KidsVoice Multidisciplinary Approach to Dependency Advocacy

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KidsVoice Multidisciplinary Approach to
Dependency Advocacy

• Scott Hollander, Executive Director

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Children Represented

• 5,000 per year
• 4 per child
• 13 hours

Hearings Per Year
Direct Service Time Per Child
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Mission KidsVoice advocates in court and in the
community to ensure a safe and permanent home for
abused, neglected and at-risk children.
Value Statements

• WE BELIEVE that better child advocacy is achieved
  when a diverse team of professionals with
  knowledge and experience in a variety of
  disciplines work together for children.
• WE BELIEVE that all children can thrive and
  deserve the opportunity to achieve their full
  potential.
• WE RECOGNIZE the awesome responsibility of our
  work and will be as resourceful and creative as
  we need to be to meet each childs needs.
• WE BELIEVE that each child is a unique individual
  with intrinsic value and rights that we must
  appreciate and respect.
• WE ARE COMMITTED to fostering childrens
  self-esteem and encouraging children to dream.

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Value Statements

• WE BELIEVE that we have the ability to create
  positive change at the individual, organizational
  and system levels and that we must be a catalyst
  for innovative and collaborative solutions among
  agencies serving children.
• WE BELIEVE that educating others about the needs
  of children is an integral part of our advocacy
  for children.
• WE BELIEVE that diversity in all areas
  including culture, background, training and
  experience strengthens our organization and we
  are committed to creating a work environment that
  embraces and encourages diversity.
• WE VALUE each employee and are committed to
  creating an open, supportive and challenging work
  environment that fosters creativity and
  professional growth for all employees.

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TRAINING

1. New Hire Training 5 weeks of classroom and
   shadowing
2. Monthly mandatory professional meetings
3. Outside speaker series
4. Free CLE credits through PBI
5. Training allowance
6. Professional organization membership

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LEGAL TOPICS

• Juvenile Act
• Child Protective Services Law
• Termination of Parental Rights
• Evidence
• Local Procedure
• Legal Ethics
• Special Education Law
• PFAs
• ICWA
• MEPA
• Minors Rights to Treatment
• Emancipation
• Expungements

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SOCIAL SERVICE TOPICS

• Abuse
• Neglect
• Drugs and Alcohol
• MH/MR
• Developmental Disabilities
• Evaluations
• Education
• Sex Offenders
• Teen Issues
• Sexuality in Children
• Placements
• Adoption Services

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• CASE TEAM FUNCTIONS
• Each case is assigned to an attorney and Child
  Advocacy Specialist (CAS)
• Each attorney will work with at least 2 CASs and
  vice-versa
• Case teams are required to meet at least once a
  week to discuss shared cases, starting with cases
  scheduled for hearings three weeks from now
• Determine what information is needed and who
  should gather it.
• Meet twice more prior to the hearing to discuss
  case and formulate recommendations
• Meet after hearing to discuss results and monitor
  implementation

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INFORMATION SHARING ISSUES

• Some case information is in the case file and
  some information is on the shared drive
• Case files are not always easy to locate
• Sometimes handwritten case notes are not placed
  in the file
• Some staff do not write legibly
• Changes in provider and contact information is
  not easy to update
• Case information cannot be accessed from outside
  the office

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• Attorneys and social service professionals often
  approach cases in a different manner.
• 1 CAS complaint The attorney treats me as
• a paralegal or other type of assistant.
• 1 Attorney Complaint CASs dont
• understand what is legally relevant.

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ACCOUNTABILITY

• Activity log
• Monthly individual supervision meetings
• Monthly regional team meetings
• Case team observations
• File reviews
• Field observations
• Accountable to case team partner

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• CLINICAL EXPERIENCE FOR STUDENTS
• Duquesne University College of Law
• Civil Family Justice Clinic
• University of Pittsburgh Law School
• Internship and Externship Credits
• Social Work Placement
• Child Development Placement
• Summer Internship Program

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Difference between average attorney 7,500salary
and average social serviceprofessional salary
Cost Savings of Multidisciplinary Practice

• Number of social service 20
• professionals on staff

• Savings compared to using attorneys 150,000
• alone to provide 13 hours per client

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