Judicial Roundtables focus on child abuse and neglect, youth services

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – West Virginia’s second regional judicial leadership roundtable focusing on child abuse and neglect and youth services is being held at the Bridgeport Conference Center today, March 13, 2009.

The roundtables are sponsored by the U.S. Administration for Children and Families Court Improvement Program training grant. The meetings will give circuit judges an opportunity to discuss among their peers best practices for achieving permanency, safety, and well-being for children involved in child abuse and neglect and youth services cases. Judges from the Third, Fourteenth through Twentieth, and Twenty-Sixth Judicial Circuits attended.

"It is important to the Court that children who come into contact with the court system are treated uniformly and fairly across the state, and that their cases are handled in an expeditious manner. Meetings like this allow judges to swap stories and to learn from each others’ experiences, both good and bad," said Chief Justice Benjamin. "We are grateful the federal grant gives us this opportunity."

Six regional roundtables are scheduled throughout March and April. A retired judge associated with the National Child Welfare Resource Center on Legal and Judicial Issues will help conduct the training at each location. The first roundtable was last week in Shepherdstown.

Judge Gary L. Johnson of the Twenty-Eighth Judicial Circuit in Nicholas County is chairman of the West Virginia Court Improvement Program (CIP) Oversight Board. He and Senior Status Judge Robert B. Stone are co-chairmen of the CIP training committee that planned the roundtables.

West Virginia underwent a Child and Family Services Review by the U.S. Administration for Children and Families Children’s Bureau in 2008. Preliminary findings of the review, including strengths and concerns, will be highlighted at each roundtable. Ultimately, the best practices identified at the roundtables will assist in future training of judges, attorneys, social workers, and others involved in the child abuse and neglect and youth services court processes.

The roundtables are closed to the press and the public to foster a more open discussion among judges. Participating judges may be available at the conclusion for comment. For more information about the judicial roundtables or child abuse and neglect and youth services, contact Nikki Tennis at (304) 558-0145.