Child in Need of Aid Court Improvement Program (CINA CIP)
Information
- ▸ About the CINA CIP
- ▸ Brochure | Flyer
- ▸ Committee Members
- ▸ Meetings & Reports
- ▸ Past Initiatives
- ▸ Subcommittees
Classes & Resources
- ▸ CINA Laws eLearning Course
- ▸ ICWA eLearning Course
- ▸ Projects | Related Projects
- ▸ Resources
- ▸ Videos
About the Child in Need of Aid Court Improvement Program (CINA CIP)
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.
Meetings & Reports
- 2023 meetings:
- Friday, January 27, 2023
- Friday, May 19, 2023
- Friday, September 8, 2023
- Strategic Plan
Past Initiatives
Projects | Related Projects
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
Related Projects
The CINA Court Improvement Program collaborates to the maximum extent with state agencies, Tribes, and other entities on their initiatives to improve Alaska’s child welfare system. Examples of these collaborative efforts include the CIP’s role supporting the Office of Children’s Services in the implementation of its Program Improvement Plan; and the CIP’s work with the Tribal/State Collaboration Group.
Resources
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
- Hearing Bench Cards for Parties, Attorneys and Guardians Ad Litem (GALs):
- NCJFCJ Enhanced Resource Guidelines
- Rights, Responsibilities, and Resources: A Guidebook for Foster Youth in Alaska
- Self-Help: CINA
- Statewide CINA Telephonic Order
Subcommittees
Videos
CINA CIP
- CINA Video for Parents
- Stages of a CINA Case *
- Layout of a Courtroom *
-
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
- How You Can Help in a CINA Case: Short Videos for Relatives and Friends
- Tips for Attending Court Hearings by Zoom *
- CINA Therapeutic Court
- Going to Court *
- Don't Forget *
* Also helpful for youth in CINA cases.
ICWA eLearning Videos & Video Vignettes
Videos
Bringing Home Our Children The video establishes an important foundation and context for this training. It includes powerful messages from adults who were removed from their homes as children and perspectives of tribal and state judges from around the country. The video demonstrates why ICWA exists and why compliance with ICWA is so critical.
Indian Child Welfare Act - Educational Resource
Video Vignettes
Seven video vignettes with perspectives and stories from Alaska Native people about the impact of western colonization were created to enhance the CINA ICWA Curriculum, and are included in the historical session of this eLearning course. The video vignettes were the brainchild of the late Diane Payne, longtime member of the Alaska Court Improvement Program and advocate for children, families, and Tribes in Alaska.