NCJ Number
239541
Date Published
2009
Length
42 pages
Annotation
This document, which was developed from interviews with the founders of "Resource Guidelines" and a review of relevant background materials, presents an overview of the genesis of the Resource Guidelines and how they have been used to support and guide juvenile and family court judges in court reforms across the Nation.
Abstract
The Resource Guidelines, published in 1995, detail effective dependency court hearing processes; provide options for improved practice; and guide juvenile and family courts in assessing and implementing improvements in the handling of child abuse and neglect cases. The Resource Guidelines have been endorsed by the Conference of Chief Justices and the American Bar Association. One chapter of this publication reflects on the historical development of the Resource Guidelines. This is followed by a chapter on key events in the diffusion and dissemination of the Resource Guidelines. These key events include actions by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) that led to the U.S. Congress' enactment of the Adoption and Safe Families Act in 1997, the launching of the Child Victims Act Model Court Project, and publication of the Adoption and Permanency Guidelines for improving court practice in child abuse and neglect cases. Another chapter reviews the introduction and consequences of implementing Resource Guidelines in model court sites. Issues discussed include practice improvements that were pioneered by the model courts, improved outcomes associated with the model courts, and the commitment required of a model court. This is followed by a chapter on the Resource Guidelines' support for court performance measurement. The remaining two chapters address how the Resource Guidelines continue to support ongoing system reform initiatives and improved system outcomes, as well as the core philosophy and practice of the Resource Guidelines in supporting ongoing and future reform efforts. 20 notes