Improving Juvenile Dependency Case Timeliness Through Use of the One Family, One Judge Model

• Published date: 01 January 2013
• Date: 01 January 2013
• Author: Alicia Summers,Corey Shdaimah
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/jfcj.12001

Improving Juvenile Dependency Case

Timeliness Through Use of the One Family, One

Judge Model

By Alicia Summers and Corey Shdaimah

ABSTRACT

Motivated by the timelines set forth by the Adoption and Safe Families Act of

1997, courts are working toward moving cases safely and expeditiously through the

juvenile dependency court system. One strategy to improve timeliness is the imple-

mentation of a one family, one judge (OFOJ) model. This study examines the effects

of OFOJ implementation on timeliness of case processing. Implementation of the

OFOJ model showed a trend toward improved timeliness. Post-OFOJ cases were

quicker to reach case closure than pre-OFOJ cases. Every additional judge on the case

increased time to permanency (i.e., case closure) by 31 days, which means children are

spending one additional month in care per judge. Resolving cases quicker could

improve the courts’ ability to meet statutory timelines, and could lead to better

outcomes for children and families.

In 2009, more than 400,000 children were placed in foster care in the United States

(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth

and Families, Children’s Bureau [USDHHS], 2010). Once placed in foster care, children

spent an average of 27 months in care, with 35% in care for more than two years

(USDHHS, 2010). The passage of the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) in 1997

(P.L. 105-89) set timelines for the dependency court system, with the goal of safely

reducing time in care and achieving better outcomes for children and families. The ASFA

requires that a permanency hearing be held within 12 months of the date the child enters

foster care, and that a termination of parental rights petition be filed, with certain

Alicia Summers, Ph.D., is a Research Associate III at the National Council of Juvenile and Family

Court Judges. Correspondence: asummers@ncjfcj.org

Corey Shdaimah, LL.M., Ph.D., is an Associate Professor at the University of Maryland School of

Social Work.

Authors’ Note: The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges wishes to acknowledge

that this material is made possible by Cooperative Agreement No. 2009-MU-MU-K001 from the Office of

Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.

bs_bs_banner

Juvenile and Family Court Journal 64, no. 1 (Winter) 23

© 2013 National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges