Bill Overview
Title: Strengthening Courts for Kids and Families Act
Description: This bill reauthorizes through FY2027 and revises the Court Improvement Program, including providing for state courts to implement training for judges, attorneys, and other legal personnel to improve parent, family, and youth engagement in child welfare proceedings.
Sponsors: Rep. Murphy, Stephanie N. [D-FL-7]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals involved in child welfare proceedings
Estimated Size: 5000000
- The bill focuses on child welfare proceedings, impacting children involved in such cases.
- Families of children involved in child welfare cases will also be affected as they engage with the court system.
- Legal professionals who work in family courts, such as judges and attorneys, will receive training affecting their practices.
- Child welfare systems vary by country, and the specific focus is on state courts which points primarily towards the U.S.
Reasoning
- The policy targets families involved in child welfare proceedings, impacting approximately 5 million individuals in the U.S.
- Children in foster care and their families are most directly affected.
- Legal professionals in family courts stand to benefit through training opportunities.
- Given the budget constraints, not everyone involved will experience high-impact changes, so a mix of impact levels should be reflected.
- Due to varying involvement levels with the court, impacts will differ, with some expressing high potential benefit and others only minor or none.
Simulated Interviews
Family Court Judge (Chicago, IL)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Training would help improve engagement and outcomes.
- There's a need for a system that prioritizes family reunification and supports impactful change.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Child Welfare Worker (Dallas, TX)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Training can bridge gaps between courts and families.
- It will make court processes less intimidating for families.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Child Advocate (Miami, FL)
Age: 46 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Court improvement can help ensure fair treatment across cases.
- Revised policies could address systemic biases.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Former Foster Youth (Newark, NJ)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Better-trained judges could have made my experience less stressful.
- More awareness can lead to quicker permanency placements.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Attorney specializing in family law (Seattle, WA)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It will improve procedural justice and understanding in court.
- Training can result in better advocacy for clients.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Public School Teacher (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The training will make the system clearer for kids involved.
- Better outcomes in court affect educational stability.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Paralegal (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 25 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improved training will streamline case management.
- It will help in understanding new legal frameworks.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Family Therapist (Austin, TX)
Age: 40 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Judges understanding family dynamics aids therapy outcomes.
- Policy will likely lead to more collaboration between systems.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Social Worker (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Training will make communication with the legal system more effective.
- Better court proceedings lead to happier families.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Retired Private Attorney (Boston, MA)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Proper training can drastically improve legal proceedings.
- The policy supports sustainable changes in court outcomes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $12500000 (Low: $10000000, High: $15000000)
Year 2: $12750000 (Low: $10250000, High: $15250000)
Year 3: $13000000 (Low: $10500000, High: $15500000)
Year 5: $13500000 (Low: $11000000, High: $16000000)
Year 10: $14000000 (Low: $11500000, High: $16500000)
Year 100: $15000000 (Low: $12500000, High: $17500000)
Key Considerations
- The exact cost is contingent on state-level implementation specifics, which can vary widely.
- Future federal and state fiscal dynamics might affect the program’s funding stability.
- The incidental benefits such as reduced strain on social services and potential improvement in family outcomes could add substantial indirect value.