington Assessment of Risks and Needs of Students (WARNS), self reporting
Treatment options
Ongoing assessment
Treatment effectiveness
Reassess youth and family needs
14. Data System
Goals:
Standardize the data collection process
Track outcomes
Track outcomes on cases diverted to DFCS or DJJ
Develop a data system with data collection and tracking protocols designed to
create a dashboard and snapshot of the CHINS system, target community needs,
track outcomes, identify strengths and deficiencies (i.e. ineffective interventions
or duplicative services), and serve as a basis for ongoing review and improvements.
Objectively review the effectiveness of the system and justify the resource
and time investment.
15. Data Fields
Data fields:
Bio: age, gender, race/ethnicity, offense(s)
Outcome: Diversion at Intake; Diversion to DJJ; Diversion to DFCS; Diversion
agreement successful; Diversion agreement failed; Court Intervention
Recidivism: 6 month pre-offense and 6 month, 12 month post case closed: number
and type offense(s);
Education: 6 month pre-offense and 6 month post, 12 month post case closed:
attendance, disciplinary reports, grade point average;
Services provided to the family: (list of current court programs);
Well being: 6 and 12 month post closing of case: youth reports same, better, or no
difference; family reports same, better, or no difference
90 day follow up
16. Forsyth County Juvenile Court
CHINS System
Community Risk Reduction Program and protocol (O.C.G.A. 15-11-38)
At-Risk Children’s Committee (ARCC) (Implementation Order Attached)
Referrals from complaint
Multi-agency, multi-disciplined committee
Diversion from legal system and official court involvement
Action plans, reviews, follow-up (Case Progress Review Team)
Resource oriented
Counseling & Therapy
Differential Case Management Tracks
Local Interagency Planning Team Involvement
17. Juvenile Court Forsyth County
CHINS Protocol
Upon receiving complaint, intake officer reviews and completes a referral to
ARCC Coordinator for a family assessment and interview with child and family
Complaints are “received” not “stamp-filed” by the clerk avoiding mandatory
time constraints
ARCC Coordinator notifies committee and committee meets with child and
family to form an action and service plan
Services are put in place to begin immediately
ARCC Coordinator implements follow up plan with Progress Review Panel of
retired educators and medical professionals
Follow-up with school, DJJ, other professionals weekly
If no improvement within maximum of 120 days, complaint is forwarded for
petitioning and adjudication with assignment of advocate counsel
18. Diversion Programs
ARCC
Boys Lodge
Jesse’s House
Daytime detention
Winds of Change
Peer Court
LCSW and MFT (Group & Ind)
Choices
SMART
Reality Check
Mentor Me North Georgia
Supervision Center
On-line Educational Programs
Parenting Classes
Teen Foundations
Real Care Babies
Real Life Program
7-Habits of Highly Effective Teens
19. Juvenile Court Cherokee County
CHINS System
Diversion based
On going collaboration: review, delegate tasks, regular meetings,
short and long term goals
Data based
Protocol
20. Juvenile Court Cherokee County
CHINS Protocol
Upon filing of complaint, intake officer reviews on same day. Intake will
determine if DFCS or DJJ is involved with the family. If not, intake will
contact family for current status:
Quick response, no duplication of services, current concerns regarding
youth
Case staffed with prosecuting attorney and set for court:
District attorney and law enforcement input. Efficient system to
provide legal representation to the youth.
21. Juvenile Court Cherokee County
CHINS Protocol
On court date, case is staffed with CHINS coordinator, family, child, and
child attorney. Diversion agreement entered or matter set for court:
Due process and statutory requirements met
CHINS coordinator becomes case manager:
Case management for services, ongoing assessments, data collection,
and directing the family through the service plan, 90 day follow up
22. Diversion Programs
Anger Management
Parent Teen Communication
Teach one to Lead One
Early Recovery Skills Group
Individual Counseling
Family Counseling
Truancy Panels
Alcohol and Drug Impact Panel
23. Status Offender Reform Goal:
Improving Services to Youth and Families
Interconnected system: school: climate, discipline, truancy, and educational
success; mental health services; court systems; law enforcement; child
welfare; prevention; community involvement (local government, civic
organizations, faith based community)
Examples: Centralized intake point where youth and families are screened,
assessed, and treatment plan developed; mental health crisis intervention
teams; Community Treatment Centers
Effective System: Trauma-informed system, family engagement, continuity
of care, multi-disciplinary and collaborative approach with effective
screening, assessments, treatment plans in the community as opposed to
court involvement. Avoid courts and detention and strengthen support for
families to improve educational and life outcomes
24. FOR MORE INFORMATION
FORSYTH COUNTY JUVENILE COURT
Rebecca M. Rusk, Court Administrator rmrusk@forsythco.com
phone: 770-781-3099
CHEROKEE COUNTY JUVENILE COURT capoole@cherokeega.com
Carla Poole, CHINS coordinator phone: 678-493-6256
Acknowledgement: A special thank you for the use of reference materials from Vidhya
Ananthakrishnan and Byron Kline of the Vera Institute of Justice