The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) is pleased to release our newest publication — Improving Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging through a Race Equity Lens: A Toolkit for Juvenile and Family Court Judges. The toolkit is designed to equip juvenile and family court judges with effective strategies and tangible action plans for enhancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) within the court system. Drawing on a trauma-informed perspective, and the many years of the NCJFCJ’s experience with assessing trauma-informed practices within the juvenile and family court system, the toolkit aims to employ a race equity lens to de-emphasize the perspective and power of majority populations, instead promoting a more inclusive, equitable approach.
The development of this toolkit is the result of a collaborative effort led by experts from the NCJFCJ, along with partner experts specializing in bias and trauma. To ensure a robust, lived-experience perspective, experts worked closely with a judicial advisory committee to share their actual experience of DEIB in the courtroom, with a specific focus on race, bias, and the political will for reform.