Caren Harp, Administrator 

Child Protection: Dependency Courts 

Judges and court personnel are uniquely positioned to identify and help 

children who have been abused, neglected, or exploited as well as those who 

are at risk of victimization. Juvenile and family courts play a critical role in 

preventing victimization and working to achieve safe, stable, and permanent 

homes for children. 

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) works 

to ensure that court personnel have the skills to address the complex needs 

of these children and their families. The Office also aims to provide youth 

with access to well-trained volunteer advocates who represent their best 

interests. 

Program 

Court Appointed Special Advocate Program 

This program recruits and trains volunteers who serve as fact finders, 

monitors, and facilitators in child dependency cases. These court appointed 

special advocates and guardian ad litem volunteers help ensure that abused 

and neglected children and those in foster care do not get lost in the legal or 

social service system and are placed in safe, permanent homes. The funding 

also supports a national court appointed special advocate membership and 

accreditation program. 

In 2019, local programs across 49 states and the District of Columbia served 

more than 271,000 children. 

Training and Technical Assistance 

Child Abuse Training for Judicial and Court Personnel Project 

OJJDP provides training and technical assistance to judicial, legal, 

and social service professionals to improve their response to child abuse 

cases, including cases of children who are victims of domestic child sex 

trafficking, and families impacted by opioids. To better serve children 

and families, the project also teaches practitioners how to coordinate 

information and services across the juvenile justice and child welfare 

systems. 

For More Information 

Access additional information about OJJDP’s child protection programs at 

https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/programs/child-abuse-prevention. 

NCJ 254816 

August 2020 

Funding 

Between fscal years 2017 and 

2019, OJJDP awarded more 

than $34.5 million to improve the 

judicial system’s handling of child 

maltreatment cases. 

` Fiscal Year 2019—$13.4 million 

` Fiscal Year 2018—$12.4 million 

` Fiscal Year 2017—$8.8 million 

From the Field 

Idelia has been in foster care since 

age 13. Through changes in homes, 

families, and schools over the past

7 years, Idelia’s court appointed 

special advocate (CASA) volunteer

has remained a consistent source 

of support to her. “Having a CASA

has changed my life forever,” 

Idelia shares. 

Now 20 years old, Idelia is a

first-generation college student

studying psychology with a minor

in leadership studies. She has a

4.0 GPA. Upon graduation, Idelia 

hopes to inspire other young people

who have been involved with the 

foster care system and help them

understand that their background

does not define them or prevent

them from being successful. 

“My CASA volunteer has believed 

in me since the beginning,” Idelia

said. “Because of her, I became 

stronger and confident in the person

I am today.” 

Office of Juvenile Justice and 

Delinquency Prevention 

ojjdp.ojp.gov