Case Management

CASE MANAGEMENT - POWERS AND FUNCTIONS

I.              PROGRAM POWERS & FUNCTIONS

         As set forth at 7 N.N.C. § 411, the Program has the authority and power to perform any function that will promote the practice of peacemaking and specifically, to undertake specific functions and duties under the general supervision of the Chief Justice and oversight of the Law and Order Committee.

         Authority and power to conform procedures of hózhóji naat’aah to traditional hózhóji naat’aah concepts.  The Program has the responsibility to develop standards, principles, and procedures for the development of hózhóji naat’aah in accordance with Navajo culture, traditions, and other Navajo accepted beliefs and the laws of the Navajo Nation. 

         Authority and power to support peacemakers.  This support includes maintain a list of peacemakers, provide technical support to peacemakers to facilitate the conduct of peacemaking; and periodically evaluate the techniques of peacemakers and the peacemaking process.  The Program may also authorize peacemakers to enter into funding agreements with the Judicial Branch for mileage and training.

         Responsibility to support hózhóji naat’aah in judicial and community programs. This responsibility includes problem solving assistance to peacemakers, Judges, Court staff, and others concerning the peacemaking process, and provides peacemaking support and assistance to the Navajo Nation Courts. The Program promotes the research, development, and learning of Navajo culture, traditions, and other Navajo accepted beliefs in support of judicial and community programs; and promotes healing and reestablish harmony among those persons participating in peacemaking.

         Authority and responsibility to provide education and training on Navajo culture, traditions and other Navajo accepted beliefs to individuals, organizations, and communities as part of its promotion of hózh̨óji naat’aah.

         Merging Peacemaking and Probation Functions.  17 N.N.C. § 1818 permits the Program to merge with Probation Services in promoting the rehabilitation of offenders and serving the interest of victims.  

     

II.          ORGANIZATIONAL CHART

         The below organizational chart applies for the remainder of Fiscal 2012 – Fiscal Year 2013 and shows the distribution of authority within the Program pursuant to the Judicial Branch consolidation policy.  It is included in this Plan of Operations for illustrative purposes only.

III. TRAININGS

Training in hózh̨óji naat’aah and Traditional Teachings

The Bi Cultural Training Manager and Traditional Program Specialists are jointly responsible for providing training on traditional teachings in all Program services. Traditional Program Specialists are responsible to train new Peacemakers.

Where the Traditional Program Specialists are to receive in-depth trainings themselves, the Bi-Cultural Training Manager shall arrange for the training that may be given by learned community elders.

Trainings are tailored for different groups:

· Judges receive in-depth trainings in hózh̨óji naat’aah.

· Traditional Program Specialists and chapter-certified Peacemakers receive in-depth trainings in hózh̨óji naat’aah, individual and group life value engagement, the traditional curriculum, and youth leadership.

· Informational trainings on hózh̨óji naat’aah and life value engagement are provided to referring schools and agencies.

The Diné Traditional Researcher is responsible for providing technical support to Traditional Program Specialists and Peacemakers in these training areas.

Specialized Subject Trainings

The Peacemaking Program Coordinator and Bi Cultural Training Manager are jointly responsible to ensure peacemakers and Traditional Program Specialists are trained in specialized subject areas such as:

Peacemakers assigned to domestic violence cases are required by 9 N.N.C. § 1652 to receive training in their primary language on the causes, symptoms and dynamics of domestic abuse.

Peacemakers working with children should be trained in subjects relevant to the well-being of children, such as identifying and properly addressing signs of domestic violence and child abuse; child welfare; truancy and bullying.

All peacemakers should be trained in traditional, multi‐cultural, western and faith‐based approaches.

In-Service Management Trainings

The Peacemaking Program Coordinator is responsible for maintaining a competent, efficient, and thorough management level of Program staff by arranging for regular in-service trainings.

Peacemaker Responsibilities to Obtain Trainings

It is the responsibility of chapter-certified peacemakers to attend traditional teaching trainings provided by the Peacemaking Program, and also to search for and attend trainings in subjects that are not offered by the Program which expand their ability to act as guides in hózh̨óji naat’aah. For example, trainings in substance abuse are frequently offered by Navajo Nation Behavioral Health. Such training would be of great assistance to peacemakers in their educator role.

