Conceptual Model of Judicial Decision-Making and Hearing Quality in Child Welfare

The child welfare court process seeks to achieve safety, permanency, and well-being for all families with abuse or neglect court cases. With these goals in mind, judges make decisions across the different hearings of a case that greatly impact children and families.

This brief presents a conceptual model that identifies eight components of the child welfare court process:

• Judicial characteristics
• Hearing quality
• Judicial decision-making process
• Judicial decisions in hearings
• Case process and progress
• Case outcomes
• Pre- and between hearing communication and activities
• Jurisdiction context, court resources, practice, and culture

It then describes the components, related subcomponents, and available research supporting their associations. Associations that lack evidence are also noted.