§20331 Findings and Purpose

Summary

Provides extra training and hands-on help for judges, court managers, and attorneys who work in juvenile and family courts. Congress found that many of these courts are overloaded because reports of abuse, neglect, and drug-related harm have risen and court resources are thin. The Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 gives courts new duties—like checking whether agencies tried to avoid foster care, approving some voluntary placements, and protecting parents’ rights—but it gives no money to train judges. Agencies often push courts to meet those rules, and courts sometimes do the minimum because they lack time and training. The goal is to improve how courts handle child abuse and neglect cases by focusing training on judges and lawyers. The training will help courts make sensible, careful decisions about efforts that can safely prevent or shorten unnecessary foster care placements.