IV. REPORTS

Statistical Reports

As a Judicial Branch program, the Peacemaking Program is required to submit quarterly reports. In each quarterly report, the Program is required to submit up-to-date statistics for each of its district offices for each of the following:

1. Agency (including schools) and Court Referrals: Number of referrals, number hózh̨óji naat’aah completed, number resulting in agreements, number unfinished due to non-attendance, number not resulting in agreements after full sessions, number for which follow-up was requested and granted, number of follow-ups resulting in no further problems.

2. Walk-In Cases: Number of walk-ins, number resolved at life value engagement, number proceeding to hózh̨óji naat’aah, completed, number resulting in agreements, number unfinished due to non-attendance, number not resulting in agreements after full sessions, number of follow-ups resulting in no further problems.

3. Group Life Value Engagement, Probation Services: Numbers of engagements scheduled, subject of each engagement, attendance at each engagement, numbers referred by Probation Services, Prosecutor, and Court respectively.

4. Other Life Value Engagements: Numbers of engagements requested, numbers scheduled, subject of each engagement, attendance at each engagement.

5. Peacemakers Utilized: Identify peacemakers used in the quarter, and how many matters were addressed by each peacemaker in that quarter.

6. Outreach for Program Services. The Program district offices are to submit numbers of outreach efforts in recruiting peacemakers, visiting chapters, and to inform the public, government bodies, and agencies of Program services, and attendance at each meeting by quarter

7. Memorandums of Understanding: The Peacemaking Program Coordinator is to maintain MOUs entered to teach traditional curriculums, and attendance at each meeting by quarter, and make reports per quarter.

8. Traditional Curriculum Series: Submit roster of traditional curriculum series classes for the quarter, the participating peacemakers and schools, and attendance at each class.

9. Youth Peacemaker Apprentice Mentoring Program: Provide status of the program by quarter.

10. Trainings Provided: The Program will list its trainings provided by quarter, to whom provided, and attendance at each training.

11. Funds expended: The Program will track funds expended by activity and source of funds for that quarter.

Stories

On a bi-annual (six-monthly) basis, the Program will collect stories of peacemakings, engagements, mentoring, and other Program services which will help in the understanding and development of hózh̨óji naat’aah and related services.

V. SERVICE / CASEFLOW MANAGEMENT

The management of time, correspondence and events are necessary to account for Program services and to move peacemaking forward to completion from the point of initiation or referral.

The goal is to maximize the ability to provide the best services and minimize paperwork while making sure that important stages of services are properly accounted in the Program’s recordkeeping system. For example, referrals for services are often time-sensitive, and walk-ins need reassurance that their matter will be properly scheduled and served. All outcomes must be noted, necessary outcome reports submitted, and follow-ups performed.

Communications with partners must be timely, and with complete information, for joint services to be provided. The subject, attendance and time needed for community presentations must also be recorded for supervisory reasons.

Automated case management is not new in the Judicial Branch. However, with implementation of the Justware case management system, services across the Nation may now be tracked and analyzed together in order to identify our weaknesses and strengths in the performance of our duties. Data entry is vital.

An efficient Program service flow management system will make hózh̨óji naat’aah accessible for all courts and agencies in our entire justice system.

II.          ORGANIZATIONAL CHART

         The below organizational chart applies for the remainder of Fiscal 2012 – Fiscal Year 2013 and shows the distribution of authority within the Program pursuant to the Judicial Branch consolidation policy.  It is included in this Plan of Operations for illustrative purposes only.

III.       TRAININGS

Training in hózh̨óji naat’aah and Traditional Teachings

         The Bi Cultural Training Manager and Traditional Program Specialists are jointly responsible for providing training on traditional teachings in all Program services.  Traditional Program Specialists are responsible to train new Peacemakers. 

         Where the Traditional Program Specialists are to receive in-depth trainings themselves, the Bi-Cultural Training Manager shall arrange for the training that may be given by learned community elders.

         Trainings are tailored for different groups:

·         Judges receive in-depth trainings in hózh̨óji naat’aah.

·         Traditional Program Specialists and chapter-certified Peacemakers receive in-depth trainings in hózh̨óji naat’aah, individual and group life value engagement, the traditional curriculum, and youth leadership. 

·         Informational trainings on hózh̨óji naat’aah and life value engagement are provided to referring schools and agencies. 

The Diné Traditional Researcher is responsible for providing technical support to Traditional Program Specialists and Peacemakers in these training areas.

