Category: Announcements

Upcoming #Webinar! Landmark SCOTUS Decisions: The Impact of the 21-376 Haaland v. Brackeen SCOTUS decision on Native American Families Webinar

When? Thursday, February 22nd, 2024, at 3:00PM EST.

This NACM – National Association for Court Management presentation will provide a brief historical context of the Indian Child Welfare Act, the points considered in Haaland v. Brackeen, and a summary of the decision. Implications of the decision and actions going forward will be discussed. The presenter will then examine why ICWA was cited as the gold standard in child welfare in amici briefs and share a research-based rationale for why cultural connections are important for dependent American Indian and Alaska Native children, and indeed, for all children. The presenter will explore how courts can support cultural connections by raising key questions and monitoring active efforts under ICWA. 

Register here: Webinar Registration – Zoom

Upcoming Webinar! Breaking Barriers: Inclusive Communication for People with Disabilities in Court.

When? Wednesday, January 31st, 2024, at 12:00PM EST.

Clear and accessible communication is fundamental to ensure that everyone can fully participate in the court process. People with disabilities are no exception and have a right to effective communication – meaning that whatever is written or spoken must be accessible.

Join National Center for State Courts for an insightful webinar about the diverse ways people with disabilities communicate and learn effective strategies for court personnel to better serve and reduce barriers for this population.

Register here.

January is #NationalHumanTraffickingPreventionMonth. An opportunity to educate your community about the crime and highlight support services for those who have experienced it. State Justice Institute addresses the impact of federal and state human trafficking laws on the state courts, and the challenges faced by state courts in dealing with cases involving trafficking victims and their families. These efforts are intended to empower state courts to identify victims, link them with vital services, and hold traffickers accountable.

View some of our human trafficking funded projects here: https://www.sji.gov/priority-investment-areas/human-trafficking/

#humantraffickingawareness #endtrafficking #humantraffickingprevention

What does being a Fellow mean to the court community? CCJ and COSCA described the importance of the Fellows program in a joint resolution. The resolution recognizes Fellows as important court leaders, the importance of Fellows projects in improving the administration of justice, and Fellows “as a symbol of professional expertise and individual commitment to excellence in service.”

For more information and to apply, please visit: Prospective Fellows | NCSC

Please reach out to icmfellows@ncsc.org with any questions.

Deadline Extended! Seeking Juvenile Courts for #DemonstrationSites Project

Applications are due by January 5th, 2024.

Are you interested in making data-driven decisions in your juvenile justice court? Are you in the midst of juvenile justice system reform and could use some technical assistance or strategic planning? Would you like your court to be more engaged with your community? Whether you are just starting a new court reform initiative or need assistance with your current initiatives, check out this unique opportunity to assist your court.

The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges NCJFCJ, with funding from the State Justice Institute (SJI), is pleased to announce that we are seeking juvenile courts that are interested in participating in the Enhanced Juvenile Justice Guidelines Demonstration Sites Project. If your court is interested in becoming a demonstration site, please click on the link below to complete the application.

https://ncjfcj.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ddpIevgAYubnp6S

Applications are due by January 5th, 2024.

It’s that time of year again! Federal Grant Season has started. State Justice Institute has designed a Funding Toolkit to support local courts, state courts, and their justice system partners as they pursue federal and philanthropic funding opportunities. This toolkit includes resources that encompass the entire grant seeking, writing and management process, such as planning checklists, sample documents, frequently asked questions and fact sheets.

Technical assistance is also available to courts to provide support and feedback during the grant writing and development process. Access the toolkit to learn about the current funding opportunities, receive technical assistance, watch virtual learning modules and visit our FAQ page to answer any questions you may have: https://fundingtoolkit.sji.gov/

Upcoming Webinar! The National Center for State Courts (NCSC) will be hosting: What’s New with Virtual Child Welfare Hearings on December 19th, 2023, at 3:00PM EST.

Virtual hearings were a necessity to move child welfare cases forward during the pandemic; however, some jurisdictions are continuing to find benefits to using them as a tool. In this webinar, hear from court experts about new resources to help you facilitate meaningful and effective child welfare virtual hearings.

For more information and to register now, click here: Webinar Registration – Zoom

Save the date! #EducationalSessions You Won’t Want to Miss!

Register now for the 2024 NACM – National Association for Court Management Midyear Conference, from February 4th-February 6th, 2024, in Orange County, CA. The conference will offer the most current information, tools, best practices, and training for #courtprofessionals. This upcoming live event features engaging presentations across three (3) educational tracks with insightful opportunities to network with fellow attendees, speakers, sponsors, and exhibitors.

Register here: 2024 Midyear Conference – National Association for Court Management (nacmnet.org)

Upcoming Webinar! Mental Health Diversion: Lessons from the Field on December 11th, 2023, at 4:00PM EST.

In 2022, the National Judicial Task Force to Examine Courts’ Responses to Mental Illness recommended that the Judge’s Guide to Mental Health Diversion, a vital tool for judges across the country for over a decade, should be updated.

The new guide, with revisions by the National Center for State Courts, along with stakeholders and national experts, contains updated information and relies on a better understanding of how to effectively divert people with mental health and co-occurring disorders towards treatment at every stage of legal system involvement.

Attendees of this webinar will learn about the soon-to-be-released Judge’s Guide to Mental Health Diversion, how courts in Kentucky and Missouri used the guide to develop new diversion opportunities, and NCSC’s ongoing efforts to improve outcomes for people with mental health and co-occurring disorders.

Register here: Webinar Registration – Zoom

Upcoming Webinar! Nonlawyer Navigators in State Courts: Voices from the Field on December 8th, 2023, at 2:00PM EST.

In this NCSC webinar, you will hear from Mary McClymont to discuss emerging trends in across the country from her report, Nonlawyer Navigators in State Courts: Part II — An Update. You will also hear from a panel of experts who run navigator programs about how to leverage nonlawyers to provide essential services to court users and best practices in launching and evolving court-based navigator programs. For more information and a copy of the original 2019 navigator report, visit the Georgetown Justice Lab’s Court Navigators Research Website, and don’t miss NCSC’s Tiny Chat with tips on how to start a navigator program!

Register here.