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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.

Announcing the California Dependency Online Guide
The California Dependency Online Guide is a free technical assistance Web site for juvenile dependency judicial officers, attorneys, social workers, and other professionals working in child welfare or related fields. The Web site provides a variety of legal and educational resources including a searchable dependency case law database, a conference calendar, sample briefs, motions and writs, county-by-county listings of service providers and experts, and a large number of publications and training materials. To subscribe, visit www.courtinfo.ca.gov/dependencyonlineguide. Contact: dependencyguide@jud.ca.gov, or Angela Duldulao, AOC Center for Families, Children and the Courts, 415-865-4563.

Indian Child Welfare Act Project Resources Database
With generous support from California Department of Social Services, the AOC recently launched a new ICWA Resources Database of local, state and national service providers. The directory contains information on resources serving Native American families. This interactive directory maintains statewide, nationwide and county by county resources that can be accessed by anyone visiting our Web site.

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.

Implementation Guide to Juvenile Dependency Court Performance Measures
This publication is a companion to new rule 5.505. It provides information for local courts about how to implement the performance measures, as well as detailed specifications for each measure, and lists of measures under development and measures for future consideration.

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

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.

Online Children's Activity Book Now in Spanish
What's Happening in Court, an interactive book that helps children going to court to understand legal proceedings, is now available in Spanish. Through online games and other activities, ¿Qué Sucede en la Corte? introduces Spanish-speaking children to court processes and the people and terminology they might encounter in the judicial system.