Author Archives: Susan Shaffette

Opioids and the Courts- Difficult Conversations

The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) with support from the State Justice Institute (SJI) hosted a series of five webinars titled Opioids and the Courts- Difficult Conversations. The NCJFCJ and expert faculty explored challenges associated with referring children and … Read More

Using a Trauma-Informed Approach With Parents of Color in Family Court

A Report by Tricia Stephens, LCSW-R, Ph.D. Shifting to more trauma-informed practices in family court has been shown to improve outcomes for families. A report presented on the Rise website details the importance of using a trauma-informed approach in working … Read More

Family First Planning & Readiness Toolkit

The Family First Prevention Services Act is a unique opportunity to implement more prevention-oriented and family-centered child welfare systems. The tools in this kit align with the first phase of Family First Implementation: planning and readiness. These Chapin Hall tools … Read More

Family First Prevention Services Act Website

Signed into law on February 9, 2018, as a part of the Bipartisan Budget Act (HR. 1892), Family First includes long-overdue historic reforms to help keep children safely with their families and avoid the traumatic experience of entering foster care. In … Read More

Child Welfare Law Specialist Certification

Child Welfare Law Specialist (CWLS) certification is a professional achievement that signifies an attorney’s specialized knowledge, skill, and verified expertise in the field of child welfare law. The specialization area is defined as “the practice of law representing children, parents … Read More

Trauma Exposure Response: A Resource for Child Welfare Attorneys

As a child welfare attorney, you are regularly exposed to trauma. This repeated exposure to the intimate details of traumatic events results in negative behavioral, physical, and emotional consequences that can affect your professional and personal life. Trauma exposure response … Read More

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NCJFCJ Bench Card Resource Center

The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ), with support from the State Justice Institute (SJI), announces the launch of an all-new Bench Card Resource Center for the judiciary. Visit the Bench Card Resource Center Juvenile and family court judges primarily use bench cards … Read More

Enhanced Resource Guidelines

Enhanced Resource Guidelines – Improving Court Practice in Child Abuse and Neglect Cases

The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) has announced the release of the Enhanced version of the Resource Guidelines to improve court practice in child abuse and neglect cases, 20 years after the original publication. “The Enhanced Resource Guidelines will serve as the … Read More

Education Stability for Foster Care

Supporting School Stability for Children in Foster Care during COVID-19 and Beyond

As a judge overseeing child welfare cases, you play a critical role ensuring children and youth in foster care are staying on track and making progress in school. Federal law prioritizes education stability for these children and mandates coordination by … Read More

Supporting Remote Family Time

Supporting Remote Family Time During the Pandemic and Beyond: The Judge’s Role

This Judge’s Action Alert highlights: trends in use of remote family time by the legal child welfare community during the pandemic;  benefits and drawbacks of using remote family time approaches;  keys to effective remote family time;  how judges can support remote family … Read More