The Early Childhood Court (ECC) is a specialized court in Florida that handles child welfare cases involving children under the age of three who have been removed from their parents. It is designed to improve outcomes and promote timely permanency for these children. ECC, also known as “Baby Court”, targets families with children at a heightened risk for developmental, physical, and mental health issues due to the combination of factors.
The ECC approach includes practices based on scientific findings and a court team trained in early childhood development, brain development, and other areas. It addresses the root causes of dependency court system involvement through specialized dockets, multidisciplinary teams, and a strengths-based collaborative approach. ECC is trauma-responsive and offers evidence-based treatment, judicial monitoring, and accountability.
Fla.’s Early Childhood Court has 15 core components, including judicial leadership, trauma, and a community coordinator to facilitate the court team’s activities. The court provides an intensive court process for families with a child under age five.
Early Childhood Courts are a specialty division within dependency court, providing a collaborative, therapeutic, problem-solving team approach with the goal of improving outcomes and promoting timely permanency for children ages 0-3 who have been removed from their parents.
📹 What to Expect at a Child Custody Court Hearing
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What age does early childhood end?
Early childhood, from ages 0-8, is crucial for cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development. The brain’s plasticity and responsiveness to change are influenced by genetics, environment, and experience. Optimal brain development requires a stimulating environment, adequate nutrients, and social interaction with attentive caregivers. Measuring early childhood development is an imprecise science, but UNICEF is working with countries to develop indicators in three areas: home environment quality, access to early childhood care and education, and overall developmental status of children.
Do I have to force my daughter to see her father?
Refusing visitation or parenting time can lead to legal issues for co-parents. They are responsible for ensuring their child adheres to the parenting agreement or controlling court order, even if they don’t want to. Courts often expect co-parents to encourage their child to spend time with their other parent, and if visitation doesn’t occur or the child doesn’t follow the schedule, it reflects on the co-parent. Courts often frown on co-parents who prevent visitation or hinder parenting time.
If a legal order or binding parenting agreement exists, visitation and parenting time are legal rights. If blocked, the other parent could file a breach of contract action or an Order to Show Cause, which calls for a “show cause hearing” to explain why the parent isn’t complying with the visitation agreement.
What are the 5 stages of early childhood?
The five stages of child development are newborn, infant, toddler, preschool, and school-age. These stages involve physical, speech, intellectual, and cognitive changes that occur gradually until adolescence. These developmental milestones help track a child’s progress and may indicate developmental disorders or genetic conditions. Experts divide child development into different stages, such as four, five, or six, but the changes that occur at a particular age or age range remain the same. Most developmental disorders are diagnosed by the time a child reaches adolescence.
Newborns react automatically to external stimuli during the first two months of life, with the ability to move their head, see objects, turn towards sounds, and cry. By the third month, they start to smile at people.
What if a child doesn’t want to live with a parent?
If a child doesn’t want to live with a parent, it might be a safety issue. If the child is old enough, ask what is happening there that makes them not want to go. For small children, ask them to draw a picture of life at their father’s house. A professional counselor and lawyers might need to be involved.
When a child doesn’t want to live with both parents, it can be even harder. They may be sad to leave their mother and cry the night before coming to their house in anticipation of missing their father. To make the situation better, try to make both houses feel like home. Consider how your child feels week after week and pack amenities like toiletries, clothing, games, books, a special stuffed animal, and a space to call their own. This will help make kids feel comfortable and make them feel at home.
In summary, if a child doesn’t want to live with both parents, it may be a safety issue. To make the situation better, consider making both houses feel like home, providing amenities, and providing a space for the child to feel comfortable.
What happens in early childhood?
Child development encompasses physical, intellectual, language, emotional, and social growth, each influencing the others. Physical development increases intellectual abilities, allowing a child to explore their social world more fully. This exploration directly impacts further physical brain development. Factors affecting child development include innate biological makeup, family, society, economics, health, and culture.
