Court Improvement Program

About

The OES staff for this program work on all aspects of juvenile and family law to integrate best practices into the policies and daily routines of the court system.  Major activities include developing, conducting and supporting special projects that address issues of concern to children and families involved with the court system and implementing standards promulgated by the Judicial Council of Virginia governing lawyers who serve as guardians ad litem.  

The Office of the Executive Secretary, Supreme Court of Virginia, was awarded its first grant for the Court Improvement Program (CIP) by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services in February 1995. This program focuses upon improving the ability of the court system to manage and resolve cases of child abuse, neglect and foster care. Additional responsibilities include support for all levels of courts in complying with state and federal laws and policies governing permanency planning for dependent children and their families who are before the courts.

Contact Information

• Director - Lelia Hopper
  Phone - (804) 786-6455

Programs

• Best Practice Courts Program
• Guardians Ad Litem
  • Program for Children
  • Program for Incapacitated Persons (Adults)
    

Resources and Reference Materials

• ASFA: Applying the Notice & Right to Be Heard Provision in Virginia's J&DR Courts
• Building Connections for Children
  A newsletter published by the Court Improvement Program
  • Volume 3, Issue 1 - DSS Counsel and the Courts
  • Volume 2, Issue 2 - DSS Counsel and the Courts
  • Volume 2, Issue 1 - Parents’ Counsel and the Courts
  • Volume 1, Issue 2 - DSS Counsel and the Courts
  • Volume 1, Issue 1 - CASA and the Courts
• Conference Agendas and Notebook Contents
• Handbook for Parents and Guardians in Child Dependency Cases - English
  Handbook for Parents and Guardians in Child Dependency Cases - Spanish
• Mediating for Permanency, Volume 1, May 2007
• Table of Appeals of Termination of Parental Rights Cases to the Court of Appeals of Virginia
• Timeline and Related Forms, Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts, Child Abuse, Neglect and Foster Care Cases