On Friday, December 1, 2017, the
Juvenile Division of the 3rd Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan and the Casey
Family Program Foundation hosted a celebration and showcase of new initiatives
and programs at the Detroit Branch of the Chicago Federal Reserve
Building.
Casey Family Programs Foundation has been working with the juvenile division by providing information, training, and technical support to bring new and fresh ideas to the area of child welfare to improve outcomes. The program celebration highlighted all of the new innovative programs and dockets that the court has developed over the past two years to foster better outcomes for the children and families that it serves.
The event included judges from the
3rd Circuit; Supreme Court Justice Bridget McCormack; representatives from the
State Court Administrative Office; guests from the Casey Family Programs;
judges and representatives from Washtenaw County; the Wayne County Treasurer’s
Office; elected officials and representatives from Wayne County, the state of
Michigan, Michigan State University; and many more.
The program also featured the honor
guard from Cass Technical High School, who presented the colors of our nation’s
flag. There was a special performance by the internationally renowned
choir from the Detroit Academy of Arts and Science that honored the attendees
with two wonderful songs. The program highlighted the fine works of the court,
its stakeholders, and the community partners that work collaboratively with the
court to provide services to the children and families of Wayne County.
It was truly a celebration of the hard work of all involved.
Presentations
on the below five new initiatives were made:
Adverse Childhood Experience Study
(ACES) Highlighted the court’s systematic approach to
address the problem with childhood trauma in the children that we serve.
The court has developed policies and protocols to screen, assess, and ensure
that all children who come before the court that are in need of trauma therapy receive
it. Additionally, all stakeholders have been trained on how to best serve
the youth who have suffered from early childhood trauma. Through these
efforts, the juvenile division has become a trauma-focused court.
Psychotropic Medication Protocol. The Court and all of its
stakeholders have become more knowledgeable about psychotropic medications and
the children that we serve, ensuring that these children only receive the
medications that are absolutely necessary. Because of the concentration on
this issue, and the increase of the knowledge base of all involved, the court
is able to address issues surrounding the use of psychotropic medication for
these children and answer any questions or concerns that may arise.
Indian Child Welfare Act. The court is committed to ensuring that the court
and all of its stakeholders identify and properly serve any child that is
covered by the Indian Child Welfare Act and the Michigan Indian Family
Preservation Act.
Judicial Engagement Team Data. The JET Data Committee created a
new active efforts docket. This docket operates as a fast-track docket to
return children in the child welfare system to their homes as quickly and as
safely as possible. Hearings are held with much more frequency, all parties
are more accountable, and reunifications occur at a higher rate. This
pilot program is expanding in 2018, with the goal of doubling this docket to more
than 100 cases. Typically, children are returned home and the court
terminates jurisdiction in eight months or less. The docket has been so
successful that there have been no new filings of neglect matters once
jurisdiction has been terminated.
Parenting Time. The court has collaborated with the Department of
Health and Human Services and community organizations to increase the amount of
parenting time for families whose children have been removed from their
care. The likelihood of
reunification increases exponentially when a family has more parenting time
with their children. The Department of Health and Human Services has
developed relationships with community organizations to provide volunteers the
opportunity to supervise additional parenting time for children and their
parents. These volunteers receive background checks and proper training
in order to properly supervise parenting time for families that come before the
court.
View
a slideshow of the presentation by clicking here.
Richard L. Smart, III, has served
as deputy court administrator of the juvenile section of the Third Judicial
Circuit Court for nearly three years. Before assuming his current
position, he served the court for 18 years as a referee. He is also a
former assistant attorney general and an assistant public administrator in
Wayne County. Mr. Smart has dedicated much his professional and private
life to the service of children and families. Since assuming the position
as the deputy court administrator, he has worked closely with the Casey Family
Program Foundation to institute new and innovative ideas to the juvenile division
and bring best practices to the court to better serve the children and families
of Wayne County.