Collaborating with Parents & Parent Attorneys: The Key Ingredient
Explore the importance of parents in Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) and understand the strengths and challenges they face. Delve into topics like trauma, parental backgrounds, and community support to enhance collaboration between parents and legal professionals.
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Presentation Transcript
The Parent as the Key Ingredient: Collaborating with Parents & Parent Attorneys Kathleen Creamer, Esq. Managing Attorney Family Advocacy Unit Cathy Volponi, Esq., Director ACBF Juvenile Court Project Parent Attorneys
OVERVIEW OF PRESENTATION Who Are These Parents Who Are These Parent Attorneys Parents as the Essential Ingredient for FGDM
WHO ARE THESE PARENTS? Family Members
WHO ARE THESE PARENTS? Community Members
THEIR MANY STRENGTHS Love for Their Children! Ability to Change Resilience Tenacity Experts on Their Own Lives Family, Friends, Support Networks Community Resources Someone Who Believes in Them
WHAT DO WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PARENTS? What is their native language Do they live in Poverty Have they experienced personal grief and trauma Are they struggling with illness and addiction Have they experienced societal infirmities Have they had experiences with systems before Do they have a support network
UNDERSTANDING TRAUMA IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND PARENTS How Does Trauma Manifest?
UNDERSTANDING TRAUMA A person s history and emotional/relational foundation is represented by the part of the iceberg that is underwater and not visible.
UNDERSTANDING TRAUMA Dr. Bruce Perry s Brain States Brain State Brain Part Thinking Sense of Time Calm Prefrontal Cortex Abstract/ Creative Future Alert Subcortext Concrete Week/ Day Alarmed Limbic Emotional Hours/ Minutes Fearful Midbrain Reactive Minutes/ Seconds Terror Brainstem Reflexive Loss of Time Dr. Bruce Perry, www.childtrauma.org
UNDERSTANDING TRAUMA Traumatic stress tends to evoke two emotional extremes: feeling either too much (overwhelmed) or too little (numb) emotion. Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK207191/
UNDERSTANDING TRAUMA The effects of trauma on parents: Trauma can limit the ability to control emotional responses Parents may resort to coping in unhealthy ways, such as using alcohol or drugs Parents may have a pervasive sense of loss of control, especially after the removal of their children Parents may find it difficult to trust others Parents may become numb or shut down Trauma affects future time orientation not able to see long-term goal of service planning National Child Traumatic Stress Network http://centerforchildwelfare2.fmhi.usf.edu/kb /fosterparents/ParentsWTraumaHx-GuideForFP.pdf
GRIEF Disenfranchised grief: grief that is not openly acknowledged, socially accepted or publicly mourned.
WHO ARE THESE PARENT ATTORNEYS COLLABORATOR
WORKING WITH PARENT ATTORNEYS Understand that Parent Attorneys serve three roles: Legal Advocate, Counselor and Collaborator Recognize Parents & Children Have Shared Interest in the Integrity of their Family Attend Case Meetings/Teamings Communicate and Troubleshoot Tailor Services to the Needs of the Parent/Family & Choose Quality over Quantity Advocate for Quality Visitation Maintain contact as a preventative step
PARENTS ARE THE KEY INGREDIENT Without the parent, most FGDM conferences wouldn t happen
PARENTS ARE THE KEY INGREDIENT Majority of FGDM conferences are offered to parents Parent engagement is key parent buy-in Parents need to trust you understand their story Parents need to trust the FGDM process Understanding the parent and parent attorney role can help ensure you have the key ingredient
COMMUNICATION TIPS TO BETTER ENGAGE LISTEN FIRST Acknowledge strengths Offer services that enhance Be flexible and provide options
COMMUNICATION TIPS TO BETTER ENGAGE Express empathy Understand how trauma is manifesting Remember: the brain s response can be unconscious Understand and validate the parent s grief Be respectful and calm
COMMUNICATION TIPS TO BETTER ENGAGE Recognize parent s expertise Stay curious Be clear about details and eliminate system language Encourage parent to be in control of making the decisions about their life
CONNECTING PARENTS TO FGDM 1.ENGAGE sell the product by highlighting the benefits 2.EXPLAIN Who, What, When, Where, and How 3.ENCOURAGE Emphasize Using Strengths and Taking Charge of their own life
Issues/Concerns/Barriers Supports Implicit Biases Parent Feeling Overwhelmed Incarcerated Parent Drug and Alcohol Inpatient Separated Parents Transparency and Trust
Attorneys Role Leading Up to FGDM Pre-Conference Meeting Don t rely on 3rd party to make arrangements for your client If you have been invited, discuss clients desired involvement
Pros/Cons of Attorneys Being Invited to FGDM PROS May increase parents comfort level and help them open up At times, Attorney may be one of few supports Helps Attorney prepare to advocate what s most important to the parent CONS Gives the client the same feel as a courtroom Conflicting Roles (Zealous Advocate in Court, Silent Supporter at FGDM) Fear invitation may have been out of professional persuasion
Attorneys Role During the FGDM Conference Level of involvement is case by case Help your client remain calm Be aware of comments to any pending criminal action Maintain a strengths base focus Help bridge the gap
Attorneys Role in the Courtroom After FGDM If FGDM did not occur, ask through cross why it wasn t appropriate If FGDM did occur, get a copy of the FGDM plan Review the plan in court Focus on the strengths Identify Support Network as Resources Ask your client if they want a follow-up conference
RESULTS OF BETTER FGDM ENGAGEMENT OF PARENT CYS is seen as a helper Increases conversations outside the Courtroom Opens the water dam to allow other supports Helps Attorney advocate differently Judge is more willing to keep child at home Judge is more willing to reunify when removed Fewer people coming to court
REMEMBER.. EVERY FAMILY IS DIFFERENT Some will want you there and others will not You are the Parent s Advocate, Counselor and Collaborator Know FGDM and Don t rely on 3rd party to tell your client about FGDM Parents are the key ingredient for a successful FGDM!
Questions? Comments? Just Want to Vent? Kathleen Creamer, Esq.,Managing Attorney kcreamer@clsphila.org Cathy Volponi, Esq., Director cvolponi@acbfparentadvocates.org
