Union County, Ohio Annual Report

UNION COUNTY, OHIO COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, PROBATE & JUVENILE DIVISION

2017 ANNUAL REPORT

HON. CHARLOTTE COLEMAN EUFINGER, JUDGE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

From the Desk of Judge Eufinger ...... 3 Staff of the Court ...... 4 History of Ohio Probate & Juvenile Courts ...... 5 Judges of the Court ...... 6 Judge Eufinger ...... 7 Probate Division ...... 8 Juvenile Division ...... 10 Mediation Program ...... 11 Truancy ...... 12 Juvenile Probation Department ...... 13 Parent Project ...... 13 Out-Of-Home Placements ...... 14 Treatment Courts ...... 15 CASA Program ...... 18 Central Ohio Youth Center...... 20

Pursuant to R.C. 2151.18 and R.C. 2152.71 (D), this annual report shall be filed with the Union County, Ohio Board of County Commissioners and the Supreme Court of Ohio. A digital copy will be posted on this Court’s website. No additional printed copies will be generated by the Court.

To Union County Residents: As Judge of the Union County Probate and Juvenile Court, I am pleased to present the Court’s Annual Report for 2017. This is my fifteenth year as Union County’s Probate and Juvenile Court Judge, and I am proud of the good work the Court has accomplished. The Probate and Juvenile Court has a defined mission to provide services for persons who come into the jurisdiction of this Court. For children who are abused, neglected or dependent, the Court provides for the care, protection, and mental and physical development of children, in a family environment if possible, and to avoid separating the child from the child’s parents unless necessary for the child’s welfare or in the interests of public safety. The Court also must provide for the care, protection, and mental and physical development of children who have become unruly or delinquent, protect the public interest and safety, hold the offender accountable for the offender’s actions, restore the victim, and rehabilitate the offender. In 2017, drug abuse was a factor in almost 70 percent of the abuse, neglect and dependency cases filed with this Court. The Juvenile Court maintains two specialized dockets (colloquially known as “drug courts”). The Family Treatment Court serves parents whose children have been removed from the parent’s care due to the parent’s drug or alcohol use. The Juvenile Treatment Court serves the delinquent youth in our court for whom drug use is a significant problem. Both drug courts are certified by the Ohio Supreme Court. The Court’s Probation Department officers monitor the progress of unruly and delinquent children, and individualized responses to that child and his or her family. The Court offers The Parent Project©, a 30-hour, 12-week, evidence-based parenting program for the parents of high-risk, delinquent children. The Court continues to offer a diversion program as an alternative to formal prosecution for qualified first-time offenders. In Probate matters, the Court must provide for: the orderly administration of the estates of our deceased citizens; the protection of persons and their assets who are determined to be incompetent; the issuance of marriage licenses; adoptions; and legal name changes. The Court’s mediation program has successfully assisted many families in correcting truancy and behavioral issues. Mediation also assists parents with custody or parenting time and visitation issues. Meeting with the mediator provides a structure for the parents to discuss their concerns and disagreements and arrive at agreement regarding their child’s care. The Union County Probate and Juvenile Court remains dedicated to maintaining effective, efficient and caring services to the citizens of Union County. I am honored to serve as Judge of our Court, and I am grateful for the support our courts receive from our community agencies, office holders, law enforcement, schools and from you, our residents.

Sincerely,

Charlotte Coleman Eufinger, Judge Union County Probate & Juvenile Court

PROBATE & JUVENILE DIVISION STAFF

HON. CHARLOTTE COLEMAN EUFINGER, JUDGE

Sharon Robinson-Walls Louis P. Endres, III Chief Magistrate Magistrate

Robert W. Ahern, Ph.D., L.I.S.W.-S. Jennifer N. Griffith Treatment Court Coordinator & Court Administrator & Chief of Staff Chief Juvenile Probation Officer

Victoria L. Stone-Moledor Leigh Ann Moots Staff Attorney/Magistrate Administrative Assistant to the Judge

Nicole Gardner Christine A. Schalip Chief Deputy Juvenile Clerk Chief Financial Officer

Juvenile Clerks Probate Clerks Colleen Cohn Julie Harvey Kayla Conley Sarah Johnson Aaron Orr Jackie Dillahunt Darby Foster

Pamela O’Brien Lorli Patterson Abbigail Pheifer Wanitta Titus

Juvenile Probation Department Court Mediators* Joshua Levingston Carmen Irving, MA, CFLE, CYC-P Senior Juvenile Probation Officer Nathan Witkin, JD

Juvenile Probation Officers Probate Court Investigator*

Lindsey Keller Jon Kleiber David Larson Kyle Poling Probate Court Adoption Assessor* Abby Post Marilyn Davis Jenna Roberts *Services provided pursuant to contract.

