ASFA TRAINING PROJECT
PHONE POLL OF COURT IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS
2003

Maryland

1. How would you rate the child welfare agency staff in terms of their understanding of ASFA requirements? Please rate their understanding on a scale from 1 to 5 with 1 being 'poor' and 5 being 'comprehensive'.

a. Why did you give them that rating?

Although the degree of understanding varies across the State, it appears that local staff do not understand the intricacies of ASFA. Some appear to have never heard of some of the provisions.

2. Following are some of the skills that supervisors and workers need to have to implement ASFA. Please rate each of these on a scale of 1-5 with one being ‘do not need it’ and 5 being ‘extremely important.’

a. Supervisors:

Ability to develop relationship with court where information is shared:

Ability to explain law and requirements to staff:

Knowledge of the law and requirements:

Monitor staff to assure time lines are met:

Ability to set up hearings and court dates:

Knowledge of gathering information about families for court use:

How to testify in court regarding permanency and safety planning:

Ability to identify resources:

Other, please specify and rate:

b. Workers

Knowledge of the law and requirements:

How to testify in court regarding permanency and safety planning:

Ability to develop relationship with court where information is shared:

Ability to make decisions quickly:

Concurrent planning skills:

Knowledge of gathering information about families for court use:

Monitor staff to assure time lines are met:

Other, please specify and rate:

3. In the past year, since our earlier survey, as part of your ASFA implementation have the court and the child welfare agency undertaken or changed any day to day joint activities? No Yes
If yes, please describe.

Some courts and agencies are ensuring that the next court date is scheduled during each hearing. In some jurisdictions, court reports have been modified to designate a certain part of the court report that addresses reasonable efforts.

a. Has communication changed? No Yes
If yes, please describe.

Some jurisdictions are having regular multi-disciplinary meetings with all of its child welfare stakeholders to address ASFA-related issues.

b. Are you getting the information you need regarding cases from the agency? No Yes
If no, please describe.

Some jurisdictions report that the agency does not file the required court reports or they are not filed timely. Some agencies do not address efforts made in detail.

4. In the past year, since our earlier survey, has there been any ASFA training for court personnel? No Yes
If yes, go to question 4a. If no, go to question 4e.

a. What topics were covered in the training?

• October 2001: Child Abuse and Neglect Judicial Conference
  ASFA: Permanency Planning Options
• October 2002: Child Abuse and Neglect Judicial Conference
  ASFA: Specific Findings in Permanency Planning
• September 2002: 5 training programs held for clerks, other court personnel on required reporting requirements and terminology
• January 2003-March 2003: 6 Regional Multi-Disciplinary training meetings for judges/masters, attorneys, child welfare staff, court staff, CASAs, etc.

b. Which of the following did you use for staff training on ASFA?

Joint training sessions
Conferences
Seminars
Meetings
Regularly distributed publications/bulletins/newsletters
Presentations on ASFA
Part of training on other topics
Other. Please describe.

c. Who did the training?

Court Improvement Project personnel
Court staff
Consultants
National conferences
Attorney
Other Who?
     Staff from the ABA Center on Children and the Law, state agency
     representatives, attorneys from the Office of the Public Defender,
     and the Office of the Attorney General

d. Was the training just on ASFA or is it incorporated into other training that you provide?

Incorporated
Incorporated into new worker training
Not incorporated

e. In the past year, since our earlier survey, did you do any of the following ASFA training with or for the child welfare agency? No Yes
If yes, continue with question 4e; if no, go to question 4g.

Joint training sessions
Agency staff invited to some court training sessions
Other. Please describe

Comment: The 6 regional multi-disciplinary training meetings were sponsored and arranged by the court improvement project and held in the host courthouses. The planning committee consisted of DHR (state agency), Office of the Public Defender, Office of the Attorney General. Therefore, all stakeholders were invited.

f. What topics were covered in that ASFA training for the courts?

The multi-disciplinary training meetings focused on the Title IV-E and Child and Family Services Review requirements.

g. In the past year, since our earlier survey, have you done any of the following training with or for the agency attorneys? No Yes
If yes, continue with question 4g; if no, go to question 5.

How was the training delivered?

Comment: See answer to question “e”.

Joint training
Agency attorneys invited to some court training sessions
District Attorney handled training
Other. Please describe.

h. What were the topics covered in the ASFA training for the agency attorneys?

See answer to question “f”. The multi-disciplinary training meetings focused on the Title IV-E and Child and Family Services Review requirements.

5. Thinking about future training on all subjects, not just ASFA, for judges, court personnel and child welfare staff, what do you think is the number one training need of:

a. Judges:

ASFA and permanency planning hearing requirements, including completion of court orders.

b. Court personnel:

Court orders

c. Child welfare staff:

Basics of ASFA

6. Please rate the importance of the following in terms of working with the child welfare agency as it implements the ASFA requirements, with 1 being ‘not important’ and 5 being ‘crucial.’

Increased communication

Having sub-committees that deal with interagency issues

Having the Director of Court Improvement Projects involved in planning discussions

Having the Agency's active involvement in the Court Improvement Project

Good working relationship among court and agency staff

Other, please specify and rate:

7. Do you see any of the following as barriers to your work with the agency as it implements the requirements of ASFA? (check if 'yes')?

Lack of resources: staff, funds, time, etc.
Federal and state law not clear on what a permanency hearing is
Timelines for TPR are too short, unable to make informed decisions in every case
Lack of understanding of the key stakeholders responsibilities and how they are structured
Lack of understanding of the law
     Comment: Some of the provisions in ASFA are not clear.
Other. What is the barrier?

8. Is there anything else that you want to tell us regarding the best way to support staff as they implement the requirements of ASFA?

Provide resources so that the jurisdictions can receive one on one training on ASFA. Having persons that are available to travel throughout the State to provide 2 to 4 hour training periodically would appear to be beneficial. The smaller, shorter seminars, discussions work with the local stakeholders seem to foster collaboration and a better understanding of the law and issues surrounding ASFA.

Do you mind if we call you again if we need additional information?

No
Yes

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