Bronx Family Court holds reunifi cation presentation
Bronx Family Court Early Engagement Group held a reunifi cation presentation
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, A 42 UGUST 2-8, 2019 BTR
focused on Best Practices and Principles Associated with a Trauma
Informed Courtroom. Photo courtesy of Rise Magazine (Nora McCarthy)
BY HON.
FIORDALIZA A. RODRIGUEZ
National Reunifi cation
Month is celebrated each year
in June. The Bronx Family
Court Early Engagement Group
put together a presentation in
recognition of Reunifi cation
Month on Wednesday, June 26.
The presentation focused on
Best Practices and Principles
Associated with a Trauma Informed
Courtroom. Additionally,
the group revealed a list
of common language used in
the courtroom and suggested
changes/recommendations.
The event was very successful
as we were packed in the library
with many standing in
the back! I was encouraged by
the show of support as we begin
this conversation of exploring
pathways for fostering a more
trauma-informed and sensitive
courtroom environment.
As you know, people get nervous
when they feel they are
being judged and are being ignored.
The courtroom experience
is at times so paralyzing,
that a parent or court user can’t
even talk, or he/she just nods
because they are embarrassed
to say they don’t understand or
they will be labeled. Using language
that is non-judgmental
and sensitive to the trauma a
person has endured, can help
a parent feel less traumatized,
less threatened as he/she will
have a better understanding
of the decisions being made
that impact their life. Having
a welcoming environment and
showing dignity, respect and
understanding goes a long way,
as it can provide some control
to a parent who may feel powerless
or helpless over their lives.
This feeling may make it diffi -
cult to engage in treatment programs
and courtroom proceedings.
As I prepared for this presentation,
I thought back when
my kids were younger, my husband
and I reinforced to our
boys the importance of being
able to communicate clearly
and to keep in mind that ‘words
matter.’ In my thank you remarks
to all who attended, I
noted that although our role as
judges, attorneys, clerks, court
offi cer, mental health professional,
social workers have different
responsibilities, at the
end of the day, we are all there
trying to ensure a child is safe.
Consequently, this can include
showing support to a parent
who may be recovering from
an even more traumatic experience
than being in court. The
support can be accomplished
by making small changes in
the courtroom, such as providing
a clear explanation of what
is going to happen in the case
to help alleviate a parent’s fear
and to lessen disruptions in
courtroom proceedings. Also
important, is that a change in
language can achieve successful
outcomes.
The impact of adverse traumatic
experiences cannot be
understated and as such it is
trending nationally. The materials
from the presentation
included some information
about this. In fact, the National
Center for State Courts, the
National Council of Juvenile
and Family Court Judges partnered
with the Institute for the
Advancement of the American
Legal System and created the
Family Justice Initiative which
is guiding courts towards improving
outcomes for families.
One of the principles for family
justice reform and problem
solving approach is that
Courts be trauma informed
and trauma responsive to minimize
re-traumatization. Part of
Administrative Judge Jeanette
Ruiz’ ‘Strategic Plan’ and Chief
Judge Janet DiFiore’s ‘Excellence
Initiative’ focuses on
improving outcomes for families
that are involved in Family
Court. A version of the language
document shared with
the group was also introduced
for consideration of being used
citywide.
We heard from a judge, a psychologist
and a parent leader,
who shared their thinking and
experience on how shifting the
language can impact the outcome
of a person’s experience
in a positive way and how that
can lead the way to supporting/
improving the work of this
Committee in achieving reunifi
cation where the family
has been separated. The presenters
were: Hon. Marcia P.
Hirsch, Court of Claims Judge
in Queens County Supreme
Court who has incorporated
trauma informed principles
into the work in her courtroom;
Prof. Tricia Stephens,
LCSW-R, Ph.D., from Hunter
College whose area of expertise
is in Child Welfare - The Intersection
of Parental Trauma Exposure
and Family Stability;
Nancy Fortunato, a Rise Magazine
Senior Parent Leader who
provided a parent’s perspective
and your’s truly, served as Moderator.
The presenters took out
time from their busy schedules
to share their knowledge/experiences
which appeared to be
very well received! The event
was co-sponsored by the Appellate
Division, First Department
and provided one continuing
legal education credit to all attorneys
who attended.
