NEW!
Safe Babies Court
SBC is the third Monday of the month at 3:30 pm. (at Family and Juvenile Center)
This program serves families with children from 0 to 3 yrs of age who are also involved with the child welfare system.
SBC is an Early Childhood Court and focuses services on the health, safety and development of the children while supporting parents through engagement in the court ordered services associated with their children’s dependency.
The primary goal of SBC is to assist parents in the development of parenting skills, while they are working through their court ordered services so that permanency is achieved timely and safely.
FRC and SBC, through a collaborative approach with the Child Welfare System, aim to:
· Support safe and timely placement of children,
· Stop intergenerational cycles of abuse and neglect,
· Offer support to parents in developing independent living and parenting skills.
Program Coordinator- Safe Babies Court: Anna Stusser (360) 709- 3249, anna.stusser@co.thurston.wa.us
The primary goal of these programs is to help families achieve long-term success, which significantly reduces the likelihood of those families coming to the attention of child welfare and re-entering the dependency system in the future.
Safe Babies Court is focused on reducing trauma and improving how courts, child welfare and child-serving organization work together to support young children in the child welfare system.
Early childhood experiences shape children’s brain development and have life-long impacts on their social, emotional and physical well-being. Timely and appropriate interventions help maltreated babies and families heal.
These court intervention programs bring together substance use treatment providers, child welfare services, mental health agencies, and other community partners in a collaborative approach.
SBC is focused on reducing barriers for families with young children. The approach elevates the parent voice and makes sure parents are not only aware of what’s going on with their children but also have the opportunity to participate in their children’s development.
SBC involves monthly court hearings and monthly Family Team Meetings where professional and family supports gather to assist the families. These meetings elevate the parent voice and the team hears directly what families need.
Children involved in nationwide Safe Babies Courts are more likely to have fewer number of placements in the child welfare system (the majority have two or more). The nationwide recidivism rate in 12 months is 9.1%; with Safe Babies Court recidivism is 0.8%.
