HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 110811-E - Standards Juv Case ManagersRESOLUTION NO. I 10
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GEORGETOWN, TEXAS, ADOPTING ETHICAL AND TRAINING
STANDARDS FOR JUVENILE CASE MANAGERS EMPLOYED BY THE
CITY OF GEORGETOWN; PROVIDING FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF SAID
STANDARDS, AND PROVIDING FOR PERIODIC REVIEW TO ENSURE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REQUISITE STANDARDS.
WHEREAS, the City has, pursuant to Code of Criminal Procedure 102.0174, authorized a
juvenile case manager fund supported by additional costs assessed and collected in municipal
court; and
WHEREAS, the City has, pursuant to Code of Criminal Procedure 45.056, employed a
juvenile case manager to provide services m cases involving juvenile offenders before the court;
and
WHEREAS, the 82°d Texas Legislature enacted Senate Bill 61, which requires a
governing body employing a juvenile case manager to adopt, by December 1, 2011, reasonable
rules for juvenile case managers that provide for a code of ethics, educational pre -service and
in-service training standards, and training in relevant substantive areas; and
WHEREAS, the City wishes to ensure that its juvenile case managers receive the
requisite training and are held to the highest ethical standards;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GEORGETOWN, TEXAS, THAT:
SECTION 1. The City hereby adopts the Juvenile Case Manager Code of Ethics, attached
hereto as Attachment "A", as the ethical standard to which the City's juvenile case managers
shall be held, which is in addition to the City of Georgetown's Personnel Policies and
Procedures.
SECTION 2. The City hereby adopts the Educational Pre -service and In-service Training
Standards, attached hereto as Attachment "B', as the appropriate educational standards for its
juvenile case managers.
SECTION 3. The City hereby requires that its juvenile case managers receive training in
the role of the juvenile case manager, case planning and management, applicable procedural
and substantive law, courtroom proceedings and presentation, services to at -risk youth, local
programs for juveniles, and the detection and prevention of abuse, exploitation, and neglect of
juveniles, as set forth in Attachment "C".
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SECTION 4. The City hereby directs that the rules adopted herein be implemented by
the appropriate personnel.
SECTION 5. The City hereby requires annual review of its juvenile case managers to
ensure implementation of the rules adopted herein.
RESOLVED this g day of November, 2011.
ATTEST:
THE CITY OF GEORGETOWN:
ica Brettle B• George Garver
ty Secretary Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Bridget Cha. an
Acting City Attorney
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ATTACHMENT "A"
CODE OF ETHICS: JUVENILE CASE MANAGERS
PREAMBLE
The goal of the juvenile case manager is to assist the Court in administering the Court's juvenile
docket and in supervising its court orders in juvenile cases. The mission of the juvenile case
manager is to assist judges in providing juveniles the resources to shape their futures, connect
with the community, and become law abiding citizens
STANDARDS
Confidentiality. A juvenile case manager shall not disclose to any unauthorized person any
confidential information acquired in the course of employment. A juvenile case manager shall
not violate the confidentiality of juvenile clients, unless it is to seek consultation services from
within the case management program, school campus, or the juvenile has threatened to harm
himself, herself or others, or to provide details of any criminal activity or enterprise.
Conflicts of Interest. A juvenile case manager shall be alert to and avoid conflicts of interest
that interfere with the exercise of professional discretion and impartial judgment. In order to
maintain the community's trust in the judicial system, a juvenile case manager should avoid
soliciting or accepting improper gifts, gratuities, or loans, and should avoid engaging in
business relationships that give rise to an appearance of impropriety.
Competence. A juvenile case manager shall endeavor at all times to perform official duties
properly and with courtesy and diligence. A juvenile case manager shall fulfill his or her duty
and represent himself or herself only within the boundaries of their education, training, license,
certification, consultation received, supervised experience, or other relevant professional
experience.
Respect for the Law. A juvenile case manager shall abide by all federal, state, county, and
municipal laws, guidelines, ordinances and rules. A juvenile case manager shall be familiar
with the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct and the basic standards to which members of the
judiciary are held.
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Abuse of Position. A juvenile case manager shall not use or attempt to use his or her official
position to secure unwarranted privileges or exemptions for himself, herself, or any other
person. A juvenile case manager shall always maintain an appropriate relationship with
juveniles coming under the jurisdiction of the Court. A juvenile case manager shall not
discriminate against any person on the basis of age, sex, creed, sexual preference, disability, or
national origin.
ENFORCEMENT
Any alleged violation of applicable ethical standards shall be processed according to the City's
Policy and Procedures.
