Who Are We?

Early Childhood Court, commonly known as “B.A.B.Y.”, is a family-focused program that uses child-parent psychotherapy to assist families during their involvement with the child welfare system. B.A.B.Y.’s main priority is the safety and well-being of children. During separation, B.A.B.Y. will assist families in achieving their goals through the following services:

  • Individual counseling
  • Parenting education and counseling
  • Case management
  • Therapeutic visitation
  • Community resource navigation assistance
  • Integrated decision team staffings
  • Aftercare support post reunification

B.A.B.Y. is composed of a team of individuals who will be working closely with you and your child(ren) to enhance the parent-child relationship during this difficult time of separation, and to focus on the completion of your case plan services to ensure permanency is achieved as soon as safely possible.

Program Benefits

  • Increased visitation with your child
  • Specialized family therapy sessions
  • Parenting education Integrated decision family team meetings
  • Coaching to help you succeed Icebreaker/co-parenting meetings
  • More frequent court hearings to review progress
  • Stopping the cycle of your child entering the Dependency system

Program Stakeholders

  • Ninth Judicial Circuit Court
  • Children's Home Society
  • Community Based Care of Central Florida
  • One Hope United
  • University of Central Florida
  • Nemours Children’s Hospital
  • Department of Children & Families
  • Children’s Legal Services
  • Legal Aid Guardian Ad Litem Program
  • Early Headstart Court-Appointed Counsel
  • Orange County Youth & Family Services