Topical Training for Caseworkers: Courts

Resources include training curricula and materials for child welfare caseworkers on the role of the courts in the child welfare system, including information on court processes, effective collaboration, testifying in court, and more. Resources include State and local examples.

Collaboration on the CFSR
National Child Welfare Research Center on Legal and Judicial Issues
Identifies methods for increasing collaboration between child welfare agencies and family courts during the Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) process.

Collaboration with the Courts (PDF - 273 KB)
Institute for Child and Family Policy, Edmund S. Muskie School of Public Service (2004)
Examines the roles and responsibilities of the court and the child welfare system for child protection cases and offers tips for collaboration.

Ensuring the Healthy Development of Infants in Foster Care: A Guide for Judges, Advocates and Child Welfare Professionals (PDF - 6,856 KB)
Dicker & Gordon (2004)
Describes how to ensure that children receive necessary services by integrating assessment into the permanency planning process.

Ensuring the Wellbeing of Children and Youth in Foster Care Through Effective Partnerships Between State and Court Systems [Teleconference]
National Resource Center for Family-Centered Practice and Permanency Planning (2006)
Addresses collaboration between the courts and the foster care system.

Juvenile Dependency Hearings
California Center for Judicial Education and Research (2007)
Focuses on the types and sequence of juvenile dependency hearings, the necessary findings at each hearing, and the terminology used in the proceedings.

Legal Resource Manual for Foster Parents Curriculum
National Resource Center for Family-Centered Practice and Permanency Planning (2005)
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Designed to educate foster parents about legal processes so they can effectively advocate for themselves and the children in their care.

Working with the Courts in Child Protection

Author(s)	Office on Child Abuse and Neglect, Children's Bureau Jones, William G.
Availability	View Download (PDF - 8,051KB)
Year Published	2006

Part of a series of manuals designed to provide guidance on child protection practices, this manual explains court processes most relevant to child abuse and neglect cases. It introduces concepts and terminology associated with the courts, describes the key court processes, and presents practical information to help child protective services caseworkers prepare for court litigation. Specific chapters address: the general or common court system; the powers of the court and the rights of parents and children in child maltreatment cases; the interplay between child maltreatment legislation and caseworker practice; the juvenile court process; the criminal court process; domestic relations and other court proceedings; the issues involved in going to court, including the rules of evidence, court reports, and testifying; the relationship between caseworkers and the court; and court improvement and best practices. Appendices include a glossary, resource listings, and guidelines for caseworkers for permanency and review hearings. 93 references.

Youth in Court Training and Technical Assistance Package
American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law
Describes resources offered by the National Child Welfare Resource Center on Legal and Judicial Issues as part of the Bar-Youth Empowerment Project to provide judges, lawyers, CASAs, social workers, foster parents, and all other stakeholders with effective strategies and practices to enhance the involvement of youth in court.

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State and local examples

Finding Words: Interviewing and Preparing Children for Court
Ohio Child and Elder Protection Section, National Child Protection Training Center, National Center for the Prosecution of Child Abuse, Center for Child and Family Advocacy, & CornerHouse (2005)
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Includes a 5-day training curriculum for Ohio child welfare workers focusing on interviewing children and preparing for a child abuse court case.

A National Curriculum for Caseflow Management in Juvenile Dependency Cases Involving Foster Care (PDF - 260 KB)
Fostering Results, Justice Management Institute, & The JERITT Project (2005)
Presents a curriculum specifically geared for use with multidisciplinary, interagency teams of practitioners dealing with juvenile dependency cases involving children in foster care.

Preparing the Child Witness in Sexual Abuse Cases
Pennsylvania Child Welfare Training Program (2002)
Presents a web-based training course designed for Pennsylvania child welfare workers.

Testifying in Court: A Guide for Child Protective Service Workers
Arizona State University School of Social Work (2007)
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Provides a DVD and discussion guide preparing child protective services workers for testifying in dependency cases.

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Child Welfare Information Gateway encourages organizations to submit resources from their workforce or training efforts for inclusion in our library. Send information to library@childwelfare.gov.