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ATTACHMENT "B"
PRE -SERVICE AND IN-SERVICE GUIDELINES: JUVENILE CASE MANAGERS
Definitions:
Pre -service Training refers to those skills, training, or certifications possessed at the time of hire
or prior to the commencement of the juvenile case manager's full duties.
In -Service Training refers to additional skills, training, or certification hours obtained after
commencement of juvenile case manager's full duties.
Required Qualifications for Potential Applicants:
A four year degree in relevant social sciences field such as social work, psychology, sociology;
or
A four year degree in any discipline and minimum two year experience as a case manager; or
A high school diploma/GED and five years applicable experience to be determined by the
municipality,
Required Training for Existing JCM:
Existing juvenile case managers that lack suggested areas of training should begin obtaining
said requirements through the "in-service" section via a time frame to be determined by. the
municipality
Pre -Service Training Requirements:
(Minimum 24 hours of any combination of
the following prior to start case work)
• The role of the juvenile case
manager
• Ethics
• Juvenile law & introduction to
court procedure
In -Service Training Requirements:
(Minimum 8 hrs per year in any combination
of the following)
• Mental health
• Legal updates
Recognizing and Reporting Abuse &
Neglect
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• Fundamentals of case planning and
management
• Interagency collaboration
• Risk assessment
• Juvenile mental health
• Child psychology
• Report writing
• Substance Abuse
• Special Topics
o Juvenile Gangs
o Family Violence
o Bullying
o Sex offenders
o Juveniles with Learning,
Psychological, and Physical
Disabilities
• Upgrades in Documentation and
Technology
• How to Be an Expert Witness
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ATTACHMENT "C"
ADDITIONAL TRAINING GUIDELINES: JUVENILE CASE MANAGERS
A juvenile case manager employed by the City shall receive periodic training in the following
areas:
The Role of the Juvenile Case Manager. Training will focus on the juvenile case manager's role
in assisting the court in administering the court's juvenile docket and in supervising its orders
in juvenile cases, as well as the timely reporting of any information or recommendations
relevant to assisting the judge in making decisions that are in the best interest of the child.
Case Planning and Management. Training will focus on development of strategies to reduce
juvenile crime and help prevent children from becoming further involved in the justice system,
including identifying individual needs and services for juvenile defendants.
Applicable Procedural and Substantive Law. Training in applicable procedural and
substantive law should include, but should not be limited to:The structure of the Texas judicial
system and the jurisdiction of the municipal court;The basic elements of the criminal justice
system, the juvenile justice system, their differences, and their interactions,The role of the judge
and the prosecutor;The rights of defendants;The elements and statutory foundations of fine -
only misdemeanors often committed by juveniles;Procedures for summonsing juveniles and
their parents/guardians into court;Sanctions available to the court to address and remedy
offenses committed by juveniles, including mandatory sanctions required for commission of
certain alcoholic beverage and tobacco offenses; andProcedures involving juveniles who
become adults and who have unadjudicated cases or who have not complied with court orders.
Courtroom Proceedings and Presentation. Training in applicable courtroom proceedings and
presentation should include, but should not be limited to: The role of the juvenile case
manager;Code of Ethics applicable to court employees generally and to juvenile case managers
in particular,Courtroom protocol (covers attire, order of events, talking to defendants, etc.)
and;Defining and maintaining professional boundaries between the juvenile case manager, the
juvenile, and the juvenile's parents/guardians.
Services to At -Risk Youth Under Subchapter D, Chapter 264, Family Code. Ensuring that
juvenile case managers are knowledgeable in the services available to be ordered by the
municipal court that are in the best interest of the child and in order to obtain compliance of the
court order. These include but are not limited to, crisis family intervention, emergency short-
term residential care for children 10 years of age or older, family counseling, parenting skills
training, youth coping skills training, advocacy training, and mentoring.
Local Programs and Services for Juveniles and Methods by which Juveniles May Access
those Programs and Services. Training in this area will focus on community resource
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awareness, and specific local resources available in areas such as family counseling, mentoring,
parenting skills, youth coping skills, advocacy training, emergency short-term residential care,
and crisis family intervention.
Detecting and Preventing Abuse, Exploitation, and Neglect of Juveniles. Training in this area
is to ensure that juvenile case managers know the Texas Family Code definition of abuse,
exploitation and neglect of juveniles as they will have direct access to families and juveniles in
their home, school, and community environments. This area of training should also provide
juvenile case managers with knowledge of the procedure for reporting abuse, neglect, or
exploitation as they may find evidence of such while investigating and preparing their reports
to the court.
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