HISTORY OF OHIO PROBATE & JUVENILE COURTS

Courtesy of Stephen Badenhop, Union County Record Center & Archives Coordinator & The Ohio Historical Society PROBATE COURT Probate courts existed in the Northwest Territory prior to Ohio’s statehood, with authority in probate, testamentary and guardianship cases. In 1802, Ohio’s first constitution abolished separate probate courts and transferred their authority to the common pleas courts. Separate probate courts reappeared in 1851, when Ohio drafted a new constitution, giving probate court jurisdiction to grant marriage licenses and control land sales by appointed executors, administrators, and guardians. As a result of a 1912 constitutional amendment, voters could decide by referendum to combine the probate court with the court of common pleas, which voters decided not to do in Union County. The probate court has original jurisdiction in the settlement of estates. The court held limited jurisdiction in minor criminal offenses from 1851 to 1932. The probate judge maintained a permanent record of births and deaths from 1867 to 1908. Since the 1850s, the court has had jurisdiction over the appointment of guardians for minors and the mentally ill; the judge can also commit the mentally ill to institutional care. The probate court exercised jurisdiction in naturalization proceedings from 1860 until 1906, when the federal government assumed this power. JUVENILE COURT The origins of the juvenile court system trace back to the reform spirit of the Progressive Era. Prior to the establishment of the juvenile court system, juvenile offenders were tried with adults and imprisoned with them. On April 25, 1904, the Ohio General Assembly passed an act to “regulate the treatment and control of dependent, neglected and delinquent children” through the establishment of a juvenile court. The law focused on the reformation and rehabilitation of minors, rather than punishment. The law applied only to children under the age of sixteen. The law provided for juvenile probation officers and prohibited sending children under the age of twelve to jail, while allowing those children twelve to sixteen years of age to be sentenced to jail, industrial schools, other state institutions or into the homes of responsible individuals, but provided that those sentenced to jail could not be confined with adult prisoners. Jurisdiction was originally given to the court of common pleas or the probate court. In 1906, the juvenile court act was extensively amended. The revised law extended the court’s jurisdiction to punish any person or parent responsible for the delinquency or dependency of any child, while also raising the age of a minor to seventeen years. The law also provided that the probate court judge in all counties, except those otherwise provided for, serve as ex-officio judge of the juvenile court. By the approval of voters, the juvenile court can be placed under the jurisdiction of an independent juvenile court, or as a division of the common pleas, probate or domestic relations courts. In Union County, the juvenile court has been under the jurisdiction of the probate court judge since the juvenile court’s creation in 1906. Originally in Union County the cases were kept with the probate court, but beginning in 1910 they were stored and filed separately.

Union County was created by the Ohio General Assembly in 1820 by uniting portions of Delaware, Franklin, Madison and Logan counties. The Union County Probate Court was established in 1852. Prior to 1852, probate matters in Union County were heard and decided by a judge of the Union County Common Pleas Court. The Union County Juvenile Court was established in 1906. They were two separate courts until the Juvenile Court was combined with the Probate Court pursuant to an act passed on April 29, 1937, which reorganized and recodified the existing juvenile laws. With the passage of the Modern Courts Amendment to the Ohio Constitution in May 1968, Ohio’s Probate Courts became divisions of the Courts of Common Pleas.

HON. THOMAS BROWN (1852-1855 AND 1859-1861) HON. JAMES TURNER (1855-1859) HON. JAMES R. SMITH (1861-1870) HON. JOHN B. COATS (1870-1888) HON. LEONIDAS PIPER (1888-1894) HON. JAMES MCCAMPBELL (1894-1900) HON. JOHN M. BRODRICK (1900-1906)

HON. DUDLEY E. THORNTON (1906 – 1913) HON. EDWARD W. PORTER (1913 – 1921) HON. WILLIAM H. HUSTED (1921 – 1932) HON. CARRIE HORNBECK (1932 – 1933)*

HON. L. W. HAZEN (1933 – 1941) HON. JOHN W. DAILEY, SR. (1941 – 1955) HON. LUTHER L. LIGGETT (1955 – 1960) HON. ROBERT F. ALLEN (1960 – 1979) HON. GARY F. MCKINLEY (1979 – 2003) HON. CHARLOTTE COLEMAN EUFINGER (2003 – PRESENT)

* Ms. Hornbeck, Chief Deputy Clerk of the Probate Court, was appointed by Governor George White to serve the unexpired term of Judge Husted, who unexpectedly passed away.

JUDGE CHARLOTTE COLEMAN EUFINGER

On February 9, 2003, the Honorable Charlotte Coleman Eufinger became Judge of the Union County Probate and Juvenile Court. Judge Eufinger is the seventeenth Judge of the Union County Probate Court and the tenth to serve as Judge of both the Probate and Juvenile Courts. She is currently serving her third term.

Judge Eufinger is actively involved in a variety of professional boards, agencies, and activities. She is a member of the Ohio Supreme Court Commission on Specialized Dockets. Judge Eufinger previously served on the Ohio Supreme Court Commission on the Rules of Superintendence and the Ohio Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Children, Families and the Courts and on the Subcommittees of Legal Representation, Family Law Reform Implementation and Adult Guardianships.

