Virginia's Judicial System


Best Practice Courts Program

About

The Best Practice Court initiative began in 2002. The practice foundation for the Best Practice Courts uses and builds on the Enhanced Resource Guidelines: Improving Court Practice in Child Abuse and Neglect Cases. Participating courts commit to a series of local activities and receive specialized training and technical support from Virginia’s Court Improvement Program and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges’ Permanency Planning for Children Department. Today, there are approximately 38 active Best Practice Courts with teams existing in 72% of Virginia’s Judicial Districts. The localities involved are responsible for approximately 57% of the children in foster care.