Over the past decade, Maricopa County courts have seen more than 46,000 families reunite with children who have been taken from homes deemed unsafe.

In the face of growing evidence that separation can be traumatic for both parents and their children, strategies to work with families to improve the home environment have gained favor.

“As judges, we are being charged with following the law,” Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Lori Bustamante said he is presidering over a juvenile case. “But it’s a balance because parents have the right to raise their children.”

Over the years, Bustamante said the courts have moved to meeting families they have in their lives.

“Many of our hearings have become virtual hearings,” she said.

According to Bustamante, the court has seen fewer cases than ever before with strategies such as keeping children home with approved oversight, siblings or other families.

“As a result of the lowercase load, everyone can focus more on each family,” she said.

Decision makers in these cases aim to prevent removal as much as possible, minimize separation and reunite the family, Bustamante added.

“One of our favourites [types of] The hearing is when we can dismiss the case because the families are united and the families are doing a lot,” she said.