Growth and development are directly related to a child’s nutrition, affluence, parenting styles, education, and peer interaction. Therefore, the course and progression of child development are interconnected and interconnected.
What if my 14 year old doesn’t want to see her father?
If a child refuses to visit their other parent, the custodial parent should encourage the child to spend time with the other parent. As children grow older, the court may give the older child more discretion in deciding whether or not to visit the non-custodial parent. When a child refuses to follow the visitation schedule, the parent may feel responsible for their child’s refusal. It can be challenging to comply with a parenting plan when the children don’t want to see the other parent.
To address this, the parent should consult a child custody family law attorney for legal advice about changing custody arrangements. A child custody agreement should include legal custody and physical custody, known as parenting time or visitation. Violation of the order in a custody case could result in legal implications, so the parent should comply with the court’s child custody order on visitation.
Is 22 still a kid?
Late adolescence (18-24) is a period of significant changes in a child’s life, as they transition from being legally considered adults to becoming adolescents. This period can be marked by physical and emotional changes, as well as the first time a teen embarks on a college or work journey outside of their family. Parents may witness their teen demonstrating mature and complex thinking, which can be emotionally and relieving. However, newfound freedom may also bring riskier choices and challenges in relationships.
By this stage, the teen has completed their physical development and is settling into their adult form. Parents should remain positive about body changes and provide emotional support to help their teen navigate romantic relationships and find independence from the family.
Is 17 still a kid?
A child is anyone under 18 years old in international and domestic law. However, it took a legal challenge and a national campaign to ensure 17-year-olds have the same rights as other children in police stations. Before 2013, 17-year-olds were routinely denied access to an appropriate adult, a responsible person aged 18 or over who supports children and vulnerable adults detained at the police station or being interviewed by the police. They were also frequently denied other rights afforded to children in the criminal justice system, with many being treated the same as adults.
A series of tragic deaths of children treated as adults in police custody made it clear that a change to the law was a vital necessity. In 2012, Hughes Cousins-Chang was arrested and held in a police cell for hours without being able to contact his mother. His case and derermination led to the law being overturned, and 17-year-olds now have the right to an appropriate adult in the police station.
Does childhood end at 12 or 18?
In many countries, the age of majority is 18 years old. This is the age at which an individual is legally recognized as an adult with full legal responsibilities. Nevertheless, the conclusion of childhood is a relative concept, susceptible to subjective interpretation and cultural influence. It is shaped by individual experiences and societal expectations, resulting in varying perceptions across different contexts.
What is early childhood court in Florida?
The Early Childhood Court is a national child welfare organization that employs a scientific and best practice standards-based approach to enhance family outcomes for infants and toddlers.
At what age can a child decide not to see a parent in Florida?
In Florida, there is no lawfully defined age at which a child’s wishes or preferences regarding visitation would be honored. This situation is common and places parents in an ethical and legal predicament. The state’s public policy encourages regular contact between minor children and both parents, even after divorce or separation. Parents must create a time-sharing or visitation arrangement that specifies the amount of time each parent would spend with their child.
If a child refuses visitation with the other parent and the favored parent cannot persuade them to follow the time-sharing schedule, the court may consider the parent in violation of the time-sharing order. If the noncompliant parent fails to comply with the visitation order, the court may impose various penalties, including fines, court fees, and court costs.
📹 Childhood Trauma: The Lives of the Neglected Children
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I wanted to stop by and sincerely thank you for the articles you have posted. I made the choice to represent myself in my custody case. Your articles helped me so much. There was definitely more studying and law reading in addition, but the starting points were so incredibly helpful. I successfully won my case with the referee and again with the appeals court when my ex and his lawyer objected to the recommendation. For anyone reading my comment, I sincerely do NOT advise representing yourself, but if you do, read, read, read and when you think your done, read some more.
Thank you. This is really hard for me. I feel like people like me don’t get any justice without a fat bank account. Pray for me. As I’m typing this message I’m getting all my paperwork ready so that I can serve my sons mother. Do you have any articles on how to prepare for court and serving? I’d look at that.
