Building a Better Collaboration - NCJFCJ

1 Building a Better Collaboration Facilitating Change in the Court and Child Welfare System National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Technical Assistance Bulletin Volume VIII Number 2 April 2004 Technical Assistance Bulletin is a publication of the Permanency Planning for Children Department of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. The document was funded by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. Points of view or opinions expressed in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the David and Lucile Packard Foundation or the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.

2 Reproduction of this publication for non-commercial education and information purposes is encouraged. Reproduction of any part of this publication must include copyright notice and attribution to: Dobbin, , Gatowski, , & Maxwell, (2004). Building a Better Collaboration : Facilitating Change in the Court and Child Welfare Sytem, Technical Assistance Bulletin, Vol. 8(2). National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. Reno, NV. 2004, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. All rights reserved. Building a Better Collaboration Facilitating Change in the Court and Child Welfare System Shirley A. Dobbin, Assistant Director, Research and Development Division Sophia I.

3 Gatowski, Assistant Director, Research and Development Division Dionne M. Maxwell, Associate Research Specialist Permanency Planning for Children Department National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Mary V. Mentaberry, Director Permanency Planning for Children Department National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Honorable David B. Mitchell, Executive Director National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Box 8970, Reno, NV 89507 NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JUVENILE AND FAMILY COURT JUDGES PERMANENCY PLANNING FOR CHILDREN DEPARTMENT PROJECT STAFF Shirley A. Dobbin, Assistant Director Research and Development Division Melissa M.

4 Litchfield Assistant Research Specialist Jason A. Oetjen Staff Research Specialist Sophia I. Gatowski, Assistant Director Research and Development Division Dionne M. Maxwell, Associate Research Specialist Rochelle A. Fahlgren Administrative Assistant Mary V. Mentaberry Director Cheryl Davidek Assistant Director for Administration For information about this project, please contact: Permanency Planning for Children Department National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Box 8970 Reno, NV 89507 Tel: (775) 327-5300 Fax: (775) 327-5306 E-mail: For more information about the Permanency Planning for Children Department, please see ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This project could not have been possible without the generous support of the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.

5 Through its support of this project, as well as the funding provided to support an earlier project to develop court performance standards in child protection cases, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation has demonstrated its commitment to improving outcomes for the nation s abused and neglected children. The Permanency Planning for Children Department of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges sincerely appreciates the support of the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and their ongoing efforts to improve outcomes for children and families in the child welfare system. This research would not have been possible without the assistance of hundreds of system professionals in the six project sites.

6 The project staff would like to thank each of the system professionals who took the time to meet with us, participate in interviews and focus groups, and share their experiences, thoughts, and advice on the process of systems change. We would especially like to thank each of the Model Court Project Site Lead Judges who shared their leadership and systems change experiences, frustrations, challenges, and accomplishments with us and who provided the necessary level of leadership, support, and guidance in our work in each of their jurisdictions. Alexandria Model Court, Honorable Stephen Rideout, Lead Judge Buffalo Model Court, Honorable Sharon Townsend, (Former) Lead Judge Charlotte Model Court, Honorable Louis Trosch, Lead Judge Cincinnati Model Court, Honorable Thomas Lipps, Lead Judge Cincinnati Model Court, Honorable David Grossmann, (Former) Lead Judge Cincinnati Model Court, Honorable Carla Guenthner, Lead Magistrate Los Angeles Model Court, Honorable Michael Nash, Lead Judge San Jose Model Court, Honorable Leonard Edwards, Lead Judge The process of systems change is a daunting and challenging task.

7 In each of the Project Sites research staff had the privilege to meet with, interview, and observe committed professionals from throughout the child welfare system who have dedicated their professional lives to improving system outcomes for vulnerable children and families in their respective communities. Their commitment is commendable and serves to inspire us all. Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction .. 1 Chapter 2: The Victims Act Model Courts Project and the Packard 5 The Victims Act Model Courts Project .. 5 The Packard Project .. 5 Site 5 Data Collection 6 Analysis .. 8 Chapter 3: A Framework for Systems Change: The Law, The Best Practices, and The 11 The Law: The Adoption and Safe Families Act and Court 11 The Best Practices: The Key Principles of Permanency Planning1.

8 11 The Best Practices: The RESOURCE GUIDELINES and a Culture of Problem-Solving .. 12 The Best Practices: The Model Courts A Model for Systems Change .. 13 The Theory: Understanding Court-Agency-Community Collaboration as Learning 14 Some Core Philosophies as a Starting 15 Key Features of a Learning Organization .. 15 Systems Thinking .. 16 Shared Vision .. 18 Personal 18 Mental 19 Team Learning .. 21 Creating a Learning Organization: Common Core Themes Across Project Sites .. 22 Creating a Learning Organization: Identifying Facilitating Factors Across Project Sites .. 22 A Note on Diversity and the Learning Organization.

9 24 Chapter 4: Effective Leadership to Support Systems Change .. 27 What are the Components of Effective Leadership to Facilitate and Support Systems Change? .. 27 Leader as Designer .. 27 Leader as 27 Leader as Teacher .. 28 Models of Leadership .. 29 Judge as 31 Shared Leadership .. 33 Sharing Leadership / Sharing Power .. 34 Challenges of Leadership: Understanding the Importance of Management vs. Leadership .. 37 Challenges of Leadership: Limited Time to Make Meaningful Change .. 39 Challenges of Leadership: Dealing with Politics and 39 Challenges of Leadership: Transitions .. 41 Transition 43 Chapter 5: Creating a Collaborative, Problem-Solving Culture.

10 51 Creating a Collaborative, Problem-Solving 51 Who are the Stakeholders?.. 52 Four General Types of 54 The Scope and Structure of Collaborative 58 What Collaborative Structure is Right for Your Community?.. 66 The Evolution of Collaborative Teams .. 69 Creating a Shared 75 Encouraging Personal 75 From Personal Vision to Shared Vision .. 76 A Framework for Developing a Shared Vision .. 78 The Evolution of the Team: Communication, Dialogue, and Team Learning within a Collaborative Culture .. 78 Dialogue vs. Discussion .. 79 Five Basic Protocols for Skillful 79 Preparing the Ground for Skillful 80 Building Consensus in a Collaborative 83 Building Consensus Phase by Phase.