Courts

This section includes resources and information about the role of the courts in the child welfare system.

• Overview
• Court processes
• Attorney roles
• Confidentiality in court proceedings
• Special issues for courts
• Court improvement/court reform
• Court-child welfare agency collaboration

Children & Families
National Center for State Courts
Describes initiatives involving children, families, and courts, including the Family Justice Initiative, dependency courts, summits on the protection of children, the American Judges Association, and others.

Dependency 
California Courts
Offers training, publications, and resources on dependency courts in California. The information presented is for parents, children, caregivers, attorneys, court staff, and other professionals.

Dependency Benchbook
Florida Courts (2018)
Provides information regarding legal and non-legal considerations in dependency cases. Contains promising and science informed practices, as well as a legal resource guide.

Dependency Court Guides and Tools
Florida's Center for Child Welfare
Lists resources for child welfare professionals, families, and caregivers relating to navigating dependency court, trauma and child development, engaging parents in court hearings, trauma-informed judges, and more.

Dependency Courts Resource Guide
National Center for State Courts
Provides links to resources relating to dependency courts and how courts and child welfare agencies can collaborate to improve accountability, increase the legal representation of children and their parents, and enhance case management.

Engaging Parents in Child Abuse and Neglect Hearings: Lessons Learned From Judicial Leaders (PDF - 10,936 KB)
Gatowski & Gueller (2019)
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
Offers lessons learned and engagement strategies for working with parents presented by judges who lead court improvement initiatives. The resource is meant as a guide for other judges on how to effectively engage parents in the hearing process.

Toolkit for Judges and Attorneys
Michigan Courts
Presents a child welfare services toolkit for judges, attorneys, and child welfare professionals on court issues. The resources cover topics such as protective custody, different types of hearings, the role of the courts with youth in foster care, child protection, and more. 

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