District courts in parts of Montana have been trying out a couple of new approaches to handling child abuse cases, with an eye to improving outcomes for the children and families involved. And a legislative committee has now created a working group to take a closer look at whether those approaches could be put in place statewide.

In one pilot project, trained facilitators moderate a meeting before the first court hearing is held in a case. These prehearing conferences bring together all of the parties involved to discuss the child’s placement, plans for visitation, and the treatment services the family needs.  In the second, more recent pilot project, the first hearing in a case is held within five days of a child’s removal from the home, rather than within the 20 days required by law.

At its Sept. 22 meeting, the Children, Families, Health, and Human Services reviewed a report on the results of the prehearing conferences, as required under House Bill 39 from the 2021 legislative session. The report showed that cases using prehearing conferences had a higher rate of family reunification and achieved a permanent placement for the child more quickly.

The results prompted the committee to create a working group to look at what it would take to put those practices into place in other courts around the state. The working group is expected to hold its first meeting in mid-October. More information is available on the HB 39 Study page of the Children and Families Committee website. The study page will be updated throughout the interim.