Training Events

The 2025 Dependency Judicial Training Academy is scheduled for May 19th – 21st.  This multi-day, virtual training is open to Superior Court and Tribal Court judicial officers, court administrators, and FJCIP Coordinators. Judicial officers and staff from the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court are also welcome to attend. Click to register.

The Thurston County Safety Summit is scheduled for February 25, 2025, from 1:00 – 5:00pm. This virtual, cross-system training and action-planning summit is open to all dependency court and system partners. Click to learn more and register.

This cross-system webinar introduced participants to the many harms that children experience as a result of removal by child welfare and how court systems can help reduce the impacts of the trauma associated with forced family separation. Presented November 8, 2024. 90 minutes.

This cross-system webinar presented by experts from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) introduced participants to the newly released public health guidance on high-potency synthetic opioids and its application in child dependency cases.  Held September 13, 2024. 60 minutes

The Clark County Safety Summit is scheduled for January 15, 2025, from 1:00 – 5:00pm. This virtual, cross-system training and action-planning summit is open to all dependency court and system partners. Click to learn more and register.

During the week of June 24th-28th Hope Rising Washington is planning a series of events to support a Hope Centered Washington. The purpose of these events is to bring awareness to the power of hope. Community organizations, leaders, and champions for youth are encouraged to attend. Click to learn more.  

Snohomish County Superior Court requests the presence of all Dependency court and system partners at the virtual Snohomish County Safety Summit, scheduled for April 19th from 8:00am – 12:00pm. Click to learn more and register.

This past May, Family & Youth Justice Programs (FYJP) held the 2023 Dependency Judicial Training Academy which was entirely focused on preparing courts for the monumental changes of the Keeping Families Together Act. In response to numerous requests, we will be offering a condensed, 1.5-day version of the academy in August 2023. 

Family & Youth Justice Programs will host the 2023 Dependency Judicial Academy on May 15th, 16th & 17th. This 3-day virtual academy will focus on preparing for implementation of the Keeping Families Together Act (HB 1227). Click to learn more about the academy!

FYJP will be partnering with the Department of Children, Youth & Families to host cross-system webinars aimed at supporting local court communities in understanding and preparing for the implementation of the Keeping Families Together Act (HB 1227).  

This virtual training by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption will introduce its evidence-based, child-focused recruitment model while also reviewing common legal issues that can present barriers to pursuing permanency for youth in foster care. FYJP was pleased to partner in the planning of this training

Family & Youth Justice Programs is excited to partner with the Capacity Building Center for Courts (CBCC) to host the WA Attorney Academy on Reasonable & Active Efforts in the spring and summer of 2023. This virtual training is designed to help attorneys practicing in the Washington child welfare system gain the knowledge and skills

On August 4th FYJP hosted the “The Power of Hope”.  This exciting webinar event was presented by renowned hope science expert and researcher, Dr. Chan Hellman. This training focused on how systems can develop a unifying language of hope and create a positive culture that can be infused into child welfare.      

Family Treatment and Healing to Wellness Courts met on June 29, 2022 to discuss the challenges and opportunities for therapeutic courts working with families in rural communities in Washington. The meeting included a brief introduction to the current research available regarding virtual hearings, substance use disorder and mental health treatment, and best practices of virtual

On May 6, 2022, the Grays Harbor County Safety Summit will be held virtually from 1:00-5:00pm. This is a joint effort of Family & Youth Justice Programs and the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF).

Family & Youth Justice Programs, in partnership with the Capacity Building Center for Courts, presented the Washington Active and Reasonable Efforts Judicial Academy in the Spring of 2022. This two-day, virtual training was offered twice, first on March 31-April 1 and again, April 14-15, with a maximum registration of 16 judicial officers per day. This

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. 

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).

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

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.

In 2020 FYJP was grateful to be joined by judicial officers and court administrators from 17 Counties, 10 Tribes, and the Washington State Supreme Court to learn foundations for quality judicial practice.

FYJP presented a dynamic, three-day training on child abuse and neglect hearings that promote safety, due process, timely permanency, and well-being for children and families.

CITA conducts training for judicial officers in Washington State two times per year, focusing on dependency practice.  On March 1-2, 2018, CITA conducted training for approximately 20 judicial officers from around the State.

In March 2017, the Administrative Office of the Courts and CITA partnered with the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) to deliver Washington State’s first Child Abuse and Neglect Institute.

In early June 2016, CITA presented a dynamic two-day training program focused on providing information and tools to support what courts do – making informed and fair decisions – and how they do it – with trauma-responsive and compassionate leadership.  Below are the presentations and materials from the training. The ABA Safety Guide was presented

Many Thanks to the incredible team that gathered for a beautiful training event that, we hope, will spur several types of innovation around WA State (and beyond). We listened to expert Parent Allies discuss our system, where it works and where it needs to improve; learned about the role diet and health play in our