When Do Judges Make Reasonable Efforts Findings?

Judges in child welfare cases face the dual goals of resolving cases safely and making careful, sound permanency decisions for children and families.

This publication examines when judges make decisions about child welfare agencies’ reasonable efforts to (1) prevent removal and (2) achieve permanency. Takeaways stem from a sample of 300+ closed child welfare cases from 5 sites in 3 states.

Results show that judges are meeting legal timeframes for these determinations, with most deciding that agencies made reasonable efforts to prevent removal at the initial hearing. Judges also decide about efforts to achieve permanency within 153 days of removal, on average, far less than the 12-month limit set by federal and state statutes.