Volume 26

Strengthening Courts, Improving Foster Care: A Progress Report from the Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care

Thursday, April 6 2006
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
U.S. Capitol Building, Room H-137
Washington, D.C.

No child enters or leaves foster care without a judge's approval. Given the critical role of juvenile and family courts in children's lives, the nonpartisan Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care called for sweeping court reforms to protect children in foster care and secure safe, permanent families for them.

The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 includes new provisions to improve the juvenile and family courts, reflecting several of the Pew Commission's major court recommendations. These new improvements will help courts track and analyze their caseloads to improve outcomes for children in foster care, allow judges and other court personnel to receive needed training, and encourage collaboration between courts and child welfare agencies. The DRA provides $100 million over five years for these court improvements.

These new court provisions add critical momentum to the efforts of states to improve their child welfare and court systems. On April 6, please join members of the Pew Commission, Congressional leaders, judges, court leaders and federal officials to explore the potential impact of these court improvements on children in foster care throughout the United States.

RSVP: Please call Gina Russo, 202/687-0697, or email mediaiq@comcast.net