Partnering with Courts to Improve Timely Permanence
In North Carolina's child welfare system, permanence is defined as a mutually committed, lasting, nurturing, and legally secure relationship between a child or youth and at least one adult. County child welfare agencies must make concerted efforts to achieve permanence for children and youth in a timely manner. What "timely" means can vary because specific timeframes must be met for young people based on their permanent plans:
| Child's Permanent Plan | Permanence Within |
|---|---|
| Reunification | 12 months |
| Guardianship/Custody | 18 months |
| Adoption | 24 months |
Of course, even the most skilled and well-supported social worker cannot control the pace or timelines of a child's legal case. The truth is that timely permanence is not achievable without partnerships between child welfare and the courts. Admittedly, partnering with another system is not always easy — the courts have their own procedures and mandates that do not always align perfectly with those of the child welfare system. But the systems also have shared goals: no one wants children to linger in foster care unnecessarily.
We cannot achieve timely permanence without partnerships with the courts.
To help identify and remove barriers to permanence, child welfare professionals and their agencies must continuously and actively partner with parents, judges, attorneys, Guardians ad Litem, clerks, and others. This issue of Practice Notes includes tips from a county where court/child welfare partnerships are successful, suggestions for writing strong court reports, an update on efforts to make NC courts more trauma-informed, and more.
North Carolina's Court Improvement Program
An overview of North Carolina's Court Improvement Program (CIP) — its origins, purpose, and the three selected supported projects it funds: Safe Babies Courts, an abuse and neglect court manual and online training, and the Interdisciplinary Parent Representation Program.
Update on NC's Safe Babies Court Partnership
Safe Babies Court is best understood as a process, not a program — one that brings courts, child welfare, attorneys, Guardians ad Litem, parents, and community partners together around the common goal of timely and developmentally informed permanence. This article updates NC's progress since the initiative launched in 2023.
Making North Carolina's Courts Trauma-Informed
An interview with District Court Judge Beth Tanner of Judicial District 29 explores the impact of NC's Chief Justice Task Force on ACEs-Informed Courts and how trauma-informed approaches are changing courtroom culture, language, and practice in Moore and Hoke counties.
Tips for Successful Partnerships between Courts and Child Welfare Agencies
Workers and leaders from Rowan County DSS and the courts share how consistent judicial leadership, data transparency, and intentional relationship building have produced measurable improvements in permanency outcomes — including cutting average days to adjudication from 128 days in 2020 to 53 days in 2024.
Data Sources to Support Permanency-Focused Partnerships with the Courts
A spotlight on three North Carolina data tools — the Permanency Performance Profile, Creating Indicators for Child Welfare, and PATH NC — that child welfare agencies and court partners can use to understand roadblocks to timely permanence and track progress together.
Update on NC's Interdisciplinary Parent Representation Program
North Carolina's Interdisciplinary Parent Representation Program (IPRP) pairs parent attorneys with social workers to strengthen advocacy for parents in child welfare cases. New evaluation data confirm improved outcomes, and the program continues to expand across the state.
What Makes a Good Court Report?
Court reports are a critical communication tool connecting child welfare agency work to judicial decisions. This article offers practical guidance on clarity, objectivity, documenting reasonable efforts, incorporating children's voices, and meeting court timelines.
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References for this Issue (PDF)
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