MODULE 5.6
COMPARE COURT REPORT
SAMPLES
Contents
Example Section 1: Concurrent Planning .................................................................................. 2
Example Section 2: Assessment/Evaluation ............................................................................... 4
Example Section 3: Services Provided ........................................................................................ 6
Example Section 4: Summary recommendation (REASON FOR HEARING) ...................... 8
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Example Section 1: Concurrent Planning
This section should express the plan developed by the family and the department to plan for the
child’s permanency needs if the parents are unable to reunify. It should clearly convey that the
social worker has discussed this issue with the family. It should also convey the concurrent
plan to identify alternate permanency that the social worker developed with the family.
BAD EXAMPLE
Reunification is the Department’s first and foremost goal for long-term permanency for
child. However, if the parents are unable to reunite with the child prior to the Juvenile Court
ordering termination of Family Reunification Services, the Department would recommend the
setting of a hearing per 366.26 to recommend adoption as the best permanent plan for the child.
On May 9, 2014, the mother and father were advised of the option to participate in adoption
planning and to voluntarily relinquish the child for adoption if an adoption agency is willing to
accept the relinquishment.
Commented [A1]: This is generic court report language and is
not specific to this family. The social worker should avoid
boilerplate language if it does not reflect the family’s situation. For
example, there are two children in this family and the sentence ends
with “child”.
Commented [A2]: The court, attorneys and future social worker
need to know who exactly discussed this plan. Also, there are two
fathers involved, so the concurrent plan should consider paternal
relatives for both fathers.
Commented [A3]: Here, the parents were told they can
“relinquish”. This isn’t really a concurrent plan developed with the
family. This is informing them of one possible outcome.
BETTER EXAMPLE
Reunification is the Department’s first and foremost goal for long-term permanency for
Crystal and Craig; however, if the parents are unable to reunite with the children prior to the
Juvenile Court ordering termination of Family Reunification Services, the Department would
recommend the setting of a hearing per 366.26 to recommend adoption as the best permanent plan
for the children.
On May 9, 2014, Ms. Price and Mr. Price met with the social worker and discussed the
alternate permanency plan of adoption for Craig and Crystal. Ms. Price and Mr. Price agreed that
they would like the children to remain with the maternal grandmother Ramona Pollan if they are
unable to reunify. They agreed to meet again and include Ms. Pollan in further discussions about
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Commented [A4]: This statement is more complete, specific and
related to the family. It properly frames the content for the court,
attorneys and future social workers to understand the ongoing
permanency efforts with the family.
adoption and guardianship. Ms. Pollan has agreed to be a long term placement for Craig and
Crystal. She states she is willing to consider adoption or guardianship and wants to discuss each
option with the parents and the social worker. Mr. Smith’s whereabouts is unknown, so he has not
participated in the concurrent planning discussion. His parents have stated they wish to continue
their relationship with Crystal, but they are unable to provide a long term home for her. Crystal
states that she wants to be with her brother in the home of their maternal grandmother.
- END EXAMPLE 1 -
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Commented [A5]: This provides a plan that is specific to this
family and addresses the paternal relatives for both children.
Example Section 2: Assessment/Evaluation
The assessment/evaluation section is the place where the social worker describes the progress
made by the family. It should be fair and balanced and reflect the strengths exhibited by the
parents as well as the areas where they have not made progress. The section should provide
the facts and the social worker’s assessment of those facts in a way that frames and supports
the recommendation the department is making.
BAD EXAMPLE
Ms. Price and Mr. Price have both had problems during this review period. The father is in
jail because of his DUI. The mother relapsed on methamphetamine and is currently refusing to
enter residential treatment. Mr. Price is scheduled to be released from jail on December 31, 2014.
Ms. Price continues to be a “functional” drug addict in denial about the seriousness of her problem.
Crystal and Craig are in foster care and have therapy to help them deal with their PTSD
and the trauma caused by their parents. The current placement is with the maternal grandmother
based on the department’s decision. This social worker has ongoing concerns about grandmother,
and will continue closely monitoring the placement.
Neither parent is ready to resume custody at the time of this hearing and the department is
unsure if they will ever be ready to have custody of Craig and Crystal again.
Continue Family Reunification services for both parents, and authorize overnight visits of
Commented [A6]: This language is unnecessarily biased and
inflammatory. The fact is that the mother has not yet entered
residential treatment. Stating that fact alone provides enough
information, making the use of inflammatory words like “refusing”
needless.
Commented [A7]: This language is biased, inflammatory, and
not really meaningful. Ms. Price is obviously not a functioning
addict; she has had her children removed, lost her job, and related
trauma.
Commented [A8]: This paragraph is unorganized and jumps
from subject to subject.
Commented [A9]: This is a mental health diagnosis that the
social worker should not be making. This statement is also
unnecessarily negative. Remember that children are a potential
audience that might read this court report and it is important not to
cause additional stress or trauma for them.
Commented [A10]: This statement reveals an internal agency
disagreement. The social worker’s opinion about the placement
should not be included if the department has made an overriding
decision.
Commented [A11]: This statement makes a legal conclusion
that affects whether or not the parents should receive additional
family reunification services.
Commented [A12]: This is poorly framed for the parents as it is
unnecessarily harsh toward the family based on no provable
foundation. It is poorly framed for the court as it would indicate that
the court should not order reunification, but the report recommends
reunification.
up to 30 days for both parents.
BETTER EXAMPLE
Commented [A13]: This statement makes legal conclusions
rather than providing information and making recommendations.
