Ensuring a Place for Family Court Services in the Family Court of the Future: Do or Die

Abstract

In order for family court services to thrive amidst the next wave of budget cuts, court and legislative deliberations regarding essential services, and ongoing barriers to services experienced by litigants, units must make themselves relevant to parties, the court, and the family law community. Learning from Family Court Services of Miami‐Dade County, Florida, it is essential that units develop collaborative relationships both within the court and the community. Various innovations and protocols are offered in order to ensure family court services a place in the family court of the future. Key Points for the Family Court Community Readers will be able to justify the need for a family court services unit in their judicial system. Readers will be able to identify barriers and restrictions currently placed on family court services programs. Readers will be able to detail components of family court services that will keep the unit relevant by making the unit indispensable to the parties, the court, and the family law community. Readers will be able to identify strategies for family court services to do more with less and stay afloat even when there are budget cuts and threats of elimination. Readers will have a case example in the Family Court Services unit in Miami‐Dade County, Florida, to refer to when proposing the creation, development, or modification of a unit in their family court.