I’ve been fighting my ex for 6 years now, and have had a lawyer through all of it. However, after repeated retainers, I eventually ran out of money and this time I’m going in on my own. Beforehand I’ve always been able to settle outside of court, but have decided this time to go in front of a judge. These articles have been a goldmine for me. Definitely a ton of help in preparing. I’ll post more after the 9th to find out if they helped enough 🙂
My judge boldly violated the law in my divorce case. I still have two different divorce dates in my one divorce. I still don’t have my driving license for not pay child support after the court blocked every access for me to pay child support. I got two different amounts of unpaid child support from one child support order. I believe the judge wanted to double my child support payment. We definite the crime as violation of the law with/without causing damage. My judge did on me is a crime and my judge is a real criminal. I am scared to face such a real criminal.
If you were the Respondent during the original divorce proceedings and you file a petition to modify, you remain the Respondent, you do not become the petitioner even though you are the one who filed the petition. The roles are reversed, but the label of Petitioner and Respondent stay the same. At least that’s my understanding, it may be different in other states IDK. Thanks for the help, great articles
im goin to Court this Friday for child support for the first time which I have no problem. But my ex girlfriend has kept my children from me for 9 months and I’ve only seen him one time since and in the meantime she has been doing crystal meth and has had a problem with it the whole time I have known her I just don’t know what I should expect when I go to this am I going to be allowed to speak on this matter. I don’t even know where my children live in if they’re ok or not I’m just really scared for their well-being and don’t know how I am supposed to approach this in court
I’m 12,and I don’t want to live with my mum,my mum and dad split up when I was born,so dad lives an hour away via plane,I’m also homeschooled and I have told my mum I don’t want to be homeschooled. my dad told me that he would have to take custody by going to court. apparently I have to stand up and say why I want to live with my dad. I’m really scared to stand up in court.
I like perusal these articles. I go to court at the end of this month for joint custody. My daughters father has really never been there for her. His inconsistent when it comes to her, I have giving him times of when to call her when she’s home from school or after school programs/activities, basically giving him access to her. Is going on two years now, where he simply just doesn’t look her for. Doesn’t make the effort to remain in her life or in contact with her. I have tried multiple times to co-parent with him and he just simply chooses not to acknowledge any of it. He filed for joint custody, Do to now paying child support.. which I am not sure if that is the reason to why he filed for joint custody, even though those are two different things. Can he be granted with joint custody?, after everything I just stated.
thank you for the advice. I never thought to go to another hearing to see my judge In action so I know what to expect. I think I’m going to do that just to familiarize myself with the court process because I am so nurvous. also I am wondering if the process is the same for people who have never been married or lived together.
Being taken to court against your will, being treated as a criminal, the 14th amendment means nothing in there, your stripped of your rights, being looked at as a check, lose a day of work, modern day enslavement and being extorted, if it’s about the kid why does it have to be about money? Kids are BIG business and the real money makers, the state gets a bit of the guys money, it’s a woman’s world in there, family court kills men
great information that is I’m currently filing for custody for my baby girl she’s not gone yet but her mother is making things incredibly difficult for me by shutting me out of every single thing to do with the child but all this will be pending DNA test and to be fair I’m quite nervous and scared about the situation because I’ve never been here before but I do believe that the baby will be better off with me
I received notice of a hearing from the court for a hearing the day after the hearing has taken place. The envelope was dated Feb 1 at a distribution center 2 hours away, and I did not get it until the 3rd the day after the hearing. I did receive a notice from her lawyer saying she was trying to get the hearing moved from family court to circuit court and I was “cordially invited” to attend. The only other mail I received from her lawyer was a certified letter showing her disability payments from the VA. I did not know why I received that piece of mail certified, and did not even receive the order for hearing till day after they had it. She got custody from a court in WV and the children were on their way to TX that night. She has also got a DVP on her and as part of the hearing they are taking that into consideration. I have not received any final custodial plans, and really do not know what to expect or even where to begin. I just cannot afford a lawyer at this point.
