The San Diego Superior Court will host a virtual town hall event on Thursday, September 14, 2023, the second in a series of Juvenile Court-focused public webinars. This town hall will focus on the perspectives of youth and parents with lived experience in dependency court proceedings.

Juvenile Court proceedings have several confidentiality requirements, which can be perceived by members of the public as a lack of transparency about the court, its processes, and the role of partner agencies.  This townhall will provide a snapshot of the challenges and opportunities within the juvenile dependency system.

Juvenile dependency actions involve alleged abuse or neglect of a youth by a parent or caregiver while juvenile justice actions begin when a youth is charged with a crime. Juvenile collaborative courts focus on problem-solving with youth, their families and community partners.

What is Juvenile Dependency Court?

Lived Experience from Youth & Parents in Dependency Court Proceedings

Thursday, September 14, 2023 - 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.

via Zoom

Three youth and two parents will share their experience, including challenges and successes, while in the juvenile dependency system. One of the parents, a former Indian custodian and foster parent, will share the viewpoints as a member of the tribal community. Their perspectives are important to inform the court, justice partners and community about effective ways to support families who touch juvenile dependency. 

Juvenile Court Assistant Presiding Judge Tilisha Martin will moderate the panel. There will be an opportunity for town hall attendees to submit questions during the event through the Q&A feature on Zoom.

The first town hall session, held in April 2023, sought to demystify the dependency process by answering some of the most common juvenile dependency and child welfare questions posed from the community. That session explained the goal of strengthening children and families with a focus on safety and stability, and provided clarity on how decisions are made within the guidelines of California law.  This second town hall will provide opportunity for youth and parents impacted by the juvenile dependency system to share their experience.

Future town hall events will continue into next year with another dependency-focused session on changes to the child welfare system, particularly under the requirements of the Family First Prevention Services Act. Later in 2024, the court will also host town halls focused on juvenile justice.

The following organizations have been involved in the planning of this town hall series:

• Children’s Legal Services of San Diego, Inc.
• Dependency Legal Services San Diego
• San Diego County Health & Human Services Agency, Child Welfare Services
• San Diego Superior Court
• Voices for Children, Inc.

For more information on the San Diego Superior Court’s Juvenile Court, please visit sdcourt.ca.gov/Juvenile.