Opportunities From: Volunteer Opportunities at United Way of Northern New Jersey

The Warren County Courthouse in Belvidere, NJ is looking for Volunteers for the Courthouse Assistance Program in the Family Division.   The Courthouse Service Assistance program is a platform to engage members of the community in the day-to-day administration of the court. Under the direction of a judge or other court staff, volunteers assist court personnel in performing a variety of tasks which facilitate case processing as well as customer service. Tasks may include, but are not limited to: directing and escorting litigants or jurors, data entry, filing, sorting and distributing mail, making photocopies, programmatic assistance, answering and making phone calls, and presenting paperwork to judges or court users.

For more information please log onto: https://njcourts.gov/public/volunteer/volunteercounty.html#warren

An application is available on the website and can be mailed or emailed to the contact listed on the site. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Volunteer Information Line at 908-332-7700, x13095.

We are looking for Volunteers for our Child Replacement Boards in Warren and Hunterdon Counties. Log on to njcourts.com/volunteer for an application and more info.

 Child Placement Review/Child Placement Advisory Council

The Child Placement Review (CPR) program is a key component of the court's role in the oversight of children in foster care. Groups of trained judicial volunteers, appointed by the assignment judge, assist the court in reviewing cases of children placed outside of their homes by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP). A volunteer is assigned to a CPR Board, consisting of about 5 volunteers, to review these cases.

CPR Boards conduct various reviews of children involved in "voluntary placement" cases. In such cases, DCPP has placed a child out of his or her home pursuant to a voluntary agreement signed by the parent but there is no allegation of abuse or neglect and DCPP has not filed a child abuse or neglect complaint case against the parent. In "litigated" cases, for which DCPP has filed a child abuse or neglect complaint, a CPR Board conducts one review to determine the progress made by DCPP in addressing the child's needs and any potential barriers to finding a safe, permanent home for the child. These litigated cases remain under the direct oversight of a judge.

In all cases, CPR Boards draft case-specific recommendations for the consideration of a judge. At CPR Board meetings, held at designated court facilities on a scheduled basis, the Board may interact with DCPP caseworkers or their supervisors, parents, foster parents, or other child welfare stakeholders.

CPR volunteers complete court-sponsored initial training upon appointment in addition to annual continuing education programs dealing with current child welfare issues, ensuring their meaningful participation in the child placement review process. Integral to the New Jersey Child Placement Advisory Council (CPAC) and its mission is the mandate to advise New Jersey’s three branches of government on the effectiveness of the Child Placement Review Act.  The 2014 CPAC Annual Report Recommendations for 2015 accomplishes this.

CPAC also holds training workshops and events on topics that are appropriate and relevant for CPR board volunteers.  CPAC will be hosting its 2015 Annual Training on May 7 at the New Jersey Law Center in New Brunswick.  More information about this event is available via the Council’s “Save The Date” notice.

A representative from each CPR Board statewide is selected annually to be a member of the New Jersey Child Placement Advisory Council (CPAC).

We are looking for Volunteers for our Child Replacement Boards in Hunterdon County. Log on to njcourts.com/volunteer for an application and more info.

 Child Placement Review/Child Placement Advisory Council

The Child Placement Review (CPR) program is a key component of the court's role in the oversight of children in foster care. Groups of trained judicial volunteers, appointed by the assignment judge, assist the court in reviewing cases of children placed outside of their homes by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP). A volunteer is assigned to a CPR Board, consisting of about 5 volunteers, to review these cases.

CPR Boards conduct various reviews of children involved in "voluntary placement" cases. In such cases, DCPP has placed a child out of his or her home pursuant to a voluntary agreement signed by the parent but there is no allegation of abuse or neglect and DCPP has not filed a child abuse or neglect complaint case against the parent. In "litigated" cases, for which DCPP has filed a child abuse or neglect complaint, a CPR Board conducts one review to determine the progress made by DCPP in addressing the child's needs and any potential barriers to finding a safe, permanent home for the child. These litigated cases remain under the direct oversight of a judge.

In all cases, CPR Boards draft case-specific recommendations for the consideration of a judge. At CPR Board meetings, held at designated court facilities on a scheduled basis, the Board may interact with DCPP caseworkers or their supervisors, parents, foster parents, or other child welfare stakeholders.

CPR volunteers complete court-sponsored initial training upon appointment in addition to annual continuing education programs dealing with current child welfare issues, ensuring their meaningful participation in the child placement review process. Integral to the New Jersey Child Placement Advisory Council (CPAC) and its mission is the mandate to advise New Jersey’s three branches of government on the effectiveness of the Child Placement Review Act.  The 2014 CPAC Annual Report Recommendations for 2015 accomplishes this.

CPAC also holds training workshops and events on topics that are appropriate and relevant for CPR board volunteers.  CPAC will be hosting its 2015 Annual Training on May 7 at the New Jersey Law Center in New Brunswick.  More information about this event is available via the Council’s “Save The Date” notice.

A representative from each CPR Board statewide is selected annually to be a member of the New Jersey Child Placement Advisory Council (CPAC).

The Warren County Courthouse is looking for Youth Volunteers (ages 14-18) for the Juvenile Conference Committee.

The Juvenile Conference Committees (JCCs) serve under the authority of the Family Division of Superior Court. A JCC is a six to nine member citizen volunteer panel appointed by the Family Division Judge. In a confidential setting, JCC panels hear and decide matters involving alleged juvenile offenders. The juvenile, parent(s) and or guardian(s) and complainant/victim are invited to discuss the offense and related matters with the Committee. The JCC considers the facts, and makes recommendations to the judge for a resolution that would aid in the juvenile's rehabilitation.

The program is designed to divert juveniles charged with first or second time minor offenses to their local JCC, which acts as a community-based arm of the Family Court. Program volunteers are required to complete mandatory program-specific training.

If interested log onto http://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/volunteer/warren.html for an application. Applications can be submitted to the Training Coordinator, at Meredith.novkovic@njcourts.gov.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Meredith Novkovic at 908-231-7605. Thank you!