Why Early Childhood Court?
Science serves as the foundation.
Outcomes for children and families are improved.
Taxpayers save money.
Science as the Foundation
Early Childhood Development, Neuroscience, and Attachment
Development proceeds at a faster rate during the first five years of a child's life than at any subsequent developmental stage. This period offers great potential to establish a positive developmental trajectory; it also creates vulnerabilities for children if their physical status, relationships, and environments do not support appropriate learning, development, and growth. These developmental years provide the foundation for later abilities and accomplishments.
Likewise, the first 1,000 days of life is the most critical time for brain development with an estimated one million new neural connections made each second during this time period. By age three, the brain is at 80% of adult development and 90% by age five.
Early Childhood Court judges and court teams understand that early childhood development research, neuroscience, and the science of attachment verify that the greatest opportunity for establishing a trajectory for lifelong good health occurs in infancy and early childhood. They recognize the key to healthy development (physical, cognitive, motor, language, and social emotional) and brain growth is having a healthy attachment to a safe, nurturing primary caregiver.
With this understanding, Early Childhood Court teams work to ensure that abused/neglected infants and toddlers have:
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safe, stable, nurturing out-of-home placements, with few, if any, placement disruptions
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well-planned transitions if the child returns home or must change placements
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attachment relationships that act as key buffers to stressors and help children thrive in trusting relationships
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frequent family time visitation with parents
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timely developmental screenings, assessments, and services
Trauma and Resilience
Early Childhood Courts support parents in addressing their underlying trauma, early childhood adversity, and intergenerational patterns of abuse and neglect. These courts also work to build parental capacity for resilience.
With this understanding, Early Childhood Court teams provide parents with:
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trauma-informed services, including evidence-based Child-Parent Psychotherapy
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parenting education that includes child development
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social connections
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concrete supports
Early Childhood Court Outcomes
The Florida Office of the State Courts Administrator conducted an independent analysis of children in Early Childhood Court and children in traditional child welfare court during the time period of 2014 through 2018. The analysis showed that children in Early Childhood Court are safer and achieve permanency faster.
Safety
Of the 356 children involved in the Early Childhood Court, only 22 (6%) reentered the court system due to repeat maltreatment. By comparison, 36 of the 366 children (10%) involved in traditional dependency court reentered the court system.
Permanency
Children in Early Childhood Court reached overall permanency (includes reunification, adoption, and permanent guardianship) on average 143 days (4.75 months) sooner than children in traditional court. Reunification with parents in Early Childhood Court occurred an average of 259 days (8.5 months) quicker. Permanency with relatives or non-relatives was on average 230 days (7.5 months) faster.
Taxpayer Savings
Florida TaxWatch Findings
In September 2020, Florida TaxWatch, an "independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit taxpayer research institute & government watchdog" conducted a review of Florida's Early Childhood Courts and determined "the ECC approach yields significant benefits to taxpayers and society." TaxWatch concluded that "transitioning to a full-ECC delivery method would save the state around $113.6 million per year due to the quicker times to permanency for children involved and reduced repeat maltreatment." Statewide expansion and a dedicated revenue source were recommended.
2017 Prudential Productivity Award
Each year, Prudential Productivity Awards highlight state employees who reduce costs and improve services for Florida taxpayers. Florida's Early Childhood Court earned this award in 2017.
