Youth Engagement in Court
ABA Materials
Adolescent Brain Research Toolkit:
The following resources were developed by ABA Center on Children and the Law, Youth Engagement Project, funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative.
- How Adolescent Brain Science Supports Youth Engagement in Court Hearings and Case Planning
- Adolescent Brain Science Case Scenarios
- Brain Frames: How Attorneys Can Engage Youth in Case Planning and Court Hearings
- Quick Reference Guide: Federal Laws Supporting Youth in Foster Care Transitioning to Adulthood
Other Articles
- With Me, Not Without Me: How to Involve Children in Court
- Seen and Heard: Involving Children in Dependency Court
- Ex Parte Communications between Children and Judges in Dependency Proceedings
- Judge's Benchcards: Young Children 0-1, Toddlers & Preschool Age Children, School Age Children, Adolescents, Older Adolescents
- Seen, Heard and Engaged: Children in Dependency Court Proceedings
- Engaging Youth in Court: Sample Court Policy
State Examples & Tools
- State Overview: Youth in Court State-by-State Summary
- Colorado Youth in Court Order
- Kansas: Hearing Checklist, Youth Survey, Judges Survey, Youth-Friendly Notice Letter
- New Jersey: New Jersey Youth Engagement Pilot: Summary Report, Pre-court survey for youth, Post-court survey for youth
New Jersey Youth in Court Videos: Introduction, Getting Ready for Court, Participating in Court, Topics in Court, What to Expect in Court, Court Decisions, After the Hearing, The Life of a Child Welfare Case
- New York Workgroup Youth in Court Policy Recommendations
- Pennsylvania: Youth in Court Benchcard, Permanency Review Checklist
- Vermont: Preparing Children for Court
- Wisconsin CIP Youth in Court Video
Youth Resources
Other Must Reads
- Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care Report – Fostering the Future
- A Matter of When, Not If: Involving Kids in Court
- Where Are All the Children?: Increasing Youth Participation in Dependency Proceedings
- LISTEN TO ME! Empowering Youth and Courts through Increased Youth Participation in Dependency Hearings
- The Effect of Youth Presence on Dependency Court Proceedings
- Stand Up, Stand Out: Recommendations to Improve Youth Participation in New York City’s Permanency Planning Process
- Talking with Kids – Sample Questions
- Considerations on Involving Youth in Court
Permanency and Transition Planning
Written Materials
- Congress Passes New Federal Child Welfare Law: How Can it Be Used by Legal Advocates?
- Legal Permanency for Adolescents Entering and Remaining in Foster Care (presentation)
- Achieving Permanency for Adolescents in Foster Care: A Guide for Legal Professionals
- Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care Report – Fostering the Future: Safety, Permanence, and Well Being for Children in Foster Care
- Post 18 Jurisdiction Law Policy: Improving Outcomes for Older Youth
Laws and Policies
Federal Laws
ABA Policies
- Access to Independent and Transitional Living Services & Health Care (Aug. 2002)
- Urging Adoption of Pew Recommendations (Aug. 2005)
- Offering Services to To Transitional Youth (Aug. 2007)
Youth Resources
- On Your Own But Not Alone
- 10 Things to Remember When Leaving Foster Care
- Get Involved: Organizations That Support Children in Foster Care
Extending Care after Age 18
Laws and Policies
- Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act: Frequently Asked Questions on the Provisions Designed to Impact Youth and Adults
- Sample State Legislation – A tool for state policymakers, administrators and advocates to develop legislation to extend support to youth beyond age 18.
- Chart summarizing state laws extending agency oversight of foster youth beyond age 18