Alaska Court System Administration

The CINA Court Improvement Program monitors and improves the way the court system handles child in need of aid cases, and enhances coordination between the court system and other agencies and Tribes involved in CINA cases. Members of the statewide CIP committee are appointed by the Chief Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court. Current members include judges, the Director of the Office of Children's Services, Tribal representation, and representation by other state agencies including the Department of Law, the Public Defender Agency, the Office of Public Advocacy and the Director of the Division of Behavioral Health.

For more information please contact Mara Rabinowitz, CINA Court Improvement Program Coordinator: 907-264-8293.

Projects

• Child in Need of Aid Curriculum
• Mediation and Family Group Conferencing
  • The CINA Court Improvement Program oversees mediation and family group conferencing services offered by the court system in child in need of aid cases.
  • Information about the court system’s mediation programs, including child in need of aid mediation.
  • For information about Family Group Conferencing, please contact Abaigeal O'Brien at 907-264-8236.
• Data Improvement
  • Court Performance Measures
  • Child Welfare Information Gateway – Child Abuse and Neglect Statistics
  • Performance Measures in Child Welfare Cases: Toolkit Helps Courts Gauge Progress

Related Projects

Note: All documents are Adobe Acrobat PDF documents unless otherwise indicated.

• Children's Bureau Court Improvement Program
• Children’s Bureau State and National Resources on Covid-19
• CINA Legal Training Resource Links
• Court Performance Measurement in Child Welfare Cases Powerpoint
• Cultural Resources for Alaska Families: Traditional Health and Wellness Guide
• DHSS Tribal State Strategic Plan
  • Article
  • Progress Update May 2017
• Hearing Bench Cards for Parties, Attorneys and Guardians Ad Litem (GALs):
  • Temporary Custody Hearing (CINA Rule 10)
  • Children’s Right to Notice, Presence, and Counsel (CINA Rules 3, 12, & 21.1)
  • Adjudication Hearing (CINA Rule 15)
  • Disposition Hearing (CINA Rule 17)
  • Permanency Hearing (CINA Rule 17.2)
  • Placement Review AS 47.10.087
  • Termination of Parental Rights Trial (CINA Rule 18)
  • Education Checklist
  • Youth 16 and Older
  • Excerpted Statutes
• NCJFCJ Enhanced Resource Guidelines
  • Improving Court Practice in Child Abuse and Neglect Cases
• Rights, Responsibilities, and Resources: A Guidebook for Foster Youth in Alaska
• Self-Help: CINA
• Statewide CINA Telephonic Order

CINA CIP

1. CINA Video for Parents
2. Stages of a CINA Case *
3. Layout of a Courtroom *
4. Who is Involved in a CINA Case? *
   • Part 1 - Introduction
   • Part 2 - Judge and Court Clerk
   • Part 3 - Assistant Attorney General and Office of Children's Services Case Worker
   • Part 4 - Guardian ad Litem and CASA Volunteer
   • Part 5 - Attorneys for Parents and Attorney for Child
   • Part 6 - ICWA Tribal Representative and ICWA Tribal Attorney
   • Part 7 - Mediator
5. How You Can Help in a CINA Case: Short Videos for Relatives and Friends
   • Introduction to Videos for Families in Child in Need of Aid Cases
   • Do You Have a Grandchild in a CINA Case?
   • Information for Relatives and Family Friends
   • Temporary Placement – Foster Care
   • Information about Adopting a Child or Becoming a Legal Guardian
6. Tips for Attending Court Hearings by Zoom *
7. CINA Therapeutic Court
8. Going to Court *
9. Don't Forget *
10. Leaving Foster Care? *
    • Documents and Records You Will Need
    • Facing Your Finances
    • Your PFDs
    • Your Own Attorney

* Also helpful for youth in CINA cases.

ICWA eLearning Videos & Video Vignettes