Judge Eufinger is a member of the Ohio Judicial Conference, and serves on the Probate Law and Procedure Committee, the Juvenile Law and Procedure Committee, and the Specialized Dockets Committee. She has previously served on the Board of Directors of the Ohio Association of Juvenile Court Judges and as a member and chair of the Ohio University Board of Trustees and of the Ohio University Foundation Board of Trustees.

Prior to taking office, Judge Eufinger was a partner in the Marysville, Ohio law firm of Coleman, Eufinger & Aslaner, and she practiced law with her father, William L. Coleman (1914-1981), her husband John M. Eufinger, her brother, Stephen G. Coleman and Tim M. Aslaner.

Judge Eufinger is a life-long resident of Union County, and graduated from Marysville High School. She graduated with an A.B. in history from Miami University in 1969, where she also obtained a teaching certificate in history for grades 7-12. Judge Eufinger then went on to The Ohio State University College of Law, where she received her J.D. in 1972. Judge Eufinger has been married for 46 years to John M. Eufinger, and has a son, Tony, and daughter-in-law, Megan; a granddaughter, Charlotte Katherine Noelle; and a daughter, Mary.

PROBATE DIVISION

The Probate Division is Probate Division one of the divisions of New Matters Filed, Pending and Marriage Licenses the Court of Common 2013-2017 Pleas. The Probate Court of Union County Estates 154 167 186 158 172 assists the public through the legal Adoptions 17 3 18 22 33 Guardianships & necessities of life, which 35 28 39 32 37 includes matters from Trusteeships Correction of Birth Civil Actions 4 5 9 5 1 Records to Marriage Civil Commitment/ 0 3 2 2 2 Licenses to the filing of Mental Illness Estates. The staff of the Delayed Probate Court Registrations & 3 1 2 6 8 participate in annual Corrections of Birth Probate Court Clerks Minor’s Settlements 12 3 10 5 2 conferences, Wrongful Deaths 1 0 1 0 0 roundtables, and Changes of Name 18 19 22 29 25 webinars in order to learn updates from the Other 5 6 1 7 1 All New Matters Ohio Supreme Court 248 235 290 266 281 and maintain positive Filed Matters Pending customer service 362 409 356 367 at Close of Year policies. Packets of Marriage forms for many of the 275 314 293 316 309 Licenses matters under the jurisdiction of the Probate Court are available in the clerks’ office. The types of matters addressed in the Probate Court include, but are not limited to, the following:

Adoptions Disinterment Wills & Estates Adult Paternity Guardianship Accounts of Estates Birth Certificate Correction Deposit of Wills Change of Name Land Sales by Executors, Determination of Heirship Civil Commitment of the Administrators and Guardians Distribution of Estates Mentally Ill Marriage Licenses Release from Administration Conservatorships Settlement of Claims for Minor Will Construction & Contest Delayed Registration of Birth Trusts Wrongful Death Settlements Determination of Death

In 2015, Ohio law regarding Guardianships changed to include background checks and education requirements for guardians, which provide additional protections for the adult wards of the Court. In 2017, the Union County Probate Court continued to track and ensure the compliance of guardians with these requirements. The Court is supported in their efforts by the Union County Guardianship Services (UCGS). The UCGS not only employs staff guardians to apply for appointment and to serve as guardians for adult wards, but is also a valuable resource of information and guidance to other guardians throughout the county. Further, the UCGS offers guardianship education courses that comply with Ohio Rules of Superintendence guidelines in the form of both Supreme Court of Ohio video presentations and locally- held live courses. The Probate Court is also assisted with guardianship cases by court-appointed investigators who aid in personal service and investigation of prospective and current adult wards. Investigators participate in annual training conferences to fulfill their education requirements. Families are often formed through Adoptions, which are processed through the Probate Court. However, not all adoptions look the same. The Probate Court may hear petitions for Placements, Private Adoptions, Step-Parent or Grandparent Adoptions, Re- finalization of Foreign Adoptions, and Adult Adoptions. Adoption assessors are appointed by the Court to meet with prospective adoptive families and file a report. Assessors must meet the certification requirements relative to their field to be eligible for court-appointment. As part of the celebration of granted adoptions, the Probate Court provides adopted children with a personalized certificate of adoption and a miniature gavel or a hand-made fabric animal. The animals are donated to the Court by the Ohio Reformatory for Women.

