State Roundtable Reports
2016 State Roundtable Report
In May 2016, the Legal Representation Workgroup presented its final report to the Pennsylvania State Roundtable. Throughout 2015-2016 the Workgroup created and finalized a video for parents to better understand the dependency system. Chapters in the video include: Working with Your Attorney, Courtroom Experience, Case Planning, Visitation and Permanency. The State Roundtable unanimously approved the Workgroup’s recommendations to endorse and distribute the parent video and disband the Legal Representation Workgroup. A summary of the Workgroups accomplishments from 2009-2016 can be found at the end of the 2016 report. Click the picture to the right to access the 2016 State Roundtable Report
2015 State Roundtable Report
“Legal Representation Workgroup: A Call to Action,” ~ a report to the State Roundtable. The 2015 Legal Representation report shows finalized work products, that had been years in development, by the Workgroup. The body of the report titled “A Call to Action” provides 7 recommendations, with rationale, to guide counties in their efforts to enhance legal representation for children and parents in the dependency system. “A Call to Action,” includes the completed Standards of Practice booklet; Time Charts; Attorney Caseload Calculation formula; Caseload Analysis; Compensation Chart for Court Appointed Counsel; Accountability Mechanisms for those responsible in overseeing the implementation of the standards of practice; and Contract Considerations for counties wanting to revise their attorney contracts.Click the picture to the right to view full the report.
2014 State Roundtable Report
“Moving Children to Permanency through High Quality Legal Representation,” ~ a report to the State Roundtable. The 2014 Legal Representation report includes efforts made by the Workgroup to further enhance legal representation, including finalized Standards of Practice for Guardians ad Litem, Parent’s Attorney and Legal Counsel practicing in Pennsylvania’s Child Dependency System, with commentary and citations; Time Study Charts and Analysis process for determining manageable caseload size; and a Statewide Survey on Legal Representation Analysis. The Workgroup will compile the work products in this report with the work over the 2014-2015 year into a final package to enhance legal representation, which will be presented to the 2015 State Roundtable. Click the picture to the right to view the full report.
2013 State Roundtable Report
“Moving Children to Timely Permanency: Training for Legal Representatives of Children and Parents,” ~ a report to the State Roundtable. The 2013 Legal Representation report comprises the efforts of the Workgroup and other professionals who developed and delivered Core II training in three sites across Pennsylvania. This report recognizes the distinguished trainers, location and dates for each training, contents throughout training and evaluation results. In addition, this report offers guidelines for continued high quality advanced legal training. Click the picture to the right to view the full report.
2012 State Roundtable Report
“Moving Children to Timely Permanence: Training for Legal Representation for Children and Parents,” ~ a report to the State Roundtable. The 2012 Legal Representation report showed the diligent efforts of the Workgroup throughout the year. The Workgroup has several accomplishments highlighted in this report, including the summary and evaluation results of Core I training, which reached over 600 attorneys in seven sites across Pennsylvania; the Pre-Service DVD for Guardians ad Litem, created by the Workgroup to ensure compliance with the Child Abuse and Prevention Treatment Act; and a children’s activity book titled “What’s Happening in Dependency Court,” created to assist Guardians ad Litem in their communication with children. Click the link to the right to view the full report.
2011 State Roundtable Report
“Moving Children to Timely Permanence: Training for Legal Representation for Children and Parents,” ~ a report to the State Roundtable. The 2011 Legal Representation report contains the evaluation results of the Workgroup’s efforts in creating a pilot training for Guardians ad Litem and Parent Attorneys. The pilot training was held in Harrisburg at the Pennsylvania Judicial Center and attended by 50 attorneys. In addition, this report outlines a plan to deliver the full “Core I” training statewide. Click the picture to the right to view the full report.
2010 State Roundtable Report
“Moving Children to Timely Permanence: Training for Legal Representation for Children and Parents,”~ a report to the State Roundtable. In this first Legal Representation report, the Workgroup examines national and statewide data on the impact of legal representation in the dependency system. This report shares some of those findings. In addition, this report shows the beginning outline for a statewide training for Guardians ad Litem and Parent Attorney. Click the picture to the right to view the full report.
