Congress passed the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) in 1978 to address the widespread practice of state entities removing American Indian and Alaskan Native children from their homes and families. Congress found “an alarmingly high…
The relationship between prosecuting attorneys and public defenders is adversarial in nature. However, due to the rise of problem-solving courts and the use of multi-disciplinary teams, this relationship has become less adversarial. Most common are…
The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges’ (NCJFCJ) 2019 Annual Report, Reflection & Redefinition, looks back at the extraordinary achievements of the NCJFCJ in 2019. The members of the NCJFCJ are the driving…
The National Judicial Institute on Domestic Child Sex Trafficking (NJIDCST) trainings by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) were held between 2014-2018. The NJIDCST hosted seven national training events, to provide…
The NCJFCJ held the Second National Summit on Courts and Military-Connected Families (Summit) September 23-24, 2019, at the Saber and Quill Conference Center, Fort Knox, KY. The one-and-a-half-day Summit brought together members and staff of…
At the time you’re going through your divorce, retirement may be the last thing on your mind. However, retirement benefits are very valuable and can ensure your economic security in old age. It’s important to…
Navigating family court can be overwhelming, confusing, and stressful for families. Many people have financial barriers to accessing counsel, cannot qualify for traditional civil legal services, and are self-represented in their legal matters. The stress…
Do you want child support but are afraid of how your current or former partner/spouse/boyfriend/girlfriend may react to a child support case? Are you unsure about getting child support and want to know what protections…
The NCJFCJ and Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) co-hosted the Judicial Responses to Animal Cruelty Issues Convening in 2019. The Convening included participation from 10 judges from across the U.S.–eight judges who hear juvenile, child…
WHEREAS, the NCJFCJ recognizes that issues of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking occur at any age; and WHEREAS, the NCJFCJ has joined in public and private partnerships to address and improve the…
Linking Systems of Care (LSC) for Children and Youth state demonstration sites strive to align activities in each phase of the project – Planning, Implementation, and Sustainability – with the Guiding Principles. Policy decisions should…
If you are a domestic violence survivor and have been ordered or referred to mediation for your custody case, this guide can provide you with some basic information. A lawyer who understands domestic violence and…