Ms. Price and Mr. Price have both faced challenges during this review period. Ms. Price
experienced a relapse and is currently engaged in outpatient substance abuse treatment. She is
moving from a state of active substance abuse and denial to one of commitment to her recovery.
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Commented [A14]: This highlights what Ms. Price is doing to
address her substance use problem rather than focusing on what she
is “refusing” to do.
She has expressed a positive attitude about the treatment programs and is beginning to take
Commented [A15]: These statements acknowledge that Ms.
Price has more work to do on her substance use problem without
being biased or inflammatory.
responsibility for her addictions and the consequences of her actions.
Mr. Price is currently incarcerated at the Ocoa County Detention Facility following his
conviction for DUI. He is participating in alcohol treatment and anger management classes during
his incarceration. His probation officer, Nola Richards, stated on May 13, 2014 that Mr. Price
participates fully in the classes and appears to be making an effort to employ the anger management
techniques discussed in the class. He is scheduled to be released from jail on December 31, 2014.
Crystal and Craig are living with their maternal grandmother, Ramona Pollan. Both have
Commented [A16]: This provides much more clear and
pertinent information for the court to better understand the current
situation and how Mr. Price is doing. This strength based
presentation also helps the parent see that the social worker
recognizes that they are working to resolve the problems that
brought their family into the system.
adjusted to being in placement. Craig is doing well in school and Crystal is showing significant
improvements. Both children have therapy appointments scheduled in the coming months to help
them process the family changes they have experienced and prepare them for possible reunification
Commented [A17]: Framed better for family members
or adoption / guardianship in the future.
It is the department’s assessment that neither parent is ready to resume custody of the
children at the time of this hearing.
Commented [A18]: This information conveys that the children
will be involved in therapy to help them adjust and address their
family changes without being inflammatory or blameful.
Although they are both actively engaged in services and
making progress toward their case plan goals, Mr. Price is incarcerated and unavailable to care for
the children and Ms. Price is in the early stages of treatment. The department recognizes the
progress each parent has made and believes there is a strong likelihood of reunification in the next
6 months if the parents continue their efforts.
The department recommends that Family Reunification services be continued for both
parents, and that the court grant the department permission to authorize overnight visits of up to
30 days for both parents.
- END EXAMPLE 2 -
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Commented [A19]: This is better framing for the court to match
the recommendation of continued services. It is also better framing
for the family to recognize that they are working toward
reunification, even if they haven’t yet achieved their goals.
Example Section 3: Services Provided
This section should include the reasonable efforts or reasonable services provided by the
department to help the family successfully complete their case plan and achieve their case plan
goal. It should explain what was provided and how the services provided support the case plan
goals.
BAD EXAMPLE
1.
Monitored child’s safety and well-being
2.
Monitored parents’ compliance with their case plans
3.
Met with parents and child regularly
4.
Maintained contact with service providers, agencies and collateral parties
5.
Provided mother and father with referrals to outpatient substance abuse treatment
Commented [A20]: This is not well framed for the court report
as it does not address the link between these services and the case
plan or family needs. It seems like a generic list used for many
families.
programs.
6.
Provided the mother with bus tickets
7.
Arranged and provided transportation and supervision for visitation
8.
Referred children for therapy
9.
Attended Multi-Disciplinary Case Conferences
10.
Referred child to holiday gift program
BETTER EXAMPLE
The social worker met with the family in person every month and worked with them to
ensure they had access to the services identified (substance abuse treatment, visitation, mental
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health services) in the case plan and were making progress on their case plan goals (maintain
Commented [A21]: This example links the monthly face-to-face
meetings with the case plan and the family needs in a way that helps
the court and family see how the social worker’s activities were
directed at helping the family meet the case plan goals.
sobriety, visit regularly). The social worker completed the following:
1.
Monitored the children’s safety and well-being
2.
Monitored the parents’ progress toward meeting the case plan goals
3.
Met with parents and children in person every month
4.
Maintained monthly contact with service providers, agencies and collateral parties
5.
Provided mother and father with referrals to outpatient and inpatient substance
Commented [A22]: This provides more specifics about the
frequency of the meetings.
abuse treatment programs
6.
Provided the mother with bus tickets
7.
Arranged and provided transportation and supervision for visitation
8.
Referred children for mental health services
9.
Arranged, facilitated and attended Multi-Disciplinary Case Conferences
10.
Referred children to holiday gift program
- END EXAMPLE 3 -
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Commented [A23]: This provides more detail about the social
worker’s role in the team meetings
Example Section 4: Summary recommendation (REASON FOR
HEARING)
This section should provide the department’s recommendation to the court about the outcome
for the hearing. It is a brief section, so minimal detail is needed, but it should be clear and
specific. In some counties, additional information is included here about whether or not
children will be attending the hearing.
BAD EXAMPLE
Children & Family Services respectfully recommends that Crystal and Craig be returned
Commented [A24]: This statement is not well framed for the
court in that it does not explain how the children will be returned.
Will there be family maintenance? Will the case be dismissed? It
also leaves out both fathers. What is the recommendation for them?
to their mother.
BETTER EXAMPLE
Children & Family Services respectfully recommends that Crystal and Craig be returned
to their mother and Mr. Price with a Family Maintenance plan. The Department continues to
Commented [A25]: This example is better framed for the court
and more specific. It explains clearly the service level
recommended for each parent.
recommend no services for Mr. Smith. Crystal is planning to attend the hearing.
- END EXAMPLE 4 -
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