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Child Welfare and Juvenile Law

The NCJFCJ Child Welfare and Juvenile Law Department supports judges and courts in improving outcomes for children and families involved in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. The department provides training, technical assistance, research, and resources focused on best practices in areas such as child abuse and neglect, foster care, permanency, court improvement, and youth involved in delinquency proceedings. Our work helps courts make informed, trauma-responsive, and equitable decisions that promote safety, well-being, and lasting stability for children and families.

Key Initiatives

Child Abuse and Neglect

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The NCJFCJ works to improve how courts handle child abuse and neglect cases by promoting trauma-informed, equitable, and family-centered practices. Through training, technical assistance, and research, the NCJFCJ supports judges and courts in making informed decisions that enhance child safety, promote family well-being, and achieve timely permanency for children in care.
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Youth Justice Reform

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Youth offenders are different from adults due to developmental differences, primarily in their brain, which are less developed in areas for impulse control and decision-making. This leads to a different legal approach as the youth justice system focuses on rehabilitation and the child’s potential for change.  Youth may have the opportunity to receive services and become involved in alternative community programs rather than being confined and receiving only punitive approaches. Courts should respond differently when youth do harm and make mistakes and move toward more developmentally appropriate responses.
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Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Courts

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The NCJFCJ supports courts and judges in upholding the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) to ensure the rights of Native children, families, and tribes are protected. Through training, technical assistance, and resource development, the NCJFCJ helps courts implement ICWA effectively, promote culturally responsive practices, and strengthen collaboration with tribal courts and communities to preserve family and cultural connections.
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Military-Connected Families

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Recent overseas conflicts and repeated deployments have placed significant stress on military members and their families, affecting family stability and reintegration. Juvenile and family courts often see the impacts through cases involving domestic violence, abuse or neglect, custody, and child support, requiring them to navigate both civilian and military systems while considering factors such as the neurobiological effects of combat.
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Resource Center for Courts on Child Trafficking

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Child sex and labor trafficking occurs every day across the U.S., with those in the child welfare or juvenile justice systems at higher risk. The NCJFCJ equips courts to address the complex needs of these victims, emphasizing the critical role of judges and the importance of community and system collaboration to protect and support trafficked youth.
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Animal Cruelty and Family and Interpersonal Violence

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In 2019, NCJFCJ partnered with the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) and convened a group of judges to explore education and advocacy needed to assist judges in understanding the links between animal abuse and interpersonal violence and in responding appropriately to cases involving co-occurring animal and human abuse. The convening led to the creation of an ongoing the Judicial Response to Animal Cruelty Advisory Group and the development of publications, webinars, and other resources aimed at educating juvenile and family court judges on animal cruelty and its links to harms against humans and assisting courts in improving responses to families and their companion animals.
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Youth Engagement for Legal Professionals

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Children and youth are experts about their own lives. They need to be engaged as partners, especially in decisions related to legal, cultural and relational permanency. This requires a paradigm shift for child welfare courts and legal professionals in terms of training, policy and practice.

The QIC-EY Child and Youth Engagement Online Training for Legal Professionals will help to ensure that children and youth can partner safely and effectively in shared decision-making.
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Foster Care and Adoption

The first and only Nevada president for NCJFCJ was Judge Mendoza from the Clark County District Court. He suggested the term Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) to designate the lay court-appointed volunteers at a 1978 meeting. Now CASA is a nationwide organization that supports and promotes court-appointed advocates for abused or neglected children in order to provide children with a safe and healthy environment in permanent homes.

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