To Support Outcome-Oriented Child Protection Courts in Order to Achieve Measureable Improvements in Child and Family Matters
Resolution 6 To Support Outcome-Oriented Child Protection Courts in Order to Achieve Measurable Improvements in Child and Family Matters
Judicial leadership and collaboration have led to dramatic improvements in the way courts address child protection matters. Collaboration between state courts and agencies responsible for child protection has contributed to the improvement of processes and outcomes in child protection cases across the country.
However, pervasive systemic challenges remain, requiring critical analysis of performance data to determine whether court processes and interventions are making a positive impact on outcomes for children and families. If states are to achieve measurable improvements in permanency and other outcomes for children in foster care, and evaluate the success of systemic changes in their programs, courts must embrace meaningful performance measurement that answers questions about the effectiveness of court oversight in child protection cases.
In 2012, the National Center for State Courts, in partnership with Casey Family Programs, assembled a National Impact Outcome Advisory Committee — which included representation from the Conference of Chief Justices — to learn and document how courts and agencies partner to improve outcomes for children and families.
The National Impact Outcomes Committee made the following recommendations:
- Establish a shared vision with child welfare partners for improved outcomes, using a holistic approach focused on permanency, safety, and well-being.
- View improvement efforts through the eyes of a child or family to refine the quality of court processes and service delivery.
- Emphasize collegial discussions with tribes, child welfare agencies, attorneys, and other partners to achieve a common understanding of performance data and shared solutions.
- Acknowledge judicial discretion while ensuring all parties follow a common course of action for system improvement.
- Routinely review performance metrics with court stakeholders to foster ownership over outcomes and to develop a well-rounded view of performance.
- Share performance results with partners to engage stakeholders and communities in a better understanding of practices and outcomes.
- Use the strategies above to create an environment of continuous quality improvement that routinely identifies, describes, and analyzes system strengths and challenges, and tests, implements, and refines solutions.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Conference of Chief Justices encourages judicial leaders of child protection courts to adopt the change management strategies recommended by the National Impact Outcomes Committee.
Adopted as proposed by the CCJ Courts, Children, and Families Committee at the Conference of Chief Justices 2013 Midyear Meeting on January 30, 2013.