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Research Grant Program
Introduction
The Research Grant Program of the Center for Families, Children & the Courts (CFCC) generates and distributes research-based information that has promise for informing the work of family and juvenile courts in California and nationwide. The program holds competition for grants that fund research and demonstration projects and prepares research summaries for court personnel. Reports and publications based on grant-supported activities are disseminated to the courts, the Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee of the Judicial Council of California, the state Legislature, interested service agencies, and other research organizations. The Administrative Office of the Courts uses this research information in designing service protocols, service standards, and educational programs.
Please click here to view completed research grant reports.
Divorce and Remarriage: The Children Speak Out. Dr. Constance R. Ahrons, of the Council on Contemporary Families, received a 1999 research grant award for this follow-up study of children. Twenty years ago, Dr. Ahrons began a unique longitudinal study of families that gathered information from parents and stepparents for six years after divorce. With this research grant, Dr. Ahrons is able to extend this study by researching the perspectives of the children, now grown and aged 21 to 45. A serious gap exists in the knowledge about the long-term consequences of divorce and remarriage for children. Dr. Ahrons’ work is expected to fill this gap and make significant advances toward the goal of reducing the impact of marital disruption on children and their families. (Anticipated completion: December 2004.)
Parenting After Family Violence: Effects of Trauma on Children and Parents. A large proportion of families seen in family and juvenile courts has experienced domestic violence or child abuse. The courts are asked to make decisions about the care of the children in these families and to recommend services for children and their parents. Drs. Alicia Lieberman and Patricia Van Horn from the University of California Child Trauma Research Project are reviewing relevant research and clinical literature about the effects of trauma on children and on parents. They will summarize this review to inform court personnel about the special parenting needs of children who have suffered abuse or witnessed violence and the parenting support helpful for parents who are victims of violence. It is anticipated that this information will help inform decisions about the care of children as well as identify key components needed in services and educational programs for parents. (Anticipated completion: January 2005.)
Educational Needs of Children Involved in Family and Juvenile Court Proceedings. Dr. Lois Weinberg and Ms. Nancy Shea are reviewing literature on the educational needs of children involved in family and juvenile court proceedings. Decisions made in family and juvenile courts affect the lives of children including their schooling and access to educational services. Dr. Weinberg and Ms. Shea are preparing a report of literature to help court professionals and judicial officers understand the educational system and the ways that court decisions can influence children’s education, both positively and negatively. The synthesis should lead to recommendations for court practice and identification of resources to support the education of children involved in family and juvenile proceedings (Anticipated completion: January 2005).
Critical Review of the Evaluations of Court-Based Parent Education Programs. This is an extension of Dr. Haertel's contract which was to prepare a report suitable for publication that (1) describes the evaluations of court-based parent education programs focusing on what is known about program effectiveness and the evaluation approaches and methods used to assess effectiveness, and (2) introduces to the field of court-based programs important educational concepts about how program design, implementation, and assessment may influence learning and the evaluation of program effectiveness. The date for completion of that report is being extended and two tasks added are designed to disseminate information from the report: (1) prepare a summary of the findings of her report suitable for distribution to an audience of court professionals, and provide a seminar for the staff of the Center for Families, Children & the Courts and other interested professionals on the topic of evaluation of court-based parent education programs that will present the findings of her report. (Anticipated completion: December 2004.)
Please contact CFCC@jud.ca.gov for more information.
