What's is CITA?
CITA or the Court Improvement Training Academy was established at the University of Washington School of Law in 2006 by Professor Lisa Kelly. Funded by a contract with the Washington Stsate Administrative Office of the Courts using federal Court Improvement Program training money, CITA began serving the legal community in Washington State in September 2007.
Our Mission and Goals
It is CITA’s mission to create a learning community comprised of judges, lawyers, and other professionals involved in the juvenile court dependency process. This learning community will bring together innovative research and practical solutions to improve the operations and decision making in courts deciding actions under RCW 13.34.
Primary Goals:
1. Members of the Child Welfare Legal System universally have a working understanding of the core competencies necessary to effectively intervene in the lives of families.
2. Members of the Child Welfare Legal System have ready access to, and take advantage of, high quality educational opportunities addressing innovative practices and emerging issues in the field .
3. Members of the Child Welfare Legal System have on demand access to educational materials on a wide variety of topics prepared by experts in the field.
4. Members of the Child Welfare Legal System form a community of learners continually seeking knowledge to improved outcomes for families in need of legal intervention.