Increasing caseloads, limited resources, and growing numbers of self-represented litigants have led to challenges for family courts working to resolve conflicts in a timely manner while protecting the well-being of children.

Two Ohio courts – Delaware County Domestic Relations Court and Medina County Domestic Relations Court – are among only 12 courts in the country selected to participate in the “Right Services, Right Time: Promising Practices for Family Courts” initiative, through the National Center for State Courts (NCSC). With NCSC’s assistance, the participating courts will implement practical evidence-based tools that make family case management more efficient and effective, without requiring major changes in their systems.

The Delaware County Domestic Relations Court will use the initiative’s tools to build on its existing suite of dispute resolution offerings. Judge Randall Fuller believes the new resources will add value to the court’s ongoing mission to enhance family well-being and improve court efficiency.

“We are always looking for new ideas and programs that will benefit our families who find themselves in the unfamiliar territory of divorce, custody, and family conflict,” Judge Fuller said.

Initiative Offers Parenting Course, Intake Portal, and Dashboards
The selected courts will be equipped with innovative, data-supported training, resources, and tracking with the goal of streamlining case management from intake to resolution. The tools include:

• Families in Transition (FIT) parenting course: A research-backed, interactive, on-demand parenting course that helps decrease conflict in co-parenting relationships. It also includes training for local court staff overseeing the program.
• Court services portal: An intake and triage tool that can be customized to align with local processes.
• Dashboards: A visual tool to track timelines; highlight red flags such as conflicts needing attention or inefficient case processing; and support requests for funding with data.

NCSC notes that 80-90% of litigants in family court cases represent themselves in their legal proceedings. The difficult personal issues and conflicts involved in these cases contribute to significant delays, strained court operations, and negative effects on children. The Right Services, Right Time initiative is designed to help courts manage cases more effectively, reduce conflict, and improve outcomes for children and families.

The Ohio courts and four of the other courts selected from across the country will be testing all three tools. The remaining six courts in the project are piloting the parenting course only.

Delaware County Has Launched Parenting Course
In Delaware County, the program for the FIT parenting course is already up and running. The program, which focuses on early interventions, teaches productive communication, emotional control, and conflict resolution, Judge Fuller explained. The court expects to order participation in the FIT program for all domestic relations cases where the parents disagree about parental rights and responsibilities. 

“Studies have shown that the FIT curriculum can significantly reduce conflict between co-parents, easing emotional stress on children and streamlining case resolution,” Judge Fuller noted. “The benefits of the FIT program also extend beyond courtroom walls.”

Parents are asked in the course to look to the future – to imagine what it will be like when their child gets married or has their first child. Will it be a day filled with stress and anxiety because of the parents’ conflicts, or a special day focused on their child’s wedding or the birth of a grandchild? This helps parents to put into perspective their current conflict versus the lifelong benefits of being successful co-parents, Judge Fuller said.

By equipping families with stronger communication and conflict-management skills, the program aims to foster more stable, cooperative, post-separation relationships.

“I am thrilled that we were one of only 12 courts in the nation that were selected to participate in the FIT pilot program,” he added. “I am hopeful that our participation will help other Ohio courts to be able to offer this valuable program in the future.”

Throughout 2026, participating courts will receive hands-on implementation support, peer learning opportunities, and data coaching from NCSC experts. Through this multifaceted approach, NCSC aspires to strengthen the national infrastructure for family court innovation – by connecting local efforts to a broader system of proven, adaptable solutions that advance family-centered justice.