More than 30,000 Union County Probate Court historical and closed records are available for review at the Union County Records Center and Archives (128 S. Main St., Marysville). Records may be viewed with the assistance of an archivist. Many historical records have been microfilmed and digitally indexed. A computer terminal is available for public use at both the Records Center and the Union County Recorder’s Office (233 W. Sixth St.). The computerized, searchable index references all Probate matters from 1820 to the present. The following records are also available: Birth and Death Records from 1867 to 1909; Marriage records 1820 to present (May 28, 1996 and after on the computer); and Delayed Registration and Correction of Birth records from 1941 to the present. Mental illness and mental retardation cases are confidential. Adoption records are confidential; however, limited access may be granted according to the controlling provisions of the Ohio Revised Code. Copies are available for a fee. Open matters are held in the Probate Clerk’s Office, located at the Union County Courthouse (215 W. Fifth St.), and may be viewed with the assistance of a deputy clerk.

JUVENILE DIVISION

The Juvenile Division is one of the divisions of the Court of Common Pleas. The jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court includes the following matters: Unruly Children – children who will not subject themselves to the reasonable control of their parents, guardians, teachers or custodians, by reason of being wayward or habitually disobedient. Includes children who are truant from school or violate curfew. Delinquent Children – children who violate any federal, state or local law or ordinance that would be an offense if committed by an adult; violate a lawful order of the court; and attempt or complete acts forbidden to those less than 18 years of age. Dependent, Neglected and Abused Children – Juvenile Division children who are Cases Filed & Terminated dependent on the state for 2013 – 2017 their care because of 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 homelessness, lack of Delinquency 184 145 173 161 270 parental adequate care, or Juveniles Adjudicated of Felony 10 12 7 11 18 actual or imminent abuse Unruly 44 35 48 47 50 or neglect. Juvenile Traffic 342 279 286 325 260 Juvenile Traffic Diversion 31 39 22 0 0 Offenders – children who violate a federal, state or Abuse/Neglect/Dependency 56 46 59 61 41 local traffic law, or traffic Permanent Custody 3 4 4 7 5 ordinance or regulation, Custody/Visitation 69 78 86 84 73 other than parking Parentage 1 0 0 0 0 violations. Child Support 628 487 574 349 266 Juvenile Tobacco UIFSA 0 11 7 16 5 Offenders – children who Adult* 40 23 39 23 8 have purchased, attempted to purchase, used, Other** 51 81 70 40 29 consumed or possessed All New Matters Filed 1,674 1,202 1,346 1,113 1,008 cigarettes, tobacco Matters Terminated 1,680 1,344 1,318 1,182 1,003 products, or papers used to * Including Failure to Send matters and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. ** Other: Applications to Seal and Expunge Records; Petitions for Juvenile Civil Protection Orders, roll cigarettes. Grandparent Powers of Attorney; Motions to Show Cause that reactivate matters (not including child support). Custody – matters in which the Court determines paternity and parental rights and responsibilities of children born to unwed parents. Includes determinations regarding custody and support of children born to married parents if the matter was instituted with the filing of a divorce in the Common Pleas Court (Domestic Relations Division) then later certified to the Juvenile Court. Child Support – matters regarding the establishment, modification or enforcement of court or administrative orders for the financial support of children. Juvenile Traffic Offenders – children who violate a federal, state or local traffic law, or traffic ordinance or regulation, other than parking violations.

MEDIATION PROGRAM Mediations The Juvenile Court’s 2013-2017 Mediation Program has served 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 the families and local school Unruly – 208 188 171 180 150 districts of Union County for Truancy more than 20 years. Unruly – 3 7 6 0 1 Disobedience Our Court’s long-standing, Custody – well-respected Mediation 14 32 32 2 1 Program primarily serves all Private Custody – schools with Union County 4 2 8 0 0 resident students to respond to A/N/D Total truancy-related issues. Schools 229 229 223 161 152 directly access the Court’s Mediations mediators as soon as truancy issues arise; the mediators respond to school district after their Absence referrals immediately and set up Intervention Teams recognize that the mediations promptly. Mediators address Written Intervention Plan is likely to the truancy, assist the family and school fail. Mediation takes place before the to identify the root causes of the matter is submitted to the Court as a truancy, foster communication between complaint, and is available at the the school and family, and provide discretion of the Court to facilitate information about local, community- diversion of the truancy matter, if based agencies that might be able to diversion is in the best interest of the help the family with issues that are child. affecting their child’s school attendance. Mediation also assists parents whose Mediation successfully aids many cases are before the Court as the result families in correcting truancy issues that of paternity, legal custody, decision- would otherwise have been filed in the making and visitation issues. Meeting court. Almost 900 truancy with the mediator provides a structure mediations have been conducted for the parents to discuss their concerns by the Court’s mediators from and disagreements and arrive at 2013 to 2017. As the result of the agreement regarding their child’s care. strength of the Court’s Mediation Finally, some parents require the Program to address truancy, Union assistance of the mediators when an County Juvenile Court Unruly Truancy Abuse, Neglect or Dependency matter filings are very low, and have been low has come before the Court. The throughout the history of the program. mediators will also assist with crafting With the implementation of changes agreements for custody and visitation. to Ohio truancy law as captured in 132 All agreements in such matters are HB 410, effective April 6, 2017, the subject to the approval of the Court. Court’s mediators are available to the