I confused? I live in Louisiana and I just had a court hearing but it wasn’t infront of the judge. And they he didnt listen to any of the evidence. All they want to keep trying is the “Restart” game. Y’all start fresh, dont worry about the past. I dont have time for restarts. I keep alot of records that helps my case. And honestly my lawyer acts like a public defender instead of a PAID ATTORNEY! When do i get my chance for court with my witnesses?
Hello, I’m 14 years old and my father has not wanted me in his life since about a year and a half ago. He has caused me to become suicidal, depressed, a huge drop in my grades, he also is against my sexuality. He just filed court against me and my mom. I need my mom to win. My dad is a sergeant in our county police force. Tips/advice/etc. PLEASE
I’m currently going through a custody battle and have been perusal your articles for learning purposes. They are very helpful. My question is, is can my ex be awarded majority time share with my child because her and her step sister rode in the back of a truck not even going 10mph?? How would a judge take that into consideration? I’ve never been arrested, never been in any kind of trouble, I’ve always taken care of my child and I feel like my ex may be awarded majority. Not to mention his dad is an attorney. Which has not helped the situation AT ALL. I need answers …..please help me
When facing a custody hearing should I bring up the use of drugs and alcohol my ex uses on a daily basis ? Even if canibas is now legal eventhough hes always smoked he just now doing it legal and growing plants in his place of home I don’t believe it’s a safe environment for my 10 year old daughter to be
So, I will be the plantiff, and am asking for court to modify a 14 yr old custody agreement. My questions are, does my 16 yr old get to talk to judge in chambers? He is intimidated by his dad, and there is no way he would speak in an open court. Next question, since i am representing myself, where do i look for inexpensive legal services? I just want someone to draft my petition that I have to submit to court? Colleges are out, and I don’t know how to find law students. I’m in NC.
Hello Wendy I had a question. After my hearing we had reached an agreement in our custody case. However its been over a month since we had agreed on the temporary agreements which was orally agreed upon. I have received a copy of our agreement and its been over a month since our last court date and the order still hasn’t been signed by the judge and our visitation has still not started. Can you make a article where you could clarify why this is? The judge I’ve had is usually very prompt with getting things signed but all of a sudden its a very big problem. Can you help me get clarification on this?
Ok what if she confused seeing her and seeing my kids? I went to court and she said she wanted to put a restraining order so I won’t see my kids??? I don’t know what my kids had to do with anything, I found out today that she took off with my kids today to a different state, my daughter is under my name I didn’t give her permission without a court trial to move out of state how do I go about it, I’ll pay child support but she moved without concent she has to pay transportation right?
Hello. I have settled assets and debt with my soon to be ex wife, but we are going to trial in August because I am requesting more visits with my 11 and 8 year old sons. Does this advice apply to my case and do I have to bring witnesses and evidence that day, because I wanted to request that the judge appoint legal counsel for my children because she has mentally and emotionally abused them and I want them to have an opportunity to voice that. I am in California and she was the petitioner for the divorce, but in our meet and confer she didn’t agree with more visits. Last year in mediation I agreed to the visitation schedule because I did not have a way to get my children to school in the morning, but now I do, and she was not mentally and emotionally abusing them, seeing as we had only been separated for three months. Thank you very much and I hope you can answer my question before my court date in August
What should I do if I’ve been summoned for a child custody hearing what all should I do to prepare please help. I am on fixed income and live with my disabled mother and grandmother my son lives with his mother in Santa fe Texas and refuses to work peacefully together for our sons benefit, I stay in New Caney and I haven’t been able to get on the roads and get a better job and am trying to turn this around before it’s too late, I feel like they will take my son away for ever if I don’t fight this properly she hasn’t been given court orders on custody so isn’t it federally illegal according to Texas State penal code chapter 25 section 3 it talks about how both sides should respect visitation rights and in some cases that means if others moved first that person must bring child to the parent who is paying child support with money orders. I’m in a mess and can not afford the thousands