The Bench and Bar need to ensure that:
- The Courtroom welcomes family members, invites their perspectives and ensures they understand the court process and decisions made.
- Children, youth, and families are invited, engaged and heard in the courtroom as it is
critical to successful outcomes in the case.
- Judges can engage parents, children, youth and ensure their rights are protected, especially at the first hearing, then continue to inquire on progress of engaging kin at each subsequent hearing.
- High quality discussion when judges ask:
- Direct questions
- Follow-up questions
- About different topics
- Expand discussion on topics
- Relevant questions
- Judge asking the child/youth’s wish
- When judges seek parent input during hearings:
- Child may be more likely to be place temporarily with family and achieve permanency faster.
- Parents more likely to keep attending hearings.
- Topics discussed increased when parents attend hearing.
- Relevant evidence is received to make findings and orders – specify what is needed and how to relay information (oral, reports, additional)
- Oversight of agency (see list of questions the court can ask – Building Kin-First culture in the courtroom)
- Relative information sheet