TRUANCY

Truancy Matters & Outcomes The Union County Juvenile (2013 – 2017) Court began aggressively targeting 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 truancy more than 20 years ago All Truancy 14* 16* 15* 6* 3 with the implementation of its Matters Filed rapid-response Mediation Matters Diverted 0 Diversion Successful 0 Program. Diversion In the last five years alone, the Unsuccessful, 0 Matters Adjudicated Court estimates that hundreds of *Includes matters charged as Habitual Truancy per R.C. 2151.022(B) and Chronic Truancy per R.C. 2152.02(F)(5). children and their families have been diverted from Juvenile Court (primarily Marysville Exempted Village because of the Court’s Mediation Schools, Fairbanks Local Schools, North Program. Over the 20 years the Court’s Union Local Schools). Mediation Program has been in operation, thousands of children and The Court hosted a meeting in April families have been diverted from the 2017 to discuss the impact and meaning court system. The result: truancy of the law, the manner in which the matters filed with the Court are few in Court would continue to use its number, but may be so serious in their Mediation Program to divert unruly scope that post-filing diversion of the truancy filings from the Court, and to matter is not in the best interest of the provide an opportunity for the school child. districts to consult with the Judge regarding their policies, as required by Changes to numerous Ohio statutes the new law. Before the school year regarding truancy as enacted by 2016 began, school districts were invited to Am. H.B. No. 410 became effective on submit their new policies to the Court April 6, 2017. The bill was designed to for additional consultation. address the manner in which school districts and Ohio Juvenile Courts To further support the school address and ameliorate truancy. districts and to inform the Court’s response, the Court created a truancy The Court watched 2016 Am. H.B. risk-assessment tool to be filled out by No. 410 develop while it was still in the the school district, as well as a concise Ohio General Assembly. As soon as Gov. list of evidence to be submitted with the Kasich signed 2016 Am. H.B. No. 410 report/complaint. These tools help the into law on January 4, 2017, the Court school district know what documents to reached out to the Union County file, and help the Court determine the Prosecuting Attorney, the Central Ohio appropriate legal response to a Educational Service Center and complaint – whether the child and superintendents and administrators of family appear amenable to diversion, or Union County local school districts whether formal action must be initiated.

JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT Jennifer N. Griffith Juvenile Probation Department Court Administrator & (2013 – 2017) * Chief Probation Officer 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Joshua Levingston Youth on Probation Senior Probation Officer Continuing from preceding year 77 61 60 111 New Youth 60 60 84 64 Total 137 137 121 144 175 The officers of the Probation Completions Juvenile Probation Successful Completion 44 68 47 57 Department dedicate our Unsuccessful Completion 16 8 3 19 time, effort, and resources Neutral Completion 0 0 0 0 to improve the lives of youth Total 60 76 61 50 76 who have come under the Specialized Assessments 4 9 13 14 *Specialized Assessments: i.e. psychological assessments; competency assessments; specialized jurisdiction of the Court due offenses assessments. to delinquent or unruly * Data reported to the Ohio Department of Youth Services at conclusion of each fiscal year, defined as July 1 to June 30. This data reports only those assessments paid for from DYS behavior. grant; additional assessments were paid for with county funds. We utilize a proactive approach to support family enrichment, by utilizing various resources to strengthen parent and child relationships to promote unity and family stability. Probation supports a youth’s academic growth by facilitating communication and interaction between schools and families. Juveniles also engage in tasks, such as community service, that hold them accountable for their past actions. Probation officers assist in and promote the development of family- managed responsibility through structured rewards and consequences to promote healthy future decision-making. In 2017, the probation department supervised a total of 175 youth on probation: 111 were on probation from 2016, and 64 new youth were added to the caseload by the end of 2017. For every youth whose case proceeds to disposition, or sentencing, a probation officer will meet with that child and family to assess them and determine recommendations for the Court. The Court has wide discretion to make orders designed to accomplish the goals of holding the youth accountable and rehabilitate the offender. PARENT PROJECT® Trained staff members of the Parent Project Participants Juvenile Court facilitate The Parent (2013 – 2017) Project, a clinical group and parenting 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 course for the families of delinquent and All Parents 23 55 49 30 14 unruly children under the jurisdiction of * Some parent participants are ordered to participate, some participate this Court. In 2013, several staff voluntarily. members received training that was funded by a grant from the Ohio Department of Youth Services. Although most parents feel skeptical that the program will benefit them and their families, the majority conclude the program with a deep appreciation for the positive impact their new, learned skills have benefitted their child.

