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Early Childhood Courts

Early Childhood Courts (ECC) address the root causes of dependency court system involvement through specialized dockets, multidisciplinary teams, and a strengths-based collaborative approach. Offering evidence-based treatment, judicial monitoring, and accountability, these courts provide individualized interventions for families with young children, thereby improving child safety and well-being.

Early Childhood Courts follow the ZERO TO THREE Safe Babies Court Team™ approach, a community engagement and systems-change initiative focused on reducing trauma and improving how courts, child welfare and child-serving organizations work together to serve young children and their families involved in the child welfare system. The Safe Babies Court Team™ approach applies the science of early childhood development in meeting the urgent needs of infants and toddler and strengthening their families. SBCT approach is guided by a strategic framework that identifies five focus areas that are inclusive of the ten core components.

Core Components

The ten Core Components of the Safe Babies Court Team Approach are key to produce the environment and the tools for systemic change. The Core Components work together to produce the best outcomes of children an their parents while increasing access and equity within the system.

Judicial and Child Welfare Leadership

Local Community Coordinator

Active Community Team

Family Team Meetings

Continuum of Services for Children and Families

Meeting Parents Where They Are

Nurturing Relationships and Building Supports

Frequent, Quality Family Time

Concurrent Planning

Continuous Learning and Improvement

Early Childhood Courts in Washington

In Washington State, more than half of all dependency cases involve children aged birth to five years old.  Research has proven that the most rapid period of brain development occurs during this time period and impacts every aspect of a child’s future, including academic performance, behavior and mental health. Many courts recognize the challenges and the opportunities that this presents, and several Washington State dependency courts have focused their efforts on better serving young children and their families.

SB 5331 established statewide standards of practice for ECCs, with racial equity, parent voice, child-parent relationships and safe reunification at the center. AOC was given the role of supporting and evaluating ECC courts to align their practice with the core components of the law (RCW 2.30.100). FYJP works in partnership with partnership with the Center for Children & Youth Justice to provide technical assistance and training support to Washington ECCs. 

In 2025 the passage of SB 5149 has expanded ECC eligibility to include children under the age of six (0-5), ensuring more families have access to trauma-informed, developmentally supportive court processes and services during the most critical early years of life.

Together, these efforts position Washington as a national leader in advancing family-centered, equity-driven systems that give young children the strongest start possible.

ECC Judicial Training
ECC Community of Practice
Resources for ECCs
State Plan Map

To promote lasting, positive outcomes for parents, infants, and toddlers in the child welfare system by transforming the court process to be parent-centered, relationship-based, racially and culturally equitable, and collaborative. 

Parents, infants, and toddlers are safe, healthy and thriving in communities where equity, relationships, and collaboration are celebrated.

  • Collaboration
  • Community
  • Empowerment
  • Hope
  • Relationship
  • Integrity

Current Sites

Washington Expands Support for Young Children and Families Through ECC Innovation

Pierce County set the stage in 2016 with the launch of the Best for Babies Program, becoming a trailblazer in Early Childhood Court (ECC) innovation in Washington State. This groundbreaking initiative laid the foundation for expanding ECCs statewide.

In 2021, the passage of SB 5331 marked a major milestone—providing legislative support to launch ECCs in Kitsap, Thurston, and Spokane Counties. The bill also established a unified ECC framework across Washington, grounded in research-based practices known to improve outcomes for infants, toddlers, and their families. Momentum has continued to grow. In April of 2022 Clark County became the latest to adopt the ECC model, underscoring a statewide commitment to early intervention and family well-being.

If you have any questions or challenges accessing the recordings, please contact Rachel Muñoz, Rachel.Munoz-McCormick@courts.wa.gov