Juvenile dependency court improvement efforts cannot fully succeed without the support of key stakeholders in the community. Many local organizations and individuals already participate in the court process as foster parents, CASA volunteers or guardians ad litem. Other groups are essential partners in coordinated efforts to build community resources.

Direct involvement in juvenile dependency court leads to a greater understanding of the obstacles and frustrations faced by those who come before the court. Raising awareness and concern within the community for the problems facing juvenile courts can build support for lasting systemic reform. Involvement in court improvement should not be limited to organizations whose primary purpose is to work with children. Other groups may have an interest in systemic court reform, or their employees or members may have a personal desire to be involved.

In an effort to facilitate and increase this "grass roots" support, we have compiled a list of potential community partners for court improvement projects. This list comes from many different sources, including responses from the ABA's court improvement Internet discussion group. Many thanks to all those who shared their ideas!

Some of these suggestions may require you to locate the actual groups or local chapters in your jurisdiction. Naming specific organizations does not constitute an endorsement, and this list is not exhaustive. If you have additional ideas for successful collaboration, please share them with us and your state court improvement project.

Business and Financial Services

Advertising and Public Relations Firms
Banks and Credit Unions
Business Development Centers
Businesses that focus on Youth, such as Sporting Goods
Chambers of Commerce
Economic Development Centers

Children, Youth and Teen Programs

Boy and Girl Scouts of America
Boys and Girls Clubs
Camp Fire Girls
Child Abuse Prevention Centers
Child Care Providers
Child Care Resource and Referral Programs.Children First
Children formerly in Foster Care (teens or adults)
Citizen Foster Care Review Boards
Day Care Centers
Families for Kids Projects
Head Start
Job Corps
Juvenile Justice Organizations
Parent Resource Centers
Parents who have been through the Court System
Relief Nurseries
Youth Development Organizations
Youth Service Teams

Crisis and Emergency Services

American Red Cross (and local chapters)
Crisis Centers
Domestic Violence Programs
Parents Anonymous
Salvation Army
Victims' Assistance Programs
Women's Crisis Services

Educational Institutions

Community Colleges
Departments of Education
Early Childhood Development
Early Intervention Programs
Educational Service Districts
Law Schools, especially Child Advocacy Legal Clinics
Parent Teacher Associations
Schools (Public and Private)
Schools for the Deaf and/or Blind
State Colleges
Universities and University-based Programs

Employment Agencies

Employee Assistance Programs
Employment Departments
JOBS Programs
Jobs Training Partnership Act and Private Industry Councils
Sheltered Workshops and Community Employment Programs
Summer Youth Employment
Unions
Government & Government Associations
Association of Counties
City Governments
Council of State Governments
Councils on Crime and Delinquency
County Governments
Commission on Children and Families
County Health Departments
Court Systems
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
District Attorneys/Prosecutors
Judges
Juvenile Department Directors
Public Defender's Office
Trial Court Administrators
Department of Corrections
Department of Human Resources/Social Services
Adult and Family Services
Disability Services Advisory Councils
Health Division
Mental Health and Developmental Disability Services Division
Office of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Programs
Office of Information Services
Office of Medical Assistance
Senior & Disabled Services Division
Service Integration and Community Partnership Projects
Services to Children and Families
Vocational Rehabilitation Division
Volunteer Program
Department of Transportation
Disabilities Commission
District Attorney Associations
Governor's Office
Indian Law Centers
Law Enforcement
Crimes Against Children Units
State Police
Sheriffs' Offices
Legal Aid Bureaus
Legislatures
Military/Armed Services/National Guard
Neighborhood Associations
Transit Organizations
Tribes and Tribal Courts
Veteran's Administration.Health Services & Support Groups
AIDS Organizations
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment and Support Programs
Deaf and Hard-of-hearing Organizations
Group Homes
Health Insurance Companies
Home Health Agencies
Hospice Organizations
Hospitals
Independent Living Programs
Long Term Care Facilities (Adult Foster Homes, Residential Care Facilities,
Assisted Living Facilities, Nursing Facilities)
March of Dimes
Medical Societies
Mental Health Counseling & Treatment Programs
Rehabilitation Organizations
Respite Care Programs
Retirement Centers
Senior Centers
Senior or Disability Programs
Sexual Assault Programs

National Organizations and Associations (and their Local Chapters)

American Adoption Congress
American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance
American Association of University Women
American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law
American Humane Association, Children's Division
American Public Welfare Association
Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
The Center for Law and Social Policy
Center for the Study of Social Policy
Center for the Study of Youth Policy
Center on Social Welfare Policy and Law
Child Welfare Institute
Child Welfare League of America
Children's Defense Fund
Children's Rights, Inc.
Family Builders by Adoption
Homebuilders
Juvenile Law Center
Juvenile Rights Project
National Adoption Center
National Association of Child Advocates
National Association of Counsel for Children
National Association of Foster Care Reviewers
National Association of Public Child Welfare Administrators
National Association of Social Workers
National Association of Women Judges
National Center for Juvenile Justice
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
National Center for Prosecution of Child Abuse
National Center for State Courts
National Center for Youth Law / Youth Law Center
National Child Abuse Coalition
National Children's Advocacy Center
National Coalition to End Racism in America's Child Care System
National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse
National Conference of Commissioners for Uniform State Laws
National Conference of State Legislatures
National Council on Adoption
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association
National Foster Care Resource Center
National Foster Parent Association
National Indian Child Welfare Association
National Legal Aid and Defenders Association
National Organization for Victim Assistance
National Resource Center for Child Welfare Management and Administration
National Resource Center for Home Based Services
North American Council on Adoptable Children
Northwest Resource Center for Children, Youth and Families
Southern Regional Children's Advocacy Center
Support Center for Child Advocates
Women's Legal Defense Fund

Professional Associations & Service Clubs

Associations of Community Mental Health Programs
Business and Professional Women Associations
Cable Telecommunications Associations
Community College Associations
Counselors and Social Worker Associations
Downtown Associations
Fire Chiefs and Fire District Directors Associations
Eagles Clubs
Elks Clubs
Goodwill Industries
Home Builders Associations
Insurance Agents and Company Associations
Kiwanis
Lions Club
Multi-family Housing Councils
National Federation of Independent Businesses
State Bar Associations
Physicians, Physician Assistants, Pharmacists and other Health Care Provider
Associations
Realtors Associations
Retired Teacher's Association
Rotary Clubs
Sheriff's Associations
Special Districts Associations
School Administrators Associations
School Coaches Associations
School Boards and Associations
Utilities, Private and Public, including Rural Electric Cooperatives

Religious & Spiritual Organizations

Churches
Ecumenical Ministries and local cross-denominational organizations
Synagogues

Social Services Providers

Adoption Services
Community Action Programs
Caring Communities
Food Banks
Gay and Lesbian Resources
Information and Referral Programs
Housing Authorities
Multi-family Housing Organizations
Planned Parenthood
Retired Senior Volunteer Program
School-based Health Clinics
Tribal Health and Social Service Organizations
United Way
Veterans Programs
Victim Assistance Programs
Volunteer Programs
WIC (Women, Infant, Children) Programs
YMCA/YWCA