Innovative specialty courts are continuing to see success in reunifying children with their parents after the completion of court-supervised programs.

Associate Judge Raul Perales will hear CPS cases involving child abuse, neglect and domestic violence.

The Children’s Court Division made quick moves to make sure they were able to continue hearing cases. “Children’s court was pretty seamless. We had to be because what’s at stake when you’re talking about the safety and welfare of children,” Children’s Court Associate Judge Charles Montemayor. Montemayor has been hearing cases in the Children’s Court since 2005 and, at first, had no idea how the pandemic would affect his docket. Everything from court hearings, therapy sessions to adoption ceremonies went virtual.