The National Center for State Courts announces the upcoming “Guide for Remote Dependency Hearings,” a comprehensive resource, funded by SJI, developed as an addendum to the Remote Proceeding Toolkit. Child abuse and neglect hearings require additional considerations for effective remote proceedings given their confidential nature and multiple participants. The Guide for Remote Dependency Hearings offers specialized guidance for this case type.

Many courts turned to remote dependency hearings during the pandemic, and many continue to use them to reduce traumatic experiences and barriers for parents facing transportation challenges, lost wages, or childcare difficulties. Developed through careful collaboration with courts across the country, the Guide for Remote Dependency Hearings offers practical solutions for courts seeking to implement or improve remote dependency hearings. It includes detailed recommendations for drafting court policies, selecting appropriate technology platforms, ensuring privacy and security, managing hearing logistics, and enhancing family engagement. The Guide for Remote Dependency Hearings includes a self-assessment tool that allows courts to evaluate their alignment with best practices and identify specific areas for improvement and checklists for judges and attorneys that provide role-specific guidance.

The Guide for Remote Dependency Hearings will be officially released during a webinar on May 13th, 2025, after which it will be available on NCSC’s website. Court professionals interested in previewing the assessment tool or discussing implementation strategies are encouraged to contact Teri Deal at NCSC (tdeal@ncsc.org). During this webinar, you will learn how this resource can help your court design high-quality remote dependency hearings.