Judges

Final Rule & Kin-Specific Foster Home Approval Standards: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The following Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) concern the Kin-Specific Foster Home Approval Standards. These questions were collected during two Network webinars and through technical assistance requests. The Kin-Specific Standards are the only national model of such standards and were developed to … Read More

Enhancing Juvenile and Family Court Responses to Human Trafficking: A Project Snapshot

In 2021, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) received funding from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Victims of Crime (OVC) to provide training and technical assistance to four grantee sites separately funded under the … Read More

TPR Issue Spotter

The TPR Issue Spotter is designed to assist attorneys challenging the termination of parental rights (TPR) by highlighting significant state Supreme Court and appellate decisions that have upheld parental rights. It is not comprehensive but focuses on cases that exemplify … Read More

Military Families and the Courts – Bench Card Resource Packet

Families and couples with active-duty service members live in every community across the country, and not just in locations with military installations nearby. By virtue of their military connection and employment, active-duty personnel have unique priorities, resources, rights, constraints, and … Read More

Trauma-Informed Courtroom Practices: A Bench Card for Judges

The National Council for Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ), in partnership with OurFamilyWizard, has released Trauma-Informed Courtroom Practices: A Bench Card for Judges, designed to support judges in making informed decisions when working with children and families affected by trauma. READ MORE

Using DNA to Reunify Families Separated by Disasters

Literatures Salient to the Experiences of Children Separated from Their Families During Disasters In disasters (defined as events that overwhelm existing infrastructure to adequately respond), children are at risk of family separations, which are harmful to the health of both … Read More

High Turnover Exacerbates Staffing Needs at Louisiana’s Child Welfare Agency, Audit Finds

An analysis of the state’s child welfare staffing needs found Louisiana is short by at least 129 workers, though a member of Gov. Jeff Landry’s cabinet says the number doesn’t take into account certain factors. At the request of state … Read More

LA Supreme Court

State Supreme Court Mandates Domestic Violence Training For All Louisiana Judges

The Louisiana Supreme Court on Wednesday (June 4) ordered all judges in the state to undergo training on running “trauma-informed courts” and learning best practices for domestic violence cases. The order, effective immediately, requires Louisiana judges to attend a one-hour … Read More

Young People With Lived Experience in Foster Care Recommend Improvements to Mental Health Supports

The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation’s Foster Youth Initiative (Initiative) aims to promote the well-being and future success of young people who have experienced foster care in Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York City, and nationally. As the Initiative’s evaluation partner, Child Trends assesses progress … Read More

Judge’s Action Alert: Using the Family First Prevention Services Act to Strengthen Reasonable Efforts Determinations

This judge’s action alert highlights:– how reasonable efforts findings support children and families in the child welfare system.– how the Family First Act strengthens judges’ reasonable efforts findings.– how to use the Family First Act to strengthen reasonable efforts to … Read More