OUT-OF-HOME PLACEMENTS Out-Of-Home Placements The Court’s policy and Juveniles Adjudicated of Felonies Placed in practice is to make use of DYS, a CCF or Residential local resources to (2013 – 2017) rehabilitate youth when 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 possible. For some youth, Committed to DYS* 0 0 0 0 0 community-based Committed to CCF** 0 0 2 1 2 Committed to programs are not a viable COYC 90-Day 1 0 5 3 3 option because of Residential Program community safety issues, or * Ohio Department of Youth Services. ** Community-based correctional facility certified by DYS. because the child’s behavior presents a danger to his/her therapies, either as the result of health and well-being, or because the psychological evaluations or risk child has not been amenable to other assessments, or if the youth efforts to effect change. demonstrates that s/he will not comply When necessary to place juveniles in with the terms of probation, the private treatment facilities, or a suspended DYS commitment may be detention facility such as the Central imposed. Ohio Youth Center, the Court refers to In 2017, no delinquent youth from this as “out of home placement.” For Union County were committed to the more information about COYC, please legal custody of DYS. The Court see page 20. committed two delinquent children to a Juveniles found delinquent because DYS-approved community-based they have committed an act which, if corrections facility. committed by an adult, would be a During 2017, the Court organized two felony, may be committed to the Ohio local summits regarding out-of-home Department of Youth Services or a placements in concert with the Union Community Corrections Facility. Most County Department of Job and Family commitments are suspended, and the Services. Recognizing that reductions in youth is ordered to complete various out-of-home placements were critical to terms of probation, to determine if the support the long-term stability of youth can be rehabilitated utilizing children and families, many community community-based therapies. The vast partners joined the Court in support of majority are successful and do not need this initiative and agreed to participate in to be committed to a DYS institution. ongoing development of more local If the youth is determined not to be programming. amenable to community-based

TREATMENT COURTS Robert W. Ahern, Ph.D., L.I.S.W.-S. Chief of Staff & Treatment Court Coordinator

Drug addiction is an epidemic with treatment and then dedication to devastating effects on all Americans. implementing those lessons. Our children, traumatized by their Accountability to recovery, sobriety and parent or guardian’s drug use, are often sober behavior can lead the recovering abused and neglected. Some will be addict to slip back into old thought orphaned. Parent addicts have a small processes and behaviors. window of time under Ohio law to We know that treatment works, and embrace recovery and to heal, or risk with the use of the special interventions losing their children. If that parent needed to address addiction and addict is charged substance with a felony, abuse, people do incarceration recover. When offers little to no I will be forever thankful that I got some parents or clinical accepted into treatment court. For most of juveniles come intervention. my life, I was on the wrong path, spending into contact For juveniles my every day chasing drugs and breaking with the legal whose drug and the law. This was the best year of my life. system, they are alcohol use have able to comply brought them Union County Family Treatment Court Graduate with Court into the juvenile orders and to justice system, complete case they risk their long-term health and plans and probation without additional success, and risk becoming legal-system intervention. But, some substance- involved as an adult. abusing persons don’t want to attend Addiction is a disease, and one can treatment, complete treatment, or recover, but without treatment coupled resume treatment after an inevitable with accountability, recovery is difficult. relapse. They either don’t want to Few people have the ability to recover on address their substance use or addiction, their own, and addiction is a disease that don’t think they have a problem, or may requires special interventions, such as be so physically or mentally ill from the structure, discipline and accountability. disease that they are incapable of Structure provides the tools and addressing the problem. education to achieve sobriety and to The Juvenile Division of this Court address other life stressors, such as maintains two specialized dockets, both housing, transportation, jobs and health. certified through the Supreme Court of Discipline is borne from surrendering to Ohio: the Family Treatment Court the lessons learned about self and and the Juvenile Treatment Court. addiction from counselling and For those adults and youth who qualify

legally and clinically, treatment courts Children and Family First Council of combine treatment with the Union County; WINGS Recovery Center; enforcement power of the court. Ohio Guidestone; and the Union County Treatment courts use positive incentives school districts, including primarily to reinforce compliant behavior, and Family Treatment Court 2013-2017 sanctions to immediately 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 hold participants Children subject of all 56 46 59 61 41 accountable for non- AND Cases compliance. % of all AND Families * 26% 68% 71% 54% Both treatment courts with alleged AOD Parents Assessed for have a specialized * * * 27 14 Treatment Team that Treatment Court Parents Admitted to consists of a representative 5 7 1 11 6 from each partner system Treatment Court Children of the that provides services to the 3 13 1 16 8 Parents Admitted participant. The team is convened and combined Parents Graduated 2 0 5 2 4 Parents Terminated under the umbrella of the 4 1 2 2 3 treatment courts, and can as Unsuccessful Parents Terminated therefore rapidly respond to 0 0 1 0 0 Neutrally the treatment needs of Children Reunited 3 0 7 2 6 substance-abusing with Parent Participant juveniles, recovering Children Not 5 0 6 3 4 addicts, and their families. Reunited The team members meet * Information not available. weekly to discuss cases and Fairbanks, Marysville and North Union. inform the presiding judicial officer of Through this Court’s implementation of progress in each matter. nationally-recognized best practices for In addition to oversight and support treatment courts, as well as a mindful from the Supreme Court of Ohio infusion of those practices into multiple (Specialized Docket Section), both systems, the Court and its community treatment courts benefit from a partners have put a framework in place constructive and lasting collaboration county-wide to address the many ways amongst several local agencies: the that addiction has impacted our Union County Prosecuting Attorney, the community. public defenders and defense bar of The Family Treatment Court Union County; the Union County (FTC) was established in November Commissioners; the Union County 2007 and manages adult participants Department of Job and Family Services; whose children have open abuse, neglect Maryhaven, Inc.; the Union County or dependency cases before the Court. Mental Health and Recovery Board; the The FTC functions as a collaboration of

Juvenile Treatment Court Juvenile Participants 2013-2017 mental health and addiction 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 treatment services; to create a Assessed * * * * 24 framework for the participant to live Admitted 5 6 4 9 14 his/her life in recovery from Graduated 3 4 3 4 9 Terminated: addiction or free from substance 1 0 0 2 3 Unsuccessful abuse; and to provide education and Terminated: supports for effective and safe 0 4 0 2 1 Neutral parenting. For parent addicts, the * Information not available. FTC seeks to safely reunify the child multiple systems: the court, child with the participant within the time welfare, substance use disorder and permitted by law; and to prevent future mental health treatment providers, and removal due to abuse, neglect and community partners. No single system dependency of that child or his/her has the authority, capacity, resources, or siblings. For substance-abusing youth, skills to respond to the array of the JTC seeks compliance with the terms challenges faced by families affected by of probation and to prevent recidivism. substance use disorders. Collaboration To successfully complete or is required if families are to succeed. “graduate” from treatment court, a The Juvenile Treatment Court is participant must: demonstrate sobriety designed for legal-system involved youth (accumulate clean drug screens and whose drug and alcohol abuse issues make sober life choices); complete continue without abatement on regular substance abuse treatment (at assessed probation. A youth’s family is asked to levels of care); address mental health participate in parenting education and to issues (current and long-term). For assist the Court parent in monitoring and holding the participants in youth FTC, they must I have never really respected or cared accountable. also obtain Treatment is for judges, probation officers or court stable provided officials until now. I came to realize living/housing primarily by the Court is not trying to hurt me or for themselves therapists from tear my family apart. and their Maryhaven, Inc. Union County Family Treatment Court Graduate children; obtain and Ohio a stable income; Guidestone. and accomplish Case all the Case Plan objectives as drafted by management is provided through the Children’s Protective Services and Court. The Court’s juvenile probation approved by the Court. For youth officers provide supervision of the youth and support for the parents. participants in the JTC, the juveniles must complete all terms of their The program goals and objectives of probation successfully. both treatment courts are: to establish

CASA PROGRAM OF DELAWARE & UNION COUNTIES Tammy Matias, Coordinator Nicole Thornton, Assistant Coordinator Jonathan Klemanski, Union County Volunteer Coordinator

On March 21, 2016, the CASA CASA Program Program was implemented in Union Delaware & Union Counties, 2017 County. Since that time, 15 CASA Total Volunteer 43 in both counties volunteers have been sworn in to CASA Advocates advocate for abused and neglected Total Volunteer Hours Almost 5,000 hours children in Union County. This dual- Total Miles driven by More than 20,000 county program is in partnership with Volunteers for casework miles Delaware County Juvenile Court under Total Children Served 196 the leadership of Hon. David Girls 95 Hejmanowski, Judge of the Delaware Boys 101 County Probate & Juvenile Court. Final Outcomes for Cases Closed in 2017 Reunification All CASA volunteers pass necessary 36 background checks, and complete an Achieved Long-Term initial 30-hour pre-service training 21 regarding courtroom procedures, social Relative/Kinship Care Long-Term services, the juvenile justice system and 1 the special needs of abused and Foster Care or PPLA neglected children. Continuing Adopted 3 education is available at the local, state and national level. Local CASA administrators are available to continue training and support the local CASA. The time commitment to a case varies depending upon the stage of the case, but on average, a CASA dedicates about 10 hours a month on a case. A CASA stays with a case until it is closed and typically will not have more than one case at a time. CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in court and other settings. The primary responsibilities of a CASA volunteer are to: ▪ Gather information. Review documents and records, interview the children, family members and professionals in their lives. ▪ Document findings. Provide written reports at court hearings. ▪ Appear in court. Advocate for the child’s best interests and provide testimony when necessary. ▪ Explain. Help the child understand the court proceedings. ▪ “Be the glue.” Seek cooperative solutions among individuals and organizations involved in the children’s lives. ▪ Recommend services. Ensure that the children and their families are receiving appropriate services and advocate for those that are not immediately available. Bring concerns about the child’s health, education, mental health, etc. to the appropriate professionals. ▪ Monitor case plans and court orders. Check to see that plans are being followed and mandated review hearings are being held.

▪ Keep the court informed. Update the court on developments with agencies and family members. Ensure that appropriate motions are filed on behalf of the child so the court knows about any changes in the child’s situation. The year 2017 was active for the CASA Program of Delaware and Union Counties. Case numbers continued to increase as a result of the opioid epidemic. Fortunately, CASA Volunteer numbers increased as well. A total of 15 new CASA Volunteers were sworn in, which brought our volunteer totals to 43 between the two counties. Under the leadership of Judge Hejmanowski and Judge Eufinger, the Fostering Futures Program was implemented in 2017. On September 27, 2017, four CASA Volunteers were trained using a curriculum from the National CASA Organization that focuses on improving outcomes for older and emancipating youth (14-21 years of age), who are leaving foster care without a permanent family. In addition to providing advocacy for the youth in court, Fostering Futures mentors work with this population to: ▪ Help youth set goals for their future and provide strategies of how to achieve those goals. ▪ Empower youth with practical knowledge such as how to: schedule a doctor’s appointment, find housing, apply for a job, balance a checkbook, etc. ▪ Assist youth in developing knowledge and skills to successfully transition into adulthood. ▪ Provide resources within the local community to assist the youth. ▪ Work with youth to help them realize better outcomes than the research shows for typical youth who age out of the foster care system. ▪ Be a consistent, caring adult in the youth’s life. Provide mentorship and advocacy. This exciting new program is currently serving seven (7) youths who will age out in foster care and have no consistent adult in their lives to help guide them through the emancipation process. The CASA Program is pleased to be a part of the solution in guiding youth through these vulnerable times. The CASA Program hosted another Judicial Panel Dinner and Question and Answer Session in 2017. Judge CASA of Delaware and Union County volunteers Hejmanowski and Judge Eufinger were and staff members attended the 2017 Celebrate present to answer questions and talk about the Kids! Conference, held Sept. 20-22, 2017. CASAs value CASA Volunteers bring to the Courts in attendance included (front row, l to r) Christine and to the families they serve. In addition, Bisesi, Tammy Matias, Jermaine Ferguson, Jan Miller, Elizabeth Neff, T.J. Salgia and (back row, l Magistrate Sharon Robinson-Walls of Union to r) Valerie Lewis, Mike Kabler, Cheyenne County and Magistrate Lynne Schoenling and Debren, Jeff Harlan, Cathy Ortega-Contreras, Magistrate Kari Childs of Delaware County Margaret Martin, Linda DiBlasie, John Murray, attended to support the volunteers and to Nicole Thornton, and Amy Scott. answer their questions. The CASA Program is very important to children and families involved with the court and child welfare systems and will continue to grow and expand into the year 2018.

CENTRAL OHIO YOUTH CENTER

www.coyc.org Union County’s Located at 18100 State Rt. 4, just north of Marysville, the Central Ohio COYC Usage (2007-2017) Youth Center primarily serves detained youth from four counties: Union, 2007 255 1554.5 Champaign, Madison and Logan. Youth 2008 172 714 from other counties are often housed in 2009 209 1413 COYC as well. COYC offers programming for chronic juvenile offenders. When 2010 179 1270.5 juvenile offenders under the jurisdiction of 2011 181 1059 the Union County Juvenile Court are 2012 206 1470 sentenced to detention, most youth will be 2013 187 945.5 placed in COYC. 2014 154 925.5 The Community Residential Center 2015 220 1227.5 (CRC) is a secure program for adjudicated 2016 287 1830 juvenile offenders. 2017 302 1789 COYC has been recognized by the 2016 Total Percentage of Use: 17.5% National Center for Child Traumatic Stress 2017 Total Percentage of Use: 15.7% for providing the organizational leadership and support necessary for the implementation of Trauma and Grief Component Therapy for Adolescents (TGCTA). Within seven days of admission as a resident in the CRC program, the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument (MAYSI) residential interview is completed with each resident youth, as well as a comprehensive psycho-social interview. The information obtained from the interview is utilized to develop an Individual Treatment Plan (ITP) for each resident. The ITP lists objectives COYC Staff to be completed in order to achieve each goal. Natalie Landon, Superintendent Residents are assigned a therapist upon Betsy Hauck, admission. The therapist develops a case Deputy Operations Administrator management plan and provides individual and Emily Giametta, MSW, LISW-S, family therapy. The frequency and duration of Clinical Administrator individual and family therapy sessions are Kathy House, determined on a case-by-case basis, but each CRC MSEd, Education Administrator resident receives individual therapy at least once per Tami Sowder, week. Business Administrator Youth are required to satisfy their current Kristin Preston, school requirements while they reside in COYC. For RN, Health Care Coordinator those who have dropped out of school, the staff will Steve Harmon, provide instruction to assist the resident in obtaining Intake Manager his or her GED.