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Program Descriptions

Judicial Review and Technical Assistance Projects

Title IVE Site Visits

Mission
The Judicial Review and Technical Assistance (JRTA) project is designed to improve the lives of foster children and their families by focusing on child safety, legal permanency, and child and family well-being when conducting juvenile court case file reviews and courtroom observations for compliance with state and federal laws.

Background
When the state intervenes to protect a child from abuse or neglect, it steps into the role of parent. The court, in its unique oversight roles, makes decisions that change the lives of children and their families forever. The laws governing the court's decisions are aimed at ensuring that children are safely maintained at home whenever possible and appropriate; giving children legally permanent and stable living situations; preserving their family relationships and connections; enhancing their family's capacity to provide for their children's needs; and ensuring that children receive appropriate services to meet all of their needs.
The states serve these children and their families through a complex legal and funding scheme. One such source of money is title IV-E of the federal Social Security Act ("title IV-E"). Title IV-E provides for funding in four areas.

1. Foster care.
The number of children in foster care meeting federal eligibility criteria determines the amount of funding and there is no maximum amount a state may receive (funds are used for relative (kin care), foster family care, and group home care);

2. Adoption.
The number of children with special needs who are living with adoptive families determines the amount of funding and there is no maximum amount a state may receive;

3. Independent living programs.
A limited amount of funding to provide support for older foster youth emancipating from foster care; and

4. Family preservation and support.
A limited amount of funding to provide time-limited family reunification services.

California receives approximately $381 million in federal foster care maintenance and $753 million in federal foster care administrative dollars . In order to receive these funds, the courts, social service departments, and probation departments must comply with title IV-E and our state's laws implementing title IV-E.

The JRTA project was created in response to a 1992 eligibility audit of foster care cases by the U.S. Health and Human Services Department Office of the Inspector General. Federal auditors determined that 39 percent of the cases reviewed were not eligible for title IV-E funding, and California's programs consequently faced a potential loss of $51.7 million. More than ten years later, in June 2003, California passed the title IV-E foster-care eligibility review. The report cited the work of the JRTA project as a strength contributing to the state's compliance. California's next eligibility review is scheduled for June 2006.

The JRTA project team educates judicial officers, court staff, attorneys, and department staff to improve compliance with title IV-E. The JRTA project consultants-experienced juvenile court attorneys-visit local juvenile courts, review court files, observe courtroom proceedings, provide written reports and memoranda as well as technical assistance and training to assist with the implementation of their recommendations. The JRTA project continues to assist courts and counties, as it has done since 1995, by providing the needed training and technical assistance.

Legal and Court Services Provided by JRTA

On-site Reviews (Court File Review and Courtroom Observations)
Title IVE Site Visit consultants provide technical assistance to ensure title IV-E compliance in all 58 California counties. The consultants visit the 14 most populated counties each year and the remaining 44 counties every other year to conduct a courtesy review of court files, checking for the findings and orders necessary to maintain compliance with title IV-E. Follow-up visits and special training sessions for juvenile court professionals are arranged as needed.

Education
Juvenile court consultants conduct workshops tailored to meet the individualized needs of the judicial officers, clerks, attorneys, social workers, and probation officers in each county. The workshops focus on federal laws and regulations relating to families with children in placements eligible for title IV-E.

Reports
After each site visit and courtesy review, the juvenile court consultants prepare reports, with recommendations, which are given to the presiding juvenile court judge and the appropriate county agencies.

Resource Center
The JRTA project provides juvenile courts and county agencies with information and resources related to compliance with title IV-E funding requirements. Click on the following link for Title IVE Site Visit resources:

Please contact us:

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