The highest court of each State and territory participating in the Court Improvement Program (CIP) receives a grant from the Children's Bureau to complete a detailed self-assessment and develop and implement recommendations to enhance the court's role in achieving stable, permanent homes for children in foster care. Strategies include, for example, improving the timeliness and quality of hearings, reducing attorney and judicial caseloads, enhancing the quality of legal representation, and using computer technology and management information systems. Resources include State and local examples.
Child Welfare Court Improvement
National Bar Association Center for Children and the Law (2017)
Provides materials and resources on Court Improvement Programs (CIP).
Fostering Court Improvement
Children and Family Resource Center, Barton Child Law and Policy Clinic, Fostering Results, & National Child Welfare Resource Center on Legal and Judicial Issues (2017)
Provides data and resources for dependency courts and child welfare agencies to use to make informed decisions, manage operations, monitor performance, and make systemic changes to improve outcomes for children and families.
State and local examples
Court Improvement for Children and Families
The North Carolina Court System
Provides an overview of the mission of the North Carolina Court Improvement Program, the program goals, and measurable outcomes. The webpage offers additional resources and information on the juvenile court process.
Court Improvement Program
Virginia’s Judicial System
Provides information on Virginia’s Court Improvement Program, which focuses on all aspects of juvenile and family law to integrate best practices into the policies and daily routines of the court system, as well as court resources and references materials, including newsletters published by the Court Improvement Program.
Court Improvement Program Grants
Texas Children’s Commission
Provides information on the Court Improvement Program, different types of projects funded under the grant, and a detailed report of the current court improvement program description and activities.
Louisiana Court Improvement Program
Pelican Center for Children and Families
Provides an overview of the State’s court improvement efforts as well as access to CLARO, which houses current resources, research reports and links, online continuing legal education courses, and a training calendar of local and national educational opportunities
Utah's Court Improvement Program
Utah Courts (2017)
Provides an overview of Utah’s Court Improvement Program, training resources, Court Improvement Summit information, parent videos, and related links.
University of Washington Court Improvement Training Academy
University of Washington School of Law (2017)
Provides a learning community for lawyers, judges, and other professionals involved in juvenile court dependency processes that brings together innovative research and practical solutions to improve operations and decision-making in courts.