Committee on Justice for Children 2009 Assessment

Case File Review

 
1. Case File ID for this instrument (County/Judge's last name):
 
2. Coder:
 
3. Date coded: (e.g. 01/01/2007)
 
4. Court Case File Number:
 
5. Are there multiple case numbers/files associated with this child?
Yes    
No    
 
6. What is the child's date of birth? (e.g. 01/01/2007)
 
7. If there are siblings, are they mentioned in a court order resulting from the probable cause, adjudicatory or dispositional hearing?
Yes    
No    
N/A    
 
8. If child was brought into custody, does the court record contain a valid shelter care order or other authority for placment? (Check one)
Yes    
No    
N/A - child did not enter custody    
 
9. What is the date of removal? (e.g. 01/01/2007)
 
10. Did the 72-hour Hearing occur within three (3) days from the date of removal?
Yes    
No    
N/A - cosent in lieu of 72-hour Hearing in file    
 
11. Does the 72-hour hearing order address whether reasonable efforts were made to prevent out of home placement? (Check one)
Yes    
No    
72-hour Hearing Order not in file    
N/A - Consent in Lieu of 72-hour Hearing in file    
N/A - Case dismissed at 72-hour Hearing    
 
12. If yes, did the 72-hour Hearing Order provide child-specific details for the reasonable efforts finding? (Check one)
Yes    
No    
Reasonable Efforts not addressed    
N/A - Consent in Lieu of 72-hour Hearing in file    
N/A - Case dismissed at 72-hour Hearing    
 
13. Does the 72-hour Hearing Order have a "contrary to the welfare" finding? (Check one)
Yes    
No    
72-hour Hearing Order not in file    
N/A - Consent in Lieu of 72-hour Hearing in file    
N/A - Case dismissed at 72-hour Hearing    
 
14. If yes, did the 72-hour hearing order provide child specific details for the "contrary to the welfare" finding? (Check one)
Yes    
No    
No "Contrary to the Welfare" finding    
N/A - Consent in Lieu of 72-hour Hearing in file    
N/A - Case dismissed at 72-hour Hearing    
 
15. Is there an order appointing the child an attorney?
Yes    
No    
 
16. Is there an order appointing the child a CASA or other lay GAL?
Yes    
No    
 
17. When was child's attorney first appointed?
At or before 72-hour hearing    
At or before adjudicatory hearing     
After adjudicatory hearing    
None appointed    
Cannot determine    
 
18. When was the child's Non-Attorney GAL/CASA appointed?
At or before 72-hour hearing    
At or before adjudicatory hearing     
After adjudicatory hearing    
None appointed    
Cannot determine    
 
19. Is there a court order appointing mother an attorney?
Yes    
No    
Waived    
Hired own attorney    
Mother Unknown or Deceased    
 
20. When was mother's attorney first appointed?
At or before 72-hour hearing    
At or before adjudicatory hearing     
After adjudicatory hearing    
None appointed    
N/A    
Cannot determine    
 
21. Is there a court order appointing father(s) an attorney?
Yes    
No    
Waived    
Hired own attorney    
Father Unknown or Deceased    
 
22. When was father's attorney first appointed?
At or before 72-hour hearing    
At or before adjudicatory hearing     
After adjudicatory hearing    
None appointed    
N/A    
Cannot determine    
 
23. What was documented in either the deprivation Petition or Adjudication Order? (Check all that apply)
Specific facts to support the petition    
Statement that it is in the best interest of the child for proceeding to occur    
Child's name and age    
Parent/Guardian's names    
Place where child has been placed    
Siblings    
Listing of parties and representation present for the Adjudicatory Hearing    
Reasonable Efforts    
Deprivation Petition not filed    
N/A - Case dismissed prior to Adjudication    
Other: 
 
24. Did the Adjudicatory Hearing occur within 30 days of child's removal?
Yes    
No    
N/A    
 
25. Was the Dispositional Hearing held within 60 days of the child's removal?
Yes    
No    
N/A    
 
26. Do you see any continuances documented in the file?
Yes    
No    
N/A    
 
27. If yes, how many?
1    
2    
3    
4    
5 or more    
N/A    
 
28. If continuances occurred in the case, list the reasons you see listed in the file. (Check all that apply)
Parties unavailable    
Counsel unavailable    
Witnesses unavailable    
One or more parties requested or was assigned counsel    
Calendar conflict    
Allow more time to gather information    
Time needed for service/notice to be given    
Allow time to reach a settlement    
"In the best interest of the parties"    
Cannot tell/No Reason Given    
Other: 
 
29. Indicate all parties who received notice for the adjudicatory hearing that you see listed in the file. (Check all that apply)
Child    
Attorney for the child or attorney Guardian Ad Litem    
Mother    
Father    
Attorney for Mother    
Attorney for Father    
Putative Father    
SAAG    
DFCS    
CASA or other Non-Attorney GAL    
Foster Parent    
Citizen Review Panel    
Cannot tell    
Other: 
 
30. Is there a court order that references and incorporates a Case Plan? (Check one)
Yes    
No    
N/A    
 
31. Is there a plan in the file? (Check one)
Yes    
No    
N/A    
 
32. Was the Initial Case Plan filed within 30 days of child's removal?
Yes    
No    
N/A    
 
33. Is there a diligent search report in the file?
Yes    
No    
 
34. If yes, was it filed within 90 days of removal?
Yes    
No    
N/A    
 
35. Is there a CCFA recommendation documented in the file?
Yes    
No    
N/A    
 
36. Did the first review occur within 6 months after the dispositional hearing?
Yes    
No    
N/A    
 
37. Was a Permanency Hearing held within one (1) year from the date of child's removal?
Yes    
No    
N/A    
 
38. What is the permanency goal? (Check one)
Reunification    
Adoption    
Custody to a Fit & Willing Relative    
Guardianship    
Another Planned Permanent Living Arrangement/Long Term Foster Care    
Another Planned Permanent Living Arrangement/Emancipation    
Unspecified    
Other: 
 
39. If the child has been in foster care 15 of the most recent 22 months, has the agency filed or joined a petition to terminate parental rights, or documented compelling reasons why TPR is NOT in the best interest of the child? (Check one)
Yes     
No     
Not in foster care 15 of last 22 months    
 
40. List the number of placements the child has had documented up to the time of this case file review
 
41. List the number of documented caseworkers that have handled this case up to the time of this review
 
42. At the time of this case file review is the case open or closed? (Check one)
Open     
Closed    
Cannot tell    
 
43. If file is closed and there is documentation in the file supporting closure, which type of documentation is in the file?
Judicial Citizen Panel Review Case Closure Form    
DFCS Case Closure Form    
Juvenile Court Order    
Adoption Order from Superior Court    
No documentation in file    
N/A    
 
44. Additional Comments: