The newsletter of The Judges' Page website - October 2008

Alternative Dispute Resolution Programs in Child Protection Cases
J. Dean Lewis, Judge (retired), Former Member, National CASA Association Board of Directors and Past President, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges

SUMMARY - The articles in this issue of The Judges’ Page explain the types of dependency court alternative dispute resolution programs and the key elements involved in developing a competent program. Jurisdictions across the nation share how they have implemented successful dependency court ADR programs. Article...

Child Protection/Dependency Mediation
Steve Baron, Consultant, Santa Clara County, CA

SUMMARY - Steve Baron outlines the process and benefits of child protection/dependency mediation. Article...

Family Group Decision Making
Anita Horner, Manager of Practice Advancements in Child Welfare, American Humane Association

SUMMARY - When exemplary practices are followed in family group decision making, significant improvements in child and youth safety, permanency and well-being are seen. Article...

Effective Child Protection Mediation and Domestic Violence
Judge Leonard Edwards (retired)
Steve Baron, Consultant, Santa Clara County, CA

SUMMARY - Mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution must address issues that can make the decision-making process unfair or unsafe. The developments of the past 25 years have resulted in practices that promote a fair and safe process for all involved. Article...

Family Finding from a Judicial Perspective
Judge Leonard Edwards (retired)

SUMMARY - The situation facing many judges is that family members have not been identified and foster care becomes a necessary fall-back position.  Family finding is important and everyone involved in child-protection proceedings should take steps to see that family is identified. Article...

Engaging and Empowering “Non Professionals” as Participants in Child Protection Mediation
Marilou Giovannucci, MS, Manager, Connecticut Judicial Branch Court Operations Division

SUMMARY - Mediation proceedings are most effective when all participants are connected, educated and fully involved in the process. The author provides methods for engaging and empowering parents and others to make their experience in mediation valuable. Article...

`Ohana Conferences: A Collaborative Approach to Meeting the Needs of Abused and Neglected Children
Wilma Friesema, MFT, Hawaii Model Court

SUMMARY - `Ohana Conferencing is a powerful community-based intervention strategy to divert child abuse and neglect cases from court and assist families involved in the court process. Article...

The Success of Permanency Mediation in Mecklenburg County, NC
Judge Louis A. Trosch Jr., District Court Judge, 26th Judicial District, Mecklenburg County, NC, and Member, NCJFCJ Board of Trustees
Erin Mack Stack, Permanency Mediation Coordinator, 26th Judicial District, Mecklenburg County, NC

SUMMARY - Permanency mediation in Mecklenburg County, NC, benefits the court system, attorneys, Department of Social Services and, most importantly, children and families. Article...

The Consistent Use of Child Protection Mediation: A Key to Timely Permanency in Neglect, Abuse and Permanent Custody Cases
Magistrate Linda Sorah, Mediation Coordinator, Lucas County Juvenile Court, OH

SUMMARY - The application of guidelines outlined in the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges publication Resource Guidelines: Improving Court Practice in Child Abuse and Neglect Cases, along with the consistent use of mediation in child protection and permanent custody cases, has effectively assisted this Ohio Model Court in achieving timely permanency for children. Article...

Family Team Meetings: One Approach to Front-End, Time-Sensitive Decision Making
Lisa Merkel-Holguin, Director, American Humane National Center on Family Group Decision Making

SUMMARY - This short article focuses on Washington, DC’s Child and Family Services Agency’s family team meeting initiative, which has been operational since January of 2005. Article...

Considering Culture in Mediation of Child Protection Cases
Katy Gallagher-Parker, Staff Attorney, 126th District Court, Austin, TX
Judge Darlene Byrne, 126th District Court, Austin, TX

SUMMARY - As in litigation, a variety of cultural factors come into play in the mediation of civil child protection cases. Article...

Child Advocates’ Mediation Project: Seven Years of Working Together for Children
Cindy Booth, Executive Director, Child Advocates, Inc.

SUMMARY - Child Advocates’ CASA volunteers and staff have been successful in leading our system to participate in, understand and support alternate dispute resolution by helping to establish mediation as a tool in termination of the parent/child relationship cases. Article...

Web Resources: Alternative Dispute Resolution Practices in Dependency Court
Paula Campbell, Permanency Planning for Children Department, NCJFCJ

SUMMARY - Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) has gained widespread acceptance in recent years. Some courts now even require parties to resort to ADR of some type, usually mediation, before permitting a case to be tried. Following are resources, tools and publications on ADR, mediation and family group decision making. Article...