On October 25, 2021, the Washington ICWA Court Summit will be held online. This is a joint effort of the National Council of Family & Juvenile Court Judges, Casey Family Programs and the Family & Youth Justice Programs.
Teaching the Hulk Tetris – Understanding Trauma and the Importance of Self-Regulation
This presentation explores the connection between trauma and negative life outcomes through a foundational understanding of the neurophysiology of the human stress response and how trauma is “stored” in the body. It takes a deep dive into the role of the central nervous system in an individual’s ability to cope with stress and the numerous implications this has for their short-term and long-term wellness. A parent who successfully navigated the child welfare system brings the science and her lived experience together, providing practical tools for helping clients and professionals avoid “hulking out.”
Dependency Practice Tip: Strengthening Parent-Child Visitation During Child Welfare Proceedings – HB 1194 Changes to Law and Practice
HB 1194 makes significant changes to the court’s role in ordering visitation with the goal of providing the maximum parent, child, and sibling contact possible, while keeping the child safe. A statute-by-statute overview of these changes is provided, along with resources and implementation information.
HB 1194 Training – Strengthening Parent-Child Visits During Child Welfare Proceedings
A training and Q& A session on the new Family Time visit requirements created by HB 1194 was held on July 21, 2021. The session was recorded and can be viewed on this website. Q&As from the session will be posted soon.
2021 Judicial Academy on Reimagining Justice in Child Welfare and Dependency Court
CITA is offering an interactive, virtual judicial training series, “Reimagining Justice in Child Welfare and Dependency Court.” The training will occur on:
May 24th (Monday), June 1st (Tuesday) and June 9th (Wednesday).
SCJA Spring Conference 2021- Strengthening the Front Door of the Courthouse
On April 28, 2021, CITA is sponsoring a session for dependency judicial officers at the Superior Court Judges Association Spring Conference. Strengthening the Front Door of the Courthouse The trauma of removing children from their parents, the cost of State intervention for bad outcomes, and the racial disparity exercised by our child welfare system, call us to resist the use of our courts to separate families in order to deliver help. The front door of the courthouse needs to be
New DOH Guidance on Safe Behaviors Post-Vaccine – Implications for Family Time Visits
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is adopting the guidance released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding post-vaccine behavior. This has implications for families to visit without masks, when a parent has been vaccinated. The guidance provides that, if someone has been fully vaccinated, they can: Gather indoors with fully vaccinated people in private residences without wearing a mask and, Gather indoors with unvaccinated people from one other household in private residences (for example, visiting
Spokane HOPE Summit 2021 – February 18, 2021
CITA and the Spokane dependency court system will be hosting a virtual, invitation-only HOPE Summit on February 18, 2021. Event materials for attendees are posted for download.
COVID-19 Impact on the Mental Health of Children and Youth in Care
Childhood health experts are deeply concerned that the COVID-19 pandemic has serious consequences for children and youth, delaying their cognitive, emotional and social development. Children in foster and relative care, who have experienced abuse or neglect and the trauma of removal, are likely to experience disproportionately more significant behavioral health impacts from the pandemic. Resources are available to understand the behavioral health impact and support the well-being of children and youth in care.
New DCYF Family Time Guidance for Making Temporary, COVID-Related Changes to Court-Ordered Visits
DCYF and court partners worked with DOH to develop new in-person Family Time guidance that directs parties in every case to work together to reduce the opportunity for viral transmission during visits by creating Temporary COVID Aware Family Time Plans. The guidance does not eliminate in-person Family Time, due to the vital importance of keeping families connected during the pandemic. If parties cannot agree on a temporary plan, the issue will be brought to court.