Pierce County Early Childhood Court Program - Amara
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Young couple cuddle on a sofa with an infant in a cozy moment

Pierce County Early Childhood Court Program

We’re here for your family. We’re here for you.

Amara partners with Pierce County Juvenile Court to ensure parents whose young children have been removed from their care have the level of support, care, and attention they deserve while working to stabilize and reunify. The program serves families who have infants, toddlers and/or preschool-age children in foster care by meeting more frequently than in a typical case to collaborate and problem solve, while promoting greater supports for families and children. 

The Pierce County Early Childhood Court Program Works

Ruby* was a newcomer to the Puget Sound region with no family support when her daughter was removed from her care. She received wrap-around support to help her family reunify safely through the Pierce County Early Childhood Court (PCECC) program.

Read Ruby's story

The PCECC Difference

An innovative court program to help parents and children reunify through: 

  • Prioritizing attachment and healthy development for children in the critical 0-3 ages 
  • More frequent meetings than a standard child dependency (foster care/child welfare) case 
  • Court hearings every 60 days with the same judge and on a smaller docket 
  • A collaborative team approach in family team meetings between court hearings 
  • Encouragement and shared parenting with foster/kinship caregivers to support children 

The Team

  • Parents
  • Judge
  • Assistant Attorney General
  • Social worker – dedicated social workers in each DCYF office
  • Guardian Ad Litem (GAL)/Child Advocate (CA)
  • Parent attorneys
  • Foster or kinship caregivers
  • Community coordinator (neutral party, there to support the team)
  • Parent ally (who has gone through the system before)
  • Optional – providers or other individuals supporting the parents

Options to Build Relationships With Foster/Kinship Caregivers

Kids in foster care experience less trauma when they see their parents and caregivers working together as a team. Amara’s Families Building Community Program helps parents of children in foster/kinship care and the caregivers of those children connect and build supportive relationships. This program is completely voluntary. 

Amara's Families Building Community Program

How Can I Sign Up?

You can speak with your attorney about joining. For more information and guidance about the program, contact:

Pierce County had the first "baby court" in the state

We are proud of our partnership with Pierce County Juvenile Court to provide the Pierce County Early Childhood Court program. It’s exciting to see new solutions to child welfare expanding across our state!

“‘It will transform you into the person that you want to be,’ Maefau said. ‘Because I never thought I could be the best mom that I am today. I felt, maybe someone else could do a better job than I can. Maybe I can’t do enough…But it’s possible. It is.’”

Read More in the Tacoma News Tribune

You can learn more about Washington’s Early Childhood Courts here. 

Related Programs

Early Childhood Courts

Learn more about early childhood courts in Washington. 

Learn more about the early childhood court approach. 

Zero to Three

The PCECC is a national Zero to Three site that utilizes their Safe Babies Court Team™ approach. Learn more about Zero to Three.

Click here for more resources

 

Amara occasionally texts clients to best coordinate our services. By agreeing to receive services from Amara, you agree to receive individualized communications from us via text. Clients can always opt out of receiving texts by contacting us at amara@amarafamily.org.