FOSTER CARE COURT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

TRAINING SUBCOMMITTEE 
Subcommittee Members

The Foster Care Court Improvement Project (FCCIP) in its September 1997 assessment report, Improving Court Performance for Abused and Neglected Children, noted a concern regarding a lack of training for judges and masters who hear the child abuse and neglect cases. Under the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article, judges assigned to hear juvenile cases should have special experience or training in juvenile cases and the problems of children likely to come before the court. To address this concern, the Training subcommittee was formed in January 1998.  The following recommendations were the original substantive concerns of the Training subcommittee: 

• upon notification of assignment in juvenile court, the newly appointed
• judge or master should be provided with both appropriate written materials, including a revised and updated version of the benchbook, and video instruction programs prior to the beginning of his or her assignment.
• the Judiciary should initiate and the Judicial Institute administer semi-annual regional single topic afternoon or evening programs.
• the Judicial Institute should administer a yearly conference dedicated to the training of judges and masters in cases involving abused and neglected children. The content of the conference should include legislative updates, Department of Human Resources (DHR) administrative requirements, new federal mandates, appellate decisions, automation, and procedural changes required by new statute and/or rule.
• a coordinated effort of all relevant participants in the child welfare process needs to be focused on developing a coordinated and integrated system that channels appropriate resources to the direct services needed for Maryland's children. 

• A newly appointed judge or master sits at the bench with a mentor judge or master for approximately two weeks.  The first week the mentor judge or master leads, and then during the second week they will switch roles. 
• The new judge or master will be provided with a list of various resources, training materials and videotapes from past conferences and training programs, as well as instruction on courtroom decorum, terminology, and mental health issues. 

In conjunction with the initial assignment program the FCCIP engaged the American Bar Association (ABA) to develop a child welfare benchbook. The benchbook was completed and disseminated in June 2000.  Because of the development of the ASFA final rules and the local passage of legislation, an update was commenced in June 2001.  The benchbook is now available on CD Rom.  The benchbook is updated every other year or as needed.

Training does not stop with the initial assignment program.  The FCCIP sponsors an annual two-day conference for judges and masters hearing abuse and neglect cases.  The Fifth Annual Conference was held October 7-8, 2002.  The featured topics were the New Juvenile Rules, AFSA-Specific Findings in Permanency Planning, Uniform Court Orders, and Long Term Consequences of TPR/Adoption to name a few. The second day of the conference included participants from various disciplines, a tradition established with the Third Annual Conference. The Sixth Annual Conference is scheduled for October 20-22, 2003 in St. Michael's, Maryland.  In addition to the judges' training and the multi-discipline training, this conference for the first time will have a day dedicated to the training of attorneys representing all parties.

Additionally, the FCCIP sponsors a yearly Judicial Institute course.  The last course was held on April 11, 2003.  The course focus was Aspects of a CINA case and was taught by Judge Marvin S. Kaminetz, Master James P. Casey and Master Erica J. Wolfe.  Next year's course will be a look at miscellaneous topics related to CINA/TPR cases including inter-agency placement, the new juvenile rules, identifying resources, kinship care and termination of parental rights.

For further information, please contact:

Tracy Watkins-Tribbitt, MSW, Director
Foster Care Court Improvement Project
(410) 260-1272
tracy.watkins-tribbitt@mdcourts.gov

Chair:
Hon. David W. Young, Circuit Court for Baltimore City

Committee Members:
Hon. Bonita Dancy (Retired), Circuit Court for Baltimore City
Master Claudette Brown, Circuit Court for Baltimore City
Master James Casey, Circuit Court for Baltimore City
Master Zakia Mahasa, Circuit Court for Baltimore City
Master Daryl T. Walters, Circuit Court for Garrett County
Master Erica J. Wolfe, Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County

Project Staff:
Tracy Watkins-Tribbitt, MSW, Director, Foster Care Court Improvement Project