Infants and Young Children Involved With the Courts

Resources provide information about infants, toddlers, and preschoolers involved in child abuse and neglect or dependency proceedings and how legal professionals can prepare for their presence in the courtroom.

Advocating for Very Young Children in Dependency Proceedings: The Hallmarks of Effective, Ethical Representation (PDF - 2130 KB)
ABA Center on Children and the Law (2010)
Explains how attorneys representing very young children can influence the health, development, and well-being of their clients while providing effective representation when handling ethical dilemmas.

Better Outcomes for Infants and Toddlers: Judicial Survey on Infants and Toddlers and the Dependency Court System: Summary of Findings Report (PDF - 671 KB)
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges & Permanency Planning for Children Department (2009)
Presents data gathered from a judicial survey conducted about infants and toddlers and presents barriers judges have faced with this population, how to expand educational opportunities, and promising practices.

Child-Centered Practices for the Courtroom and Community: A Guide to Working Effectively With Young Children and Their Families in the Child Welfare System
Katz, Lederman, Osofsky, & Maze (2011)
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Introduces cross-disciplinary professionals to successful evidence-based practices used in Miami’s juvenile court and child welfare community. Also, provides an overview of early child development and the importance of attachment relationships.

Courts, Child Welfare, and Infant Mental Health: Improving Outcomes for Abused/Neglected Infants and Toddlers
Tablema & Paradis (2008)
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Provides guidelines for how judges working with child welfare, community mental health, and other community partners can put in place a "Maltreated Infants Court" to take into account the social and emotional needs of the infant/toddler within the judicial process.

Engaging Toddlers & Preschoolers in the Courtroom: Judicial Bench Card
ABA Center on Children and the Law, Bar-Youth Empowerment Project, & National Child Welfare Resource Center on Legal and Judicial Issues (2008)
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Offers guidelines for engaging toddlers and preschoolers in a family court setting and gives suggestions for documenting, communicating with a child, observing the child's behavior and appearance, and ensuring the court is prepared for a child to attend. Possible questions to ask the child and caregiver are listed.

Engaging Young Children in the Courtroom: Judicial Bench Card
ABA Center on Children and the Law, Bar-Youth Empowerment Project, & National Child Welfare Resource Center on Legal and Judicial Issues (2008)
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Provides a checklist for family court judges who have cases involving infants, 0-12 months. Guidelines include information about documenting court actions, observing the infant's behavior, how to prepare for the infant's court appearance, and what type of questions to ask.

Healing the Youngest Children: Model Court-Community Partnerships (PDF - 1630 KB)
Hudson, Klain, Smariga, & Youcha (2007)
Describes four model court-community partnerships that applied research to court practices to improve outcomes for maltreated infants, toddlers, and their families.

Healthy Beginnings, Healthy Futures: A Judge's Guide (PDF - 2775 KB)
ABA Center on Children and the Law, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, & Zero to Three (2009)
Addresses the health needs of young children in the child welfare system by sharing current research on physical health, child development, attachment, infant mental health, and early care and education. Also, provides tools and strategies to help judges promote better outcomes for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.