On Tuesday, September 17th, the Illinois ACEs Response Collaborative hosted a free webinar, “Shifting the Focus: Prioritizing the Developmental Needs of Infants and Toddlers through Early Childhood Court Teams,” featuring Dr. Kimberly Mann of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

The Early Childhood Court Team program utilizes a relationship-based approach to support families that have infants or toddlers under the age of four and are currently involved in child welfare services in Illinois. This developmental approach prioritizes the well-being of very young children exposed to early life trauma, engages all caregivers, and ensures increased case collaboration among all sectors of the service array. Families and children are best supported when their complex needs are identified, understood, and approached in an ecological manner that empowers the parental role.

This webinar described the strategies used to develop skills, knowledge, and values of the staff to enhance their capacity to respond more effectively to the developmental needs of young children, as well as the successful outcomes of the Early Childhood Court Team. It also discussed ways that changes to local systems improve outcomes and prevent future court involvement in the lives of very young children by exposing and addressing the structural issues in the system that prevent families from succeeding.