Current Research and Evaluation

Probate Court Project

The Connecticut Probate Court Commissioner invited the Bridgeport Division of Casey Family Services to participate in a pilot project involving guardianship cases. The Court was seeking more thorough studies to assist them in their decision making about the placement of children.

To determine whether a private agency such as Casey Family Services can meet the needs of the Court in a timely and cost-effective manner, the research department has been gathering data on the work involved in conducting thorough court studies, the recommendations made to the court, and the effectiveness of the court reports in providing adequate information to the court.

Preliminary findings show that the families seeking guardianship face multiple challenges. As a result, significant social worker time has been invested in making referrals to supportive community resources. Custody reports to the court to provide information on petitioners' situations and capacity to adequately function as guardians have been conducted in a timely manner. These reports have been highly rated by the court for their ability to provide information critical to informed decision making.

Further data is being collected to examine how probate courts process minor guardianship cases. Research staff has coordinated with court social workers to assess how case characteristics and service needs influence social worker involvement and the length of time a case remains open. This information is being used to develop a "triage tool" that will predict anticipated social worker and court involvement. This tool will be piloted to determine if it is capable of assisting the court in case management and resource allocation. The project is scheduled to continue through 2003.