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MISSION STATEMENT

The AOC Center for Families, Children & the Courts (CFCC) is dedicated to improving the quality of justice and services to meet the diverse needs of children, youth, families, and self-represented litigants in the California courts.

WHAT'S NEW

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!
Beyond the Bench XIX: Communicating and Collaborating
December 11–12, 2008
San Francisco, California

Beyond the Bench is an annual, nationally acclaimed, multidisciplinary conference that brings together more than 1,100 juvenile dependency and delinquency professionals from around the state.

Judicial Council Declares November Adoption and Permanency Month
The Judicial Council of California declared November as Court Adoption and Permanency Month to coincide with National Adoption Month efforts. California courts, in collaboration with its local communities, will be hosting special events throughout November to educate the community about the continuing need for adoption and permanency of foster children and youth. For a schedule of court adoption and permanency events taking place across California go to www.courtinfo.ca.gov/programs/cfcc/pdffiles/2008NovemberAdoptevents.pdf.

2008 Youth and Elders Art & Poetry Contest
The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC), Center for Families, Children & the Courts (CFCC) is pleased to announce the 2008 Youth and Elders Art & Poetry Contest. The contest, for youth and elders of any age who have experience in California’s court system, is intended to give them a voice by encouraging self-expression through the arts.

• Informational Memo
  
• Information Flyer (English)
  
• Information Flyer (Spanish)
  
• Registration Form (Word)

Effective Court Practice for Abused Elders
Effective Court Practice for Abused Elders is the project of a two-year research grant awarded to the Center for Families, Children & the Courts by the Archstone Foundation. The objectives of the study were to identify courts that have adopted a specialized response to elder abuse, document innovative and effective practices in handling elder abuse cases, and assess the needs of abused and neglected elders who come before the courts. The overall goal of the study was to gather and disseminate information to help courts improve the quality of justice for elderly victims in the courts.  Main Report; Appendixes

The Juvenile Delinquency Court Assessment 2008 is a comprehensive research study of the California delinquency court system based on surveys and focus groups conducted with delinquency court professionals and court users. Click here to view the final report.

Teen DUI Prevention: A Judicial Outreach Initiative
During this broadcast, court leaders discuss an innovative judicial outreach project, “Real DUI Court in Schools." The project’s goal is to expand current DUI prevention program models statewide. Models discussed are “Courage to Live” (developed by the National Judicial College) and programs in which a real DUI trial or sentencing hearing is held in a middle or high school as the centerpiece for a discussion around substance abuse and impaired driving. The broadcast emphasizes the partnerships necessary to execute such programs and the benefits gained by the community. Click to see the video.

ICWA Project: Click here to view resources and materials.

MATERIALS POSTED!
The Center for Families, Children & the Courts announces the following new publications. For a complete list of CFCC's publications, click here.

Ten Years of Access to Visitation Grant Program Services (Fiscal Years 1997–2007).

Dual-Status Children: Protocols for Implementing Assembly Bill 129 – A Report to the California Legislature: Assembly Bill 129 (2004) allowed counties to develop a local protocol to designate certain children as having dual status, i.e., being both a dependent child and a ward of the juvenile court. AB 129 required the Judicial Council to evaluate the implementation of these protocols and to report its findings to the Legislature within two years of the date that participating counties first deem a child to be a dual-status child.  The report addresses the following questions:

• How many counties adopted a dual-status protocol? Why did some counties elect to adopt a protocol, while some did not?
• What are the key features of dual-status protocols?
• What did the process of developing a dual-status protocol entail?
• Which aspects of developing and implementing a protocol were successful, and which were more challenging? What facilitated the successes, and what would help overcome the challenges?
• What would help the county teams optimize the implementation of their dual-status protocols moving forward?

Court Adoption and Permanency Resource Guide and 2007 Supplement
The 2007 Supplement to the Court Adoption and Permanency Resource Guide continues to provide the courts in California with ideas and best practice approaches for collaborating with their court and community stakeholders, not only to expedite permanency for children in foster care system but also to raise community awareness of the absolute necessity for safe and permanent homes for all foster children. Other court adoption and permanency resources are available on the program description site here.