Louisiana Children’s Justice Act (CJA)

Louisiana Children’s Justice Act Task Force

Three-Year Recommendations
2010-2012

KEY:
CJA Categories:
A à handling of cases of child abuse and neglect
B à innovative program development to improve the prompt and successful resolution of court proceedings or enhance effective judicial and administrative action in child abuse and neglect cases
C à reform of state laws, ordinances, regulations, protocols, and procedures

Recommendation Type:
(T) = Training Recommendation
Policy Recommendations are reflected throughout the document and are not specifically labeled.

Mission Statement: Work collaboratively to improve investigative, administrative, prosecutorial, and judicial processes for child victims of abuse and neglect by advancing systemic reform through innovative and evidence based policies, programs, practices, and training.

CJA

Category

RECOMMENDED GOALS

PROPOSED STRATEGIES

PRIORITY

Collaboration

Y1, Y2, Y3

A-C

1. Support and Strengthen CJA Infrastructure
  1. Vision development
  2. Core Values development
  3. Further outcome measures development
  4. Convey above to community and to other agencies
  5. Participate in Required Annual CJA meeting hosted by the U.S. Children’s Bureau
  6. Support quarterly La. CJA Task Force meetings

Y1

Y1, Y2, Y3

Y1, Y2, Y3

A-C

2. Collaborate with Child Welfare Stakeholders to Improve Processes/Outcomes for Child Victims of Abuse and Neglect

1. CJA Fellow (Part-time with Travel included)
2. Courts – Support specialization

  1. Education – Mandatory Reporting
  2. Youth Planning Boards
  3. Community (Child welfare, law enforcement, child advocacy, medical personnel, prosecutors)
  4. Louisiana Children’s Code

Y1 (begin)
Y2 (end)
Y1,Y2, Y3
Y1, Y2, Y3
Y2, Y3

Y2, Y3

B- C

3. Support Establishment of Child Welfare Center of Excellence
  1. Collaborate with CIP & other Stakeholders
  2. Partner with Center of Excellence to provide
  • Policy analysis
  • Training
  • Technical assistance
  • Legislation as needed

Y1
Y2

Child Victims with Disabilities

 

A

1. Increase Cross Training (T)
  1. Include in all training of OCS & CASA employees specialized in disabilities & disability laws (including special education)
  2. Plan for training across agency lines

Y1

Y1

A

2. Increase Awareness & Collaboration (T)
  1. More collaboration with all child-serving agencies (resources and training) and training on interviewing child victims with disabilities

Y2,Y3

C

3. Develop Standards for Best Practices
  1. Establish guidelines for appropriate use of restraints and seclusion in the educational setting

Y1,Y2,Y3

Laws & Protocols

  

A, C

1. Promote Permanency for Foster Children (T)

1. Monitor implementation of federal legislation (e.g. Fostering Connections to Success, etc.)
2. Support responsive internal policies
3. Support responsive laws
4. Study and strengthen guardianship option

Y1, Y2, Y3

A,C

2. Protect Children Involved in Sex Offenses (T)

1. Monitor Adam Walsh federal/state law (Community notification & registry)
2. Support legislation that benefits children; promote policy/law
3. Monitor videotape access

Y1,Y2,Y3

A, C

3. Advance Effective Substance Abuse Intervention Processes (T)

1. Promote family drug court programming for substance abusing parents.
2. Monitor legislation targeting substance abusing moms

Y2, Y3

Y1,Y2,Y3

A,C

4. Increase the Statewide Availability of Competent, Timely Child Abuse Exams (T)

1. Conduct assessment of current laws & practices.
2. Promote goal with medical associations

Y2, Y3

Programs to Improve Process

  

A-C

1. Advance Quality Advocacy for Children (T)
  1. Caring & competent CASA volunteers in every JDC
  2. Access in every community to a CAC
  3. Support initiatives to improve legal representation of children & indigent parents

Y1,Y2,Y3

A-C

2. Foster Collaboration at the Community Level to Improve System Response to Child Abuse/Neglect (T)

1. Child Death Review
2. Mini grants (promising & proven practices)
3. Children born to substance abusers with focus on children 0-5
4. Support LA Advocacy support team (foster parent)

Y1,Y2,Y3

A-C

3. Advance Initiatives which Engage Children, Youth, and Families in the Decision Making Process (T)

1. Mediation
2. Alternative Response
3. Louisiana Youth Leadership Advisory Committee (LYLAC)
4. Knowing Who You Are Trainer Development

Y2,Y3
Y2,Y3
Y1,Y2,Y3

Y1,Y2

Training/Resources

  

A, C

1. Enhance access to current evidence-driven knowledge (T)
  1. Utilize technology to establish website with multiple access layers from public to professional to restrictive.
  2. Maximize regional level access to evidence-driven knowledge

Y2,Y3

A, C

1. Maximize opportunities for collaboration on training processes (T)
  1. Together We Can Annual Conference
  • Assess gaps in attendance representation & address in planning for upcoming conference
  • Pursue planning with Juvenile & Family Court Judges’ Associations for the inclusion of training for judges as an additional conference track
  • Pursue planning with Foster Parents’ Association for participating in next conference
  1. Develop e-Newsletter to disseminate information to CJA constituent members of trainings available across the state and across disciplines
  2. Collaborate with proposed Child Welfare Center of Excellence (CWCOE) to maximize access to technology based training
  3. Pursue local law enforcement agents & coroners’ agents to maximize collaborative training and access to evidence-driven knowledge & technology
  4. Support of conferences that relate to CJA mission

Y1,Y2,Y3

Y2,Y3

Y2,Y3

Y1,Y2,Y3

Y1,Y2,Y3