The Court Improvement Program (CIP) provides Federal funding to State and Tribal courts to assess their child welfare and judicial practices and develop and implement improvement plans. States and Tribes use CIP funds in a variety of ways, including improving legal representation and hearing quality, enhancing the engagement of families in court proceedings, supporting child welfare and court partnerships, addressing systemic barriers, and promoting equitable court practices.
Through their CIPs, jurisdictions can increase access to legal services, which helps families advocate for their needs and resolve issues that could lead to child welfare involvement and unnecessary entries into foster care. CIPs can support the legal needs of kin caregivers by helping coordinate with other legal services and working with kinship navigator programs. CIPs should assess and address how judicial policies may perpetuate systemic barriers for underserved children and families and consider improvements to create equitable systems.
Collaborative efforts between legal and judicial communities and State and Tribal child welfare agencies can support improved Child and Family Services Reviews (CFSRs) outcomes. Legal and judicial professionals are vital in CFSRs, including in statewide assessments, onsite reviews, and the Program Improvement Plan process.
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Court Improvement Programs: Collaboration Between Child Welfare Agencies and Legal and Judicial Communities
Find information on collaboration and relationship building between the legal and judicial communities and child welfare agencies through the Court Improvement Program, which provides Federal funds to State and Tribal courts to improve practices.
Court Improvement Program - ACYF
Find information on the State Court Improvement Program, which was created as part of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 and reauthorized under the Consolidated Appropriations Act in 2021.
Court Improvement Program (CIP) Talks
Presents several videos on how the legal community can partner with stakeholders to better serve vulnerable families and improve child welfare outcomes. The topics discussed include how legal professionals can help strengthen families, high quality l ...Read More
Capacity Building Center for Courts
Learn how the Capacity Building Center for Courts designs products to increase awareness, understanding, and engagement among legal and judicial professionals and helps jurisdictions achieve positive child welfare outcomes for children and families.
Tribal Court Improvement Project Grants
Read about the Tribal Court Improvement Program, which conducts assessments of how Tribal courts handle child welfare proceedings and improve court processes to provide for the safety, permanency, and well-being of children.
Court Improvement Program (CIP) Data Dashboard
Explore child welfare court data and find information on trainings, Court Improvement Program projects, legal representation, and more.
Improving Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Through a Race Equity Lens: A Toolkit for Juvenile and Family Court Judges
Browse a toolkit designed to equip juvenile and family court judges with effective strategies and approaches for enhancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging through a race equity lens within the court system.
Infographic: Connections Between the Court Improvement Program and the Child and Family Services Review
View an infographic summarizing common goals of Court Improvement Program projects and learn about potential overlap with outcomes and systemic factors that are the focus of the Child and Family Services Reviews.
Episode 37: Tribal Courts and Child Welfare: Building Relationships With State Counterparts
Listen to this Child Welfare Information Gateway podcast, part 4 of a 6-part series, which features the work of Tribal Court Improvement Program grantees.