§20331 Findings and Purpose

Summary

Provides extra training and technical help to judges, court staff, and lawyers in juvenile and family courts. The goal is to make courts handle child abuse and neglect cases better, with special focus on checking whether agencies tried to avoid placing children in foster care or keeping them there longer than needed. Congress found that many juvenile and family courts are swamped by more abuse reports and drug-related cases and do not have enough resources. The Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 gave courts new duties—such as checking agency efforts to prevent foster care, approving voluntary placements outside formal court orders, and protecting parents’ rights—but did not provide training money for judges. Agencies pressure courts, and courts sometimes just go through the motions. Better results require action by court leaders and judges with administrative roles.