The Bronx Family Court
Early Engagement Group consists
of: Co-Chairs Hon. Gilbert
Taylor, Hon. Fiordaliza A. Rodriguez
and Nanette Schorr,
Esq. (Bronx Legal Services),
and Committee Members that
include staff of: Bronx Legal
Services, NYC, The Bronx Defenders,
Children’s Law Center,
Legal Aid Society, NYC Children’s
Services/ACS, Rise Magazine,
Bronx Mental Health
Services, and other Family
Court Personnel.
BY AL D’ANGELO
Whether you’re on the right,
left or in the middle it doesn’t
matter, what matters is right
and wrong. Border security
and the desire to stop illegal
immigration has been a concern
of our past presidents and
most of our elected offi cials on
both sides of the aisle as well as
the public.
When President Trump decides
to do something about it,
he’s labeled a racist. Building a
wall fi rst, then fi nding a way to
deal with illegals so they have a
path to citizenship, sounds like
a plan but because it’s Trump’s
wall it’s immoral and ICE
agents are vilifi ed.
As legend has it - Heaven
has a gate and St. Peter is the
ICE agent in charge of legal
entry. There is a holding area
called Purgatory for people to
get their lives in order before
entering. Hell, on the other
hand, turns no one away and
there aren’t any ICE agents to
contend with - open borders.
Senator Charles Schumer
said the conditions at the border
were deplorable. That’s the
same senator who is on record
saying we need to stem the tide
of illegal immigration just a
few short years ago. Why does
he now so vehemently oppose a
wall?
The senator should spend
the same amount of energy on
American citizens who live in
subhuman conditions in NYCHA
housing in his own state,
but I guess that does not fi t his
political narrative. Let’s just do
what’s right regardless of who
is in the White House.
Hate has clouded our vision
of right and wrong. Remember
how upset many in this country
were when ISIS ruled parts of
the Middle East and destroyed
ancient artifacts. Are we not
doing the same thing when we
tear down statues or paint over
art work to erase parts of our
history - be it right or wrong?
Rather, we should teach about
those symbols, how they came
to be and why they do not represent
today’s ideals. Denying
the accomplishments of early
Americans and trying to erase
them from memory, because of
their treatment of the American
Indians or the treatment
of slaves is counterproductive.
Unfortunately, we have not
learned our lesson.
How did we treat the early
refugees from Europe, the
Irish, Jews and Italians to
name a few? They were forced
to live in deplorable conditions,
and no one would hire them.
Still we didn’t learn because as
each group became successful,
they discriminated against the
newest group of immigrants
to land on our shores. Should
that mistreatment result in the
destruction of everything that
reminds us of that discrimination.
Teach about those horrors
and lead by example.
Why do we not hear a resounding
chorus from all our
elected offi cials about the recent
activities of ANTIFA, who
beat and terrorize those who
oppose their views? Who is
to blame for telling the police
to stand down as these thugs’
trample on the rights of American
citizens who have opposing
views? Why aren’t those who
gave the order not to engage,
held accountable? Why are
ANTIFA members allowed to
cover their faces?
When a member of congress
makes a racist or anti-American
statement why aren’t they
vilifi ed by everyone? I have
never heard the word racism
used so much. Every elected
offi cial who looks to curry favors
with a particular group
for political purposes uses it.
Calling someone a racist (a person
who shows discrimination
against people of other races or
believes one race is superior to
another) is a serious accusation
and shouldn’t be used for political
expediency.
When a Congresswoman
vilifi es the white race, she fuels
the fl ames of hate and racism
further, thus further dividing
a nation. Had those
words been uttered about the
black race there would have
been a media frenzy calling
for impeachment. Where is the
outrage from both sides of the
aisle?
When my grandfather came
here from Italy he couldn’t
fi nd work because there were
signs that read ‘Italians need
not apply’. I wonder if I can get
reparations for his mistreatment.
Time to stop playing the race
card and start playing the justice
card. No truer words have
been spoken “I have a dream
that my four little children will
one day live in a nation where
they will not be judged by the
color of their skin but by the
content of their character”
Martin Luther King said those
words over 50 years ago.
To our elected offi cials, let
us not use race as a political
tool but as a stepping stone to
better understand and unify
all Americans.