Rising caseloads, limited resources, and growing numbers of self-represented litigants have created challenges for family courts working to resolve conflicts in a timely manner while protecting children’s well-being.
To address these issues, 12 courts are working with the National Center for State Courts’ Right Services, Right Time initiative to implement practical, evidence-based tools that make family case management more efficient and effective — without requiring major system changes.
“Family courts handle some of the most complex and consequential cases in the justice system, yet often do so without dedicated funding or modern tools,” said Iowa Chief Justice Susan Larson Christensen, co-chair of the Conference of Chief Justices/Conference of State Court Administrators Courts, Children and Families committee. “With support from the State Justice Institute, this initiative provides practical, evidence-based resources to help courts strengthen outcomes for families.”
Courts across nine states — Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas — are participating as a pilot cohort. Six courts are implementing the Families in Transition parenting course program, while six are testing all three tools:
• Families in Transition (FIT) parenting course: A research-backed parenting course with judicially supported training for managing high-conflict cases.
• Family court services portal: A customizable intake and triage tool aligned with local processes.
• Family court dashboards: A visual tool that tracks timelines, highlights red flags, and supports data-driven resource requests.
“The Right Services initiative helps courts streamline case management from intake through resolution,” said Alicia Davis, NCSC principal court consultant and project lead. “We have developed tools based on promising practices, and our goal is to allow each court to adapt them to their needs and measure the impact.”
Over the next 12 months, participating courts will receive implementation support, peer learning opportunities, and data coaching from NCSC experts. The initiative advances family-centered justice — helping courts focus on families and strengthening the communities they serve.
To address these issues, 12 courts are working with the National Center for State Courts’ Right Services, Right Time initiative to implement practical, evidence-based tools that make family case management more efficient and effective — without requiring major system changes.
“Family courts handle some of the most complex and consequential cases in the justice system, yet often do so without dedicated funding or modern tools,” said Iowa Chief Justice Susan Larson Christensen, co-chair of the Conference of Chief Justices/Conference of State Court Administrators Courts, Children and Families committee. “With support from the State Justice Institute, this initiative provides practical, evidence-based resources to help courts strengthen outcomes for families.”
Courts across nine states — Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas — are participating as a pilot cohort. Six courts are implementing the Families in Transition parenting course program, while six are testing all three tools:
• Families in Transition (FIT) parenting course: A research-backed parenting course with judicially supported training for managing high-conflict cases.
• Family court services portal: A customizable intake and triage tool aligned with local processes.
• Family court dashboards: A visual tool that tracks timelines, highlights red flags, and supports data-driven resource requests.
“The Right Services initiative helps courts streamline case management from intake through resolution,” said Alicia Davis, NCSC principal court consultant and project lead. “We have developed tools based on promising practices, and our goal is to allow each court to adapt them to their needs and measure the impact.”
Over the next 12 months, participating courts will receive implementation support, peer learning opportunities, and data coaching from NCSC experts. The initiative advances family-centered justice — helping courts focus on families and strengthening the communities they serve.
