Elevating practice through A View from the Bench webinar series

As the child welfare landscape grows more complex, one thing remains clear: strong outcomes for children depend on alignment between the courts and those advocating on their behalf. That is the focus of A View from the Bench—the National CASA/GAL Association’s ongoing webinar series that brings judicial leaders and CASA/GAL advocates into direct conversation. What began as a knowledge-sharing effort has grown into a meaningful platform for strengthening practice across the network.

In 2025, the series expanded to address some of the most urgent and nuanced issues facing children and families today. Judges and court professionals shared their perspectives on topics including parental mental health, substance use disorder and Family Treatment Courts, human trafficking risks, and the needs of youth navigating multiple systems or complex family circumstances. These sessions do more than provide insight—they offer practical guidance that directly informs advocacy. Judges clarify what is most helpful in court reports, highlight emerging risk factors, and share how advocates can best support informed, child-centered decision-making.

Just as importantly, the series reinforces the essential role CASA/GAL volunteers play in the courtroom. By hearing directly from judges, advocates gain a clearer understanding of how their work contributes to outcomes—and how to strengthen their impact for every child they serve.

The series continues in 2026 with new sessions focused on some of the most vulnerable youth in the system. In January, Advocating for Crossover Youth brought together members of the Judicial Leadership Council to explore how advocates can navigate the intersection of child welfare and juvenile justice systems—equipping participants with practical tools to support youth facing compounded challenges.

An upcoming session, Advocating for Older Youth, will focus on preparing young people for successful transitions out of care. Drawing on national initiatives like our Fostering Futures, the webinar will provide strategies to support education, permanency, and lifelong connections—key factors in helping youth build stable, supported futures.

This series is helping set a standard for collaboration between the courts and advocates—elevating practice and strengthening outcomes for children nationwide.