Alabama's Children's Justice Task Force was created in 1988 and the State Department of Human Resources was designated as the state agency to apply for and administer the federal Children's Justice Grant
for Alabama. Each year the Children's Justice (CJ) Task Force applies for federal funding to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for designated activities and projects.
Federal Victims of Crime monies are the source of Children's Justice Grant funds.
Mission
In acknowledgement that child abuse and neglect is a constant threat to the children in the State of Alabama, the Children's Justice Task Force is devoted to reducing trauma to child victims
by improving the detection, reporting, assessment, investigation, and prosecution of child abuse and neglect through the multidisciplinary approach.
CJ Task Force Membership
According to federal requirements for funding, the state must create and maintain a Children's Justice Task Force. The CJ Task Force must be comprised of individuals and agency designees with knowledge
about and/or experience with the criminal justice and child welfare systems. Membership categories include judges, court appointed special attorneys (CASA), guardians-ad-litem, health and mental
health professionals, law enforcement, prosecutors and defense attorneys, representatives from child protective services and children's rehabilitation services, someone who has experience in working
with the homeless, someone who has first-hand experience with receiving services through the child welfare system, and parent representative.
Children's Justice Grant
Every state has the opportunity to apply for a federal Children's Justice Act Grant to improve the way child abuse and neglect cases are assessed and investigated in a manner that lessens additional
trauma to the child and their family and to improve the investigation and prosecution of child abuse and neglect cases including child sexual abuse and exploitation. Children’s Justice Grant funds cannot be used for prevention or treatment services.
Policy and Training Recommendations and Implementation Plan
Based on the information obtained during the 2024 Three Year Assessment, including the status of system improvement, the following recommendations and implementation plans were formulated by the Children’s Justice Task Force.
The FY 2024 recommendations also include those that were again assessed to need continuation from the prior FY 2021 assessment.
Please click here to view the document.
CJ Projects
The CJ Task Force determines activities and projects to be funded that support the federal grant's mission. It is also charged with the responsibility of evaluating and making
recommendations regarding the administrative and judicial handling of the investigation and prosecution of cases involving child abuse and neglect. Current projects include mini-grants to County Multidisciplinary Teams and ongoing training:
Contact Us
Contact the Coordinator of the Children's Justice Task Force by using our online contact form.