Wyoming Judicial Branch



CHILDREN’S JUSTICE PROJECT Advisory Council Meeting AgendaMeeting Date and Time: May 15, 2020 from 10:00 a.m. to 10:56 a.m.Location: Supreme Court Building, Room 237Call-In Information: Conference Call-In Information: (307) 316-5574; Conference ID: 139 518 266#See also Teams Meeting link in calendar appointment (if attending via video)Attendees: Lisa Finkey, Justice Fox, Kerri Wright, Jeff Lamm, Ed Heimer, Judge Bobbi Overfield, Jill Kucera, Jennifer Neely, Judge Rumpke, Judge Snyder, Lindsey Schilling, Josh Eames, Dan Wilde, Lily Sharpe, Jen Davis, Steve Lindley, Elisa Butler, Dan Cowen, Sherry Griffin Agenda ItemLeaderTimeCall to Order Review and approval of minutes (See December 13, 2019 minutes) Motion to Approve Minutes made by Jill Kucera, Dan Wilde secondMinutes from the last meeting were approvedThanks to Steve Lindley for attending. Legislative members unable to attend due to the Special Session being held at the same time as this meeting.Justice Fox10:00 a.m.Approval of Financial ReportsCurrently have $65,480.88 left in basic grant which is approximately 68% of the budget; $66,319.97 left which is approximately 66% of the data grant budget; and $66,191.30 left in the training grant budget, approximately 70%.Due to COVID situation – funds redirected to court technology projects after CJP conferred with court IT staff regarding technology needs. Primary hubs for three district judges, Judge Rumpke, Judge Johnson and Judge Forgey. Judge Rumpke declined – two were purchased.Funds to be set aside for anticipated hiring of retired judges for termination trials and juvenile hearings when courts reopen.Wyoming is leaps and bounds in technology for virtual hearings ahead of other states.Legislature allowed for court technology during this last session, but there will not be money for any more in the next few years. Grant expires September 30, 2020.Motion to Approve Report by Judge Snyder, Jeff Lamm secondAll aye – no opposed. Report approved.Lisa Finkey10:05 amQuarterly Report UpdateCommunity trainings cancelled due to COVID.Teams planning with District Courts and others.Getting learning management system in place for additional training options.CJP working with DFS for FF home training matters.CJP will touch base with director of Case Family Programs and Judy Greisel and another expert to work with parents on substance abuse issues with three webinars and ? day presentations on specific methods with October presentation is the goal. Purchased Greisel’s book on neuroscience of addiction for all district court judges which is a huge training topic in Wyoming. This was a topic at the national conference. Working to get it on the calendars early enough for the judges to attend.Thanks to Dan and the Casey Family Programs for paying.Lisa Finkey10:10 a.m.Council MembershipCouncil member terms expiring June 30, 2020 include Senator Affie Ellis, Senator Tara Nethercott, Judge Snyder, Ed Heimer, Ayana Lopez and ex-officio members Korin Schmidt, Lily Sharpe. Other membership changes include Carol Tullio retired and resigned. Sara Robinson no longer a tribal judge. Ayana Lopez has been noo-participating member. Marty Nelson no longer with DFS and Korin Schmidt is still with DFS but with a different title.Senator Ellis, Judge Snyder, Ed Heimer, and Lily Sharpe want to be reappointed as ex-officio discretionary member. Korin Schmidt should be a mandatory voting member. Senator Nethercott is ok with reappointment but ok if someone else is appointed.Steve Lindley is interested in becoming a member as is tribal representative Clarence Thomas.Recommended that Steve Lindley take Carol Tullio’s spot and appoint tribal representative in place of tribal judge.Justice Fox agrees with appointing the tribal representative as haven’t had luck in the past with the judge showing up. Justice Fox would like the group to think about replacement for Senator Nethercott and if anyone else is interested in showing up to meetings.Piiperan, Schuler, Pelkey, Stith and Kirkbride were suggestions. Beneficial to have senator and representative, especially from the judiciary committee, but could also look outside the committee.Piiperan not on the judiciary committee.Lisa FinkeyLegislation UpdateParent Attorney Program. Did not make it off the floor. Now with the COVID situation, the budget and the economy this program may need to be shelved. GAL Legislation did pass. QRTP bill did pass as well. DFS to discuss outcome.Families FirstPropose establish committee to propose legislative changes. CJP can't lobby or recommend statutory changes but some need to be made. CJP can research and draft but outside agency would need to any sponsor bill. Another option would be to establish a subcommittee to do the legwork for proposed statutory changes. The subcommittee could get things done quicker.Justice Fox would want Korin Schmidt’s input and agrees that it is always a delicate situation for an arm of the court to weigh in on legislation. Refrain from duplicating the work of DFS regarding legislation.Korin believes it could be done in coordination with DFS and the CPT statute. If DFS initiated the request they would be involved, and it would be helpful to discuss it in this context with judiciary for feedback before actively educating it before the legislature as long as this group wouldn't step on DFS toes. If the group is contrary to DFS, it will speak up. Doing in collaboration would alleviate concerns.Justice Fox believes it makes sense to have that collaboration with DFS and the judiciary. Agree with such a committee, but it should be cautious about proposing legislation.Lisa indicates that the discussions we be included that concern the committee and DFS. She could assist in bill drafting and control the meetings. Her role would be to make sure discussions are being had and that can be time consuming.Korin thinks it would be helpful to have a member from the Governor’s office as it will have to be an executive branch function. But that branch also has issues relating to lobbying and introduction of legislation.Lisa indicates that the committee won't need to decide today, but she will put together some proposed guidelines and rules of the committee for next meeting. It was discussed before without guidelines and it didn’t