Present: Judge Sonja Clapp, Chair Karen Kringlie Dennis Herbeck Tara Muhlhauser Dale Rivard Bob Rutten Jean Delaney, substitute for Robin Huseby
Absent: Scott Davis Connie Portscheller Judge Todd Cresap Judge David Reich
Staff: Lee Ann Barnhardt Louie Hentzen Catie Palsgraaf
Guests: Glenda Lacey, Administration for Children and Families Marilyn Kennerson, Administration for Children and Families
Judge Clapp called the meeting to order. She asked for comments on the minutes from the June 13, 2011
meeting. Dale Rivard moved to approve the minutes; Tara Muhlhauser seconded. Minutes approved. Notification of Foster Parents/Caregivers of Court Hearings Tara Muhlhauser reported on the update to the Technical Assistance (TA) plan and provided a copy of
the draft TA plan and Program Improvement Plan (PIP) Matrix. Tara specifically focused on notification
of foster parents and caregivers of court hearings, which is PIP Primary Strategy 4. Notification appears
to be happening, although Tara’s informal survey of county social services offices showed some
confusion as to which entity – social services, court, or states attorney – is providing notification to foster
parents and caregivers. According to Tara, the bigger issue for foster parents and caregivers is access to the hearing itself. Social
services has pamphlets and training to educate foster parents and caregivers that since they are not a
party, they may not be allowed in the hearings. The lay GAL is the vehicle for foster parents and
caregivers for presenting information at hearings. Judge Clapp inquired if the court is asking if foster parents have been noticed. Louie Hentzen responded
that he has inquired of the referees and they are asking. Tara asked the individual county social services offices for copies of some of the notification documents.
She will provide these copies to Judge Clapp and Karen Kringlie who will determine if the notification
documents are actual court documents. Judge Clapp considers that it is the court’s responsibility to
determine proper notice in the same way the court determines if absent parents are noticed. Judge Clapp asked what specific action, if any, the committee needs to take on this topic. Louie said the
Juvenile Policy Board will decide if this is a court function and he will notify Tara either way. Karen
will also bring this up with the Juvenile Directors. Tara closed with information that DHS will begin TPR research as soon as a research analyst is hired.
The new hire will be the DHS member of the data subcommittee. Child Welfare Education Summit - November 3-4, 2011 in Washington D.C. The purpose of the summit is to develop a state plan to determine how the three state partners – Social
Services, Education, and Courts – will meet the requirements of Fostering Connections. Judge Clapp
and LouieHentzen will attend from the Courts; Bob Rutten will attend from Education; and Tara
Muhlhauser will attend from DHS. Sub-Committee Reports GAL Sub-Committee – Dennis Herbeck, Chair. The sub-committee met August 31, 2011. Some GAL
training concerns were mentioned and these are being addressed. The main discussion item was what
action is required to bring the request to the Administrative Council to make lay GAL a general fund
expediture, rather than funded from the basic CIP grant. Louie advised that Judge Clapp needs to request
to add to this item to the Administrative Council agenda. Louie remembered this action was previously
approved by the CIP committee and just needs to be moved forward. Louie advised that the
Administrative Council will likely have questions about what will be done with basic grant money. Lee
Ann Barnhardt recommended that Judge Clapp explain that this needs a permanent funding source
because the pilot phase is over. GAL’s have become integral and grants could end at any time. Lee Ann
explained that by her calculation, even if approved, the grant cycle won’t be completed, yet. So, it may
be possible to get the Administrative Council to agree conceptually and hold off on deciding what to do
with the basic grant money. Judge Clapp will write letter and ask to be put on agenda after November. Dennis reported that the current strategic plan is going well and the subcommittee will recommend
suggestions for new strategic plan. ICWA Sub-Committee – Tabled. Education Sub-Committee - Jean Delaney, reporting for Robin Huseby, Chair. The sub-committee
reviewed strategic plan and what needs to be accomplished. They are looking at a regional workshop
within the next 12 months and are hoping it will coincide with PIP works and other issues that have
arisen in the state. They are also looking at conducting webinars during the winter months. Summer 2012 is the Children’s Justice Symposium. This takes approximately 1 year to plan. It will be
held July 24-26, 2012 at the Ramkota in Bismarck. Lee Ann will send a save the date shortly. Lee Ann will make contact with Deb Paint and let her know funding is available for the next annual
ICWA conference, but will be contingent on giving the court a seat on the planning committee. The
conference has moved away from the legal issues of ICWA. The 2011 ICWA conference was the poorest
attendance for judges. Books are available for advocating for nonresident fathers in child welfare court cases for compliance
with Fostering Connections. Lee Ann can obtain more of these books. There is also a bench card thatrd
can be reproduced in house. Judges are getting a new domestic violence benchbook and there is a
chapter on nonresident fathers. Data Collection and Analysis Sub-Committee – Karen Kringlie, Chair. The sub-committee met
September 1, 2011. The sub-committee plans to use the Kate Harrison data to review Odyssey and how
well it gathers the info needed. Karen asked if indigent defense and/or states attorneys would like
representatives on the subcommittee. Jean Delaney will discuss with Robin Huseby and get back to
Karen. CIP Committee Recommendations to Chief on ABA’s Standards for Judicial Excellence in Child
Abuse and Neglect Proceedings Judge Clapp feels comfortable recommending the CIP Committee’s recommendations to the Chief.Dale
Rivard motioned to approve the recommendations be forwarded to the Chief as corrected. Karen
Kringlie seconded the motion. The motion was approved as corrected. Miscellaneous Tara reported that the new section of N.D.C.C. §27-20 goes into effect January 1. The new section
concerns continued foster care services for individuals between 18 and 21 years old. A DHS committee
is working on order templates, etc. Karen and Dale said they would like to see the templates and are
willing to review them. Tara reported that the IV-E audit was held 4 weeks ago and North Dakota passed the audit. Another
audit will be conducted in 3 years. Judge Clapp thanked Glenda Lacey and Marilyn Kennerson for attending. Lee Ann reported that the grant application process is changing, but states are waiting for instructions.
The instructions explain how to complete the application and send it in. Lee Ann is anticipating a very
short turn around once the instructions are sent out. She alerted the committee that a meeting will be
necessary to get the application approved. This could probably be handled via gotomeeting with a single
agenda item. The grants are currently on track, but if additional information is requested, the committee
will need to address this. A motion to adjourn was made by Dennis Herbeck. Karen Kringlie seconded. The motion was
approved.