NH Protocols Relative to Abuse and Neglect Cases and Permanency

Protocols Relative to Abuse and Neglect Cases and Permanency


NEW HAMPSHIRE DISTRICT COURT
COURT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
IN COOPERATION WITH
THE FAMILY DIVISION
AND
N.H. PROBATE COURT

Revised April 2003

INTRODUCTION AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The Protocols Relative to Abuse and Neglect Cases and Permanency Planning were made possible through a federal grant received by the New Hampshire Administrative Office of the Courts from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.

This exciting grant opportunity allowed the New Hampshire District Court to develop and oversee the Court Improvement Project (CIP). Members of the CIP worked tirelessly on the creation of this manual, which began with a careful review of the Resource Guidelines for Improving Court Practice in Child Abuse & Neglect Cases produced by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.

The Protocols are the result of a significant collaboration among the District Court, Family Division, Probate Court and Superior Court, as well as representatives from the Bar, Legislature, CASA, the Division for Children, Youth and Families, Judicial Council, law enforcement and the Attorney General's Office. Foster parents and service providers also contributed to this endeavor. We owe a debt of gratitude to members of the New Hampshire Court Improvement Project's Advisory Committee and Protocol Committees, who gave most generously of their time, knowledge and expertise in the development and review of these protocols.

Special thanks are also extended to Lauren Thorn, Pam Neville, Jim O'Neil, Diane Hufstader, Janice Boynton and Marge Therrien from the Office of the Administrative Judge of the District Court. Their steadfast efforts, and untold hours of drafting and redrafting, formatting and reformatting, are greatly appreciated.

Insofar as these protocols suggest any interpretation of the law, the reader should bear in mind that the interpretation of the law, as it applies to any given case, is within the sole province of the trial judge, subject to the ultimate review of the New Hampshire Supreme Court. The Protocols do not create substantive rights that do not currently exist and should not be considered as superseding any constitutional or statutory rights of parties to abuse and neglect proceedings.

We strongly encourage the use of the Protocols Relative to Abuse and Neglect Cases and Permanency Planning in the District Court, Family Division, and Probate Court and hope that each of us will improve, in some small way, our handling of these most important cases.

Edwin W. Kelly
Administrative Judge
District Court Susan B. Carbon
Supervisory Judge
Grafton County
Family Division John R. Maher
Administrative Judge
Probate Court

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