Specialized Subject Trainings

         The Peacemaking Program Coordinator and Bi Cultural Training Manager are jointly responsible to ensure peacemakers and Traditional Program Specialists are trained in specialized subject areas such as:

  • Peacemakers assigned to domestic violence cases are required by 9 N.N.C. § 1652 to receive training in their primary language on the causes, symptoms and dynamics of domestic abuse.
  • Peacemakers working with children should be trained in subjects relevant to the well-being of children, such as identifying and properly addressing signs of domestic violence and child abuse; child welfare; truancy and bullying. 
  • All peacemakers should be trained in traditional, multi‐cultural, western and faith‐based approaches.

In-Service Management Trainings

            The Peacemaking Program Coordinator is responsible for maintaining a competent, efficient, and thorough management level of Program staff by arranging for regular in-service trainings. 

Peacemaker Responsibilities to Obtain Trainings

            It is the responsibility of chapter-certified peacemakers to attend traditional teaching trainings provided by the Peacemaking Program, and also to search for and attend trainings in subjects that are not offered by the Program which expand their ability to act as guides in hózh̨óji naat’aah.  For example, trainings in substance abuse are frequently offered by Navajo Nation Behavioral Health.  Such training would be of great assistance to peacemakers in their educator role.

IV.    REPORTS

Statistical Reports  

        As a Judicial Branch program, the Peacemaking Program is required to submit quarterly reports.  In each quarterly report, the Program is required to submit up-to-date statistics for each of its district offices for each of the following:

1.            Agency (including schools) and Court Referrals: Number of referrals, number hózh̨óji naat’aah completed, number resulting in agreements, number unfinished due to non-attendance, number not resulting in agreements after full sessions, number for which follow-up was requested and granted, number of follow-ups resulting in no further problems.

2.            Walk-In Cases: Number of walk-ins, number resolved at life value engagement, number proceeding to hózh̨óji naat’aah, completed, number resulting in agreements, number unfinished due to non-attendance, number not resulting in agreements after full sessions, number of follow-ups resulting in no further problems.

3.            Group Life Value Engagement, Probation Services:  Numbers of engagements scheduled, subject of each engagement, attendance at each engagement, numbers referred by Probation Services, Prosecutor, and Court respectively.

4.            Other Life Value Engagements:  Numbers of engagements requested, numbers scheduled, subject of each engagement, attendance at each engagement.

5.            Peacemakers Utilized:  Identify peacemakers used in the quarter, and how many matters were addressed by each peacemaker in that quarter.

6.            Outreach for Program Services.  The Program district offices are to submit numbers of outreach efforts in recruiting peacemakers, visiting chapters, and to inform the public, government bodies, and agencies of Program services, and attendance at each meeting by quarter

7.            Memorandums of Understanding: The Peacemaking Program Coordinator is to maintain MOUs entered to teach traditional curriculums, and attendance at each meeting by quarter, and make reports per quarter.

8.            Traditional Curriculum Series:  Submit roster of traditional curriculum series classes for the quarter, the participating peacemakers and schools, and attendance at each class.

9.            Youth Peacemaker Apprentice Mentoring Program:  Provide status of the program by quarter. 

10.        Trainings Provided:  The Program will list its trainings provided by quarter, to whom provided, and attendance at each training. 

11.        Funds expended:  The Program will track funds expended by activity and source of funds for that quarter.

Stories

            On a bi-annual (six-monthly) basis, the Program will collect stories of peacemakings, engagements, mentoring, and other Program services which will help in the understanding and development of hózh̨óji naat’aah and related services. 

V.      SERVICE / CASEFLOW MANAGEMENT

         The management of time, correspondence and events are necessary to account for Program services and to move peacemaking forward to completion from the point of initiation or referral. 

         The goal is to maximize the ability to provide the best services and minimize paperwork while making sure that important stages of services are properly accounted in the Program’s recordkeeping system.  For example, referrals for services are often time-sensitive, and walk-ins need reassurance that their matter will be properly scheduled and served.  All outcomes must be noted, necessary outcome reports submitted, and follow-ups performed.

         Communications with partners must be timely, and with complete information, for joint services to be provided. The subject, attendance and time needed for community presentations must also be recorded for supervisory reasons.

         Automated case management is not new in the Judicial Branch.  However, with implementation of the Justware case management system, services across the Nation may now be tracked and analyzed together in order to identify our weaknesses and strengths in the performance of our duties.  Data entry is vital.

         An efficient Program service flow management system will make hózh̨óji naat’aah accessible for all courts and agencies in our entire justice system.