What can the federal government do to stop the family and juvenile dependency court crises?

Family courts are state-run systems designed to handle highly individualized cases. Because of that, the federal government’s role is limited. The federal government cannot directly control state family courts or impose a single national custody law. Here are the main levers the federal government can realistically use:

National data collection and transparency

• Require standardized reporting on custody outcomes, allegations, and case duration
• Fund independent research on outcomes for children under different custody arrangements
• Improve public access to aggregated court data while protecting privacy

Encourage best-practice guidelines

• Evidence-based guidelines for custody determinations
• Training on coercive control, domestic violence dynamics, and child development
• Best practices for minimizing high-conflict litigation

Encourage states to expand programs

• Mediation and early resolution programs
• Parenting coordination services
• Problem-solving courts focused on family stability rather than adversarial outcomes
• Protection of constitutional rights

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