Right from the Start: The Courts Catalyzing Change Preliminary Protective Hearing Benchcard Study Report – Testing a Tool for Judicial Decision-Making

The report details positive qualitative and quantitative results when using the guidelines outlined in the Benchcard. Development of this Benchcard grew out of a national initiative, Courts Catalyzing Change: Achieving Equity and Fairness in Foster Care (CCC). This report shows that children who are removed from their parents for abuse or neglect allegations experience better outcomes when judges follow a set of decision-making guidelines during the initial removal hearing.