Child Victims Project Model Courts Status Report 1997-98

• NCJ Number: 194268
• Author(s): Christine Bailey; Shirley Dobbin; Sophie Gatowski; Mary Mentaberry
• Date Published: November 1998
• Length: 72 pages
• Grant Number(s): 96-CT-N-0001
• Sponsoring Agency: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)
• Corporate Author: National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
• Sale Source: National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Technical Assistance Bulletin, N 7, V 2, November 1998.

Annotation

This report chronicles the work of Child Victims Project Model Courts from July 1997 through June 1998 and outlines goals for each of the newest Model Courts.

Abstract

In 1992 the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) established a national project formally called, "Improving the Juvenile and Family Courts' Handling of Child Abuse and Neglect Cases: A Model Training and Technical Assistance Program Development Project." Project efforts came to be informally called the NCJFCJ Child Victims Model Courts Project. The project's first activity was to develop a document ("Resource Guidelines") for use by juvenile and family court judges interested in improving court handling of child abuse and neglect cases. The second step in the process was to identify a limited number of courts that would focus on improving practice in child abuse and neglect cases by committing themselves to the principles outlined in the Resource Guidelines. The project's first Model Court was the Hamilton County Juvenile Court in Cincinnati, Ohio. Through the example of this court, 12 other Model Courts continued working during the period 1997-98 to improve court practice based on the Resource guidelines. Four additional Model Courts were designated in mid-1998 in North Carolina, Oregon, New York State, and New York City. The lead judges in each jurisdiction guide Model Court Teams, which focus on barriers to permanency, develop plans for court improvement, and work collaboratively toward system changes. The current report outlines the work of the NCFCJ's Permanency Planning for Children Department, which provides technical assistance and training for Model Courts, with attention to the development of the National Permanency Planning Curriculum. A summary of project activities for 1997-98 encompasses the introduction of alternative dispute resolution methods such as court-based mediation services and family conferencing; the use of community-based services and other outreach efforts; the initiation of multidisciplinary, court-led meetings and training programs; court calendar improvements; more substantive, expanded preliminary hearings; and increased representation for families and children. All of the Model Courts are developing practice changes in one or more of these areas. Profiles are provided for each of 13 Model Courts. The report concludes with a listing of Model Court goals for 1998-99 and descriptions of resources.