Court Teams for Infant and Toddlers

Every seven minutes, a baby or toddler is removed from their family due to alleged maltreatment or neglect.

Children under the age of 3 enter the child welfare system more than any other age group
(Safe Babies | ZERO TO THREE)

The Safe Babies Act of 2007, introduced by Senators Harkin and Smith, builds upon the innovative work being conduted in juvenile courts around the country. The bill authorizes funding for juvenile courts to create "court teams" for the integrated handling of infant and toddler abuse and neglect cases.

The Court Teams for Infants and Toddlers (CTIT) initiative calls for stakeholders to apply the science of early chldhood brain development to child welfare practice. The premise is that better outcomes for young children in foster care can be achieved in communities which build:

"Shared knowledge of the unique needs of young, maltreated children."

"Relationships that encourage collaboration among service providers."

"Enhancements in services provided under juvenile court supervision."