Judges press Broward County for family-court navigators; commissioners agree to explore pilot funding

Chief Judge Carol Lisa Phillips and Judge Lauren Alperstein told the Broward County Commission on Sept. 16 that rising family-court caseloads and related child trauma require in-court navigators and court-linked services.

The judges said their request had been scaled back from an initial ask of about $1.0 million to a phase 1 request of $760,322 for fiscal year 2026. That phase would include a family court service manager, two judicial support investigators for statutorily required social investigations in high‑conflict custody cases, four judicial navigators and three administrative assistants to monitor referrals and manage the program. Judge Alperstein described the navigators as professionals who can identify appropriate mental-health providers, arrange low-cost or insurance-based services and monitor compliance so judges receive timely feedback.

A narrower pilot proposal discussed at the dais would fund four judicial navigators at an estimated $309,304.76 for a one-year pilot. County administrator Monica Sapero identified an operating reserve line for court administration local programs of about $660,000 that could potentially fund a pilot without cutting other judicial appropriations.

Commissioner responses and direction Commissioners expressed bipartisan support for the goals of the judges but differed on timing and funding sources. Vice Mayor Bogan and several commissioners favored funding a pilot now if it could be covered by judicial reserves or a limited transfer and advised staff to identify how to achieve that without cutting core programs. Senator Geller and others urged careful stewardship of reserves and requested a follow-up with more detailed numbers.

County administrator’s commitment Monica Sapero told the board that the administration could identify a one‑time pilot funded from an existing judicial reserve and offered two options: (1) fund a one‑year pilot now from a roughly $660,000 judicial reserve account identified in the operating budget, or (2) bring a formal budget amendment to the commission on Oct. 7 to move reserve dollars into the program. Sapero and court administrator Joe D'Amico (mentioned on the record) agreed to meet with the chief judge and Judge Alperstein to refine a scope and cost estimate.

Outcome The commission did not adopt a permanent recurring appropriation during the Sept. 16 meeting. Instead the board directed county administration to meet with the judiciary and present a vetted proposal on Oct. 7 that could use existing judicial reserves for a limited one‑year pilot. Vice Mayor Bogan expressed interest in giving the county administrator authority to execute the necessary transfer if council legal counsel and the administrator confirm the action is within budget rules, but commissioners agreed to review the formal amendment at a subsequent meeting.

Clarifying figures discussed - Initial judiciary