work out what subcommittee should achieve and their goals.Lisa Finkey10:25 a.m.Learning Management SystemThe Wyoming Supreme Court is working on implementing a learning management system and CJP is riding along and paying a portion.Lisa FinkeyCOVID updatesEmailed report for juvenile case files. Will send to districts, children's bureau and post on the CJP website. Grateful for the technology to allow us to continue working from home. Abuse and neglect cases are not being filed in numbers anywhere near normal. There is a concern about the surge in court proceedings after the pandemic ends. Lisa FinkeyDFS Update ICWA and TribesThe tribal court’s new judge is Janet Mallard and Jen has been hearing great things about her. Judge Millard and Carmen will do good work. Jen is pleased that Lisa Finkey reached out to Carmen. Elizabeth Jude Haas and Irena Snoosy - DFS person currently director of E. Shoshone office. Everyone is aware of how COVID impacted the tribal members and DFS. The entire office closed after a positive test result. Assistance from state office and coordination with tribal office and Riverton office. Although it was unplanned, it was a good experience of what is needed on and off the reservation. Negotiations of placement options were done quickly with all hands-on deck it was a pretty positive experience. Tribal offices have been added to the state schedule for PPE. Issues seen from tribal offices are that they are not receiving abuse cases. Arapaho has seen an increase in cases, which may be because of some are providing care to relatives incapacitated, sick or ill. And possibly struggling with resources for custody of kids. Some can utilize the group home funded through Medicaid. State office was able to get computers and laptops for kids schooling at home to make case notes and data entry. Lisa reached out to new DFS directors for ICWA trainings and told them to reach out to Jen. Jen indicates that the email connections with the Arapahoe office has been strange but will forward the email from Lisa about the June tribal welfare training.Jennifer Neely10:30 a.m.DFS Update ContinuedQRTP LegislationImplementation plan based on assessment. She has been working with residential treatment providers to incorporate the plan into policy. She has had conversations with staff and is tweaking the process. As a reminder they do not need full compliance of Families First until October 2021 so they will not pull trigger on July 1st, but ease into it. Then will submit a prevention plan no later than October 2021 to come into compliance and to retain IV-E funds. WY Home Matters interest group coming together for the game plan for Families First. Cuffney is constructing the plan with the stakeholder of prevention development. There is an internal effort to look at case work prior to court involvement along with two other groups and will do a presentation about WY Home Matters. Community engagement is key. Technical things are needed from law enforcement, court, schools, and DFS - to avoid unnecessarily removing a child. Looking at July 1st start date to visit communities but is all subject to COVID regulations. The Tribal reports to DFS and the state office was shut down on March 13th and began isolation. Since that time there was a 30% reduction in reports. But this is similar to when school releases children at the holidays, spring break and summer. The data shows a decrease in numbers with the typical families, but this is not so significant as to raise concerns. DFS will look at it when out in the communities. DFS is seeking CARES money for spikes in mental health and substances abuse issues. Hoping to see it flattening out as summer goes on. Giving the plan to the Governor next week for his state of the state. One last comment and want the opportunity to talk about prevention. Immediate intervention and prevention. Community involvements and the role of the community and resident responsibility. COVID brought out the best in the community and the community should be encouraged to help with referrals. Prevention is among those discussion points along with concrete community action, DFS’s shrinking resources, more community action is needed.Korin Schmidt10:40 a.m.GAL UpdateNo information from the Governor regarding the new director of the agency. This doesn't affect state as they hired a new person in Laramie County prior to the freeze. The office is waiting to see how budget discussions and cuts will affect the agency before moving forward with other improvements to the quality of the law office. Justice Fox asks what else will need to be put in place for this now independent agency? Dan responds that everything stays the same and they continue as they are. The GAL will now be working with the budget office contact and the personnel contact directly not through the pub defender’s office. A couple MOUs are currently with the HR unit that need signed but will wait until a director is appointed. The office doesn't have to hire its own people because it will work with the same individuals that are doing HR and budget.Dan WildeGovernor’s Office UpdateJen Davis was not in attendance.Lisa FinkeyOther BusinessThe joint symposium is not going forward in person, but as a virtual event and it was cut back to 2 days. It is being hosted through Microsoft Teams. There are a few people signed up. Lisa will be promoting it next week to District court judges to attend - CJP will pay for costs for the judge’s attendance. Judge Overfield asked when the June conference agenda or schedule will be sent out? Lisa responds that it will be finalized today to send out next week. It will be sent out to the judges once it's done. The next meeting is 9/11 and hopefully we will meet in person.Lisa Finkey10:53 a.m.Good of the Order and AdjournmentOther business? Thank everyone for attendance.Justice Fox10:55 a.m.Lisa is doing a great job in communicating with judges and in her understanding of the cases being filed. Thanks to Lisa for all her work.Judge Snyder2020 and 2021 Meeting DatesDecember 11, 2020 – 10:00 a.m. March 12, 2021 – 10:00 a.m. May 14, 2021 – 10:00 a.m. September 10, 2021 – 10:00 a.m. December 10, 2021 – 10:00 a.m. Adjournment Justice Fox10:56 a.m. ................
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