From birth to three, children rapidly develop the foundational capabilities on which all subsequent development builds. Abuse and neglect during early development stages can permanently alter brain functioning – causing lasting effects into adulthood. In the last 10 years, the rate of foster care entries for infants and toddlers has far exceeded the rate of that for older children. Many jurisdictions have implemented Infant Toddler Court Programs (ITCP), such as the Safe Babies Court Team™ (SBCT) approach, to ensure timely permanency and support holistic well-being for the youngest children and their families.
This publication is intended to help judges launching ITCPs identify key components of the implementation process and embrace their leadership role off the bench to help support the effective implementation of ITCP programs.