Guidance on Resuming Dependency Fact Finding and Termination of Parental Rights, issued by the Washington Supreme Court in July 2020. At the request of Chief Justice Debra Stephens, a workgroup was formed by Justice Barbara Madsen, Co-Chair of the Commission on Children in Foster Care, to develop model guidelines and best practices for resuming dependency fact finding and termination of parental rights trials following the March 2020 suspension of all trials due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidance was created
Key Considerations for Virtual Hearings
This brief from Casey Family Programs summarizes key considerations — potential benefits and potential concerns — for courts utilizing virtual hearings. The pandemic has provided a rare opportunity to rapidly redesign the court process, and virtual hearings will likely continue, in some fashion, post-COVID-19.
Indigenous Children, Youth and Family Conference Sessions
CONFERENCE SESSIONS In August 2020, the Alliance for Child Welfare Excellence and DCYF’s Office of Tribal Relations co-hosted the Indigenous Children, Youth and Families Conference to learn and share ideas around Indigenous family wellness. CITA was happy to partner with this effort and provide support for the legal sessions addressing the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and its application in Washington State.
Capacity Building Center for Courts
The Capacity Building Center for Courts works with Washington’s Court Improvement Program and CITA to improve child safety, permanency, and well-being outcomes for families by ensuring that courts partner with child welfare agencies to best serve children and families.
Office of Public Defense – Parents Representation Program
CITA collaborates with the Office of Public Defense’s Parents Representation Project to develop and deliver cross-system training, including Family Time and Safety Guide training, and to support innovative projects at the local and state levels, such as Finding Fathers and Parents for Parents.
Federal Children’s Bureau Guidance on Termination of Parental Rights During COVID-19
The Children’s Bureau letter to state and tribal child welfare leaders addressing concerns related to filing a petition to terminate parental rights when services have not been available
Impact of Removal Webinar with Dr. Monique Mitchell – September 29, 2020
UPCOMING Dr. Monique Mitchell will be speaking on the impact of removal and trauma resulting from entry into foster care in a free webinar on September 29th, 10-11am. This webinar is offered by the Children’s Justice Conference.
Tools for Addressing Education During COVID-19
During this time of school closures, social distancing and online learning, supporting the educational needs of students in foster care requires increased attention and new approaches.
Office of Civil Legal Aid – Children’s Representation Program
OCLA’s Children’s Representation Program (CRP) works with private attorneys and publicly-funded agencies throughout Washington State to provide standards-based representation for children and youth. CITA has collaborated with OCLA to provide training and establish a community of practice for child attorneys.
Innovative Dependency Court Collaborative
The Innovative Dependency Court Collaborative (IDCC) is a multi-disciplinary task force that encourages, generates, and supports innovation with dependency court stakeholders and communities to empower and achieve justice for families. The IDCC aligns its work with the federal Children’s Bureau’s new vision and strategies for strengthening families.