Timeliness. Establishing and complying with state and federal guidelines for timely case processing are also important court process performance goals. Limiting the time required to bring litigation to a conclusion limits the exposure of families to emotionally-charged issues that can have a detrimental impact on children. Long periods of uncertainty and judicial indecision can put pressure on children and families, greatly adding to the strain of foster care. In addition, judicial timeliness is closely related to the goal of permanency. Children can be damaged by “foster care drift” – remaining too long in “temporary” foster homes. Clearly, the length of time required to resolve family issues needs to be limited and reasonable, given the potential harm from delays. Courts need guideposts to help them determine how well they are meeting the goals. Key Measures
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