The “Building a Trauma-Sensitive State” conference, which runs through October 2,
examines how to look beyond a child’s behavior to understand underlying causes and prevent situations that lead to children and families becoming involved in formal court proceedings.
Attendees will explore strategies for working with children and families who have experienced trauma, instability, or other challenges that can affect behavior, school attendance, family relationships, and how families receive services through community support systems. The conference builds on the Louisiana Supreme Court’s FINS-AP program to strengthen Louisiana’s judicial and family-serving systems through early intervention, collaboration, accountability, and access to appropriate services.
“We have learned from our ongoing efforts to address truancy, including the Solutions Summit held in 2025, that engaging with at-risk families directly through an informal, FINS-AP-led process leads to better outcomes for children and families than if they were to become involved in the judicial system without an early intervention,” Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer said.
“Judges across Louisiana understand that when communities are empowered to use proven strategies to solve problems before they reach a courtroom, families and children are better served. This week’s conference is a critical opportunity for sharing best practices and new approaches with judges, stakeholders, and community partners who are committed to building trust, strengthening collaboration, and supporting meaningful change."
The conference focuses on how trauma negatively impacts family dynamics and can make it difficult for children to succeed at school and at home. Conference attendees will learn how a trauma-sensitive approach across judicial and community partners will better position stakeholders in supporting children and families while helping courts and communities respond earlier and more effectively.
A key theme participants will explore is why relationships matter. Professionals will have an opportunity to learn strategies that are built on collaboration across a wide variety of community areas, including with schools, community organizations, and other services available to families and children.
Participants will work together in groups as they explore 90-day action steps to create practical solutions focusing on challenges such as transportation barriers, instability, learning needs, and lack of support. Sessions will cover trauma-informed communication, de-escalation, case management, youth voice, and support systems for children with disabilities or developmental differences.
“Strengthening the Informal FINS Process, which is the early intervention model we use to prevent families from having to engage with the court system in a more formal way, is foundational to FINS-AP’s mission,” Justice Weimer said. “By intervening earlier and emphasizing safety, accountability, relationships, and positive outcomes, professionals can help families access supports before issues escalate. This work reflects a significant shift: moving beyond asking what a child did, to instead asking what happened, what are the needs of the child and the child’s family, and who should come together to help promote family success.”