Judges play a central role in the Safe Babies approach, both in individual cases and in shaping how teams work together on behalf of babies and families.
Leading with Calm: Emotional Regulation for a Trauma-Responsive Court, a new resource from the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) and Safe Babies, offers practical strategies to help judges stay regulated, reflective, and present during high-stakes, emotionally charged proceedings.
Why it matters: The resource puts the Safe Babies Core Components into practice. Judges help set the tone for the team by modeling strengths-based, trauma-responsive engagement, building relationships grounded in trust and empathy, and engaging in ongoing learning and reflection. Leading with Calm also directly supports Safe Babies’ Trauma-Responsive Support area of focus: judicial practice that creates a calm, respectful, compassionate courtroom environment rather than adding to the stress families may already be experiencing.
What you’ll find: Practical strategies for managing stress, strengthening emotional regulation, supporting judicial well-being, and creating courtroom environments that promote thoughtful decision-making, meaningful family engagement, and trauma-responsive practice.
Who it’s for: Judges and judicial officers working with infants, toddlers, and families in child welfare and dependency courts, as well as court leaders and partners implementing the Safe Babies approach.
