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Judges’ Roles in Implementing Fostering Connections: Youth Transitioning from Care Provisions

The Fostering Connections Act includes provisions aimed at supporting youth who are transitioning from foster care. The following judicial considerations and questions to ask from the bench offer guidance to support this transition and promote good outcomes.

Judges’ Roles in Implementing Fostering Connections: Relative Caregiver Provisions

Learn the key questions judges can ask to ensure compliance with the relative caregiver provisions of the Fostering Connections Act.

Seven Things Juvenile Court Judges Should Know about Learning Disabilities

Youth with learning disabilities present challenges to juvenile courts. Explore these challenges and how to address them by understanding laws and proven strategies.

Michigan Judge Leads Project to Improve Parent Representation

Inspired by the results of an evaluation of parent attorney performance, a Michigan judge has started a project to help turn things around. Key project elements are outlined as well as expected project benefits.

The Judge’s Role in Ensuring Quality Representation for Parents

Judges can take creative steps to improve the quality of representation parents receive in child welfare cases. Get tips and guidance to raise the bar in your courtroom.

Psychotropic Medication and Children in Foster Care: Tips for Advocates and Judges

This article helps attorneys and judicial officers understand the proper role of psychotropic medications for children in foster care and provides a practical framework for decision making.

Engaging Youth in Court: Sample Court Policy

The sample court policy discussed in this article suggests key steps to successfully engage youth in court.

Ex Parte Communications between Children and Judges in Dependency Proceedings

What happens, however, when a child wishes to share his or her views with the judge but does not want to be in court? Through three case examples, the article provides tips for judges and attorneys, even in jurisdictions that lack case law or court rules on point.,x-default

Engaging Fathers in the Child Protection Process: The Judicial Role (Part 1)

As a judge presiding over child protection cases, you have the power to remove barriers and promote fathers’ involvement in child welfare legal proceedings. Fathers are important to the child and to the legal process and you play a critical role in engaging them.

Engaging Fathers in the Child Protection Process: The Judicial Role (Part 2)

Part 2 of this article focuses on specific strategies judges can use to engage fathers in and out of court, as well as strategies for engaging fathers’ extended families and ensuring the safety of the mother and child.

Raising Funds for Courts: Judges' Roles

You’re a judge in a court that is trying to establish a family drug court to handle the growing number of child welfare cases involving parental substance abuse. You’re asked to join a committee to raise funds for the court. Can you?