that lawyers ask for when trying to fight for my rights as a father, it’s kidnapping when my son doesn’t have a say so over if he sees me or not and the other parent has more resources at their disposal. I am trying to get a job and get my car legal and go to school and buy a lawyer all out of my own pocket I’m barely 21 and have has zero financial support mentally or physically, I am trying my best to give everything I have and then some and Stay sane and alive what do I do so the courts and possible lawyers my sons mother may have not rip me a new one for nothing. This is and has to be highly unconstitutional for women to trample men that love their children and force them to just be Skype dads the Texas child custody laws are broken and when I asked for my son to be taken from the mother when domestic violence was occurring with a guy she had left me for the cops said we can’t do that without warrant how the hell not when there were multiple witnesses of them violently trying to attack me and my mother because we wanted to take my son away from the drugs and drama when my son’s mothers sister and father contacted me about the situation and begged me to save my son I am not crazy and not a little kid I am tired of the system catering to woman who have no cooth or respect for themselves or anyone, I was kicked out of an apartment I shared with my son and his mother when I was 17 because I wanted to finish school and get a job like a normal person but my son’s mother decided taking drugs and working with her sister as a stripper was a better idea and to kick me out and use me as a paycheck when she refuses to let me see my son and her boyfriends parents having the tools to compromise until I get on me feet they refuse any peace and assume I am trash my mother is from Missouri and my father isn’t American I love this country and Texas but I know I am not the only one struggling to get their children back legally and properly, I am tired of being walked on by these people and have had enough please make articles on how to handle custody hearings and fighting as a father with all legal rights.
i need a lawyer ok i am 3 years sober and got my business back and doing amazing and my child yes has blond hair blue eyes white because of his dad but i am native and white he has a tribe they are trying to get around that and they lied saying he was not and she been PROVEN in court that her other brother kids said she crazy but i am in Alaska and hes in Washington? what do i do
I’m trying to get legal guardianship of my granddaughter because her mother abandoned her and her father is deceased. I keep filing temporary restraining orders against the mother until I find her to have her served. I am acting as my own attorney and the process is quite confusing. If you could answer a few questions l have. 1. Do I need to complete the FL 407 Order to DSHS to Release CPS Information, if it was never reported to CPS?.
Hi. I have a child custody hearing in 2 weeks. I had mediation last week and I don’t think it went in my favor. The mediator asked about my previous CPS cases.. One being abuse ( I slapped my daughter a little too hard one time) . I was charged and taken in but was released the next day. I did a parenting class as directed and the charge was dismissed. When I answered, I said no because I thought she was asking for the child in the case.. And on top of that, I wasn’t aware there were 7 as she stated. The last CPS call was in 2012. I am feeling defeated and am worried about going to court. The other party is asking for joint and I’m asking for full because he has abandoned her throughout her life. He was in and out of our lives and he has violent tendencies. Do I have a chance in keeping our 2 year old in my full physical custody?
Men it is the state’s child and children which are legal fictions on paper only, but they are your living property or offspring. Judges and lawyers speak blacks law only to one another. To us to the general public to the police and to all non bar member court employees they speak websters. Your remedy is on the lawful side, not the public side.
Hi I have a question I always been for my chidren and the father of my kids are never been involved in my kids life also I have protection order against my kids father now my ex husband. Because he can’t access to me wants to have parenting time he did not see the kids for 6 months and he got terpudic visit and he visit my kids but the therapist had to end the visit in halftime because he couldn’t be a father what do you think is the next step?
this lady is not right she a step sister and she lieing and i never got served at the correct address when i gave them my address and their lawyer they were just saying give them any address they are braking the law but i have to come up with 25000 bucks 🤔 but i will get the money they think no matter what we don’t deserve out kid back because we are in recovery and always will be a recovery addicts but we are clean and will stay clean we are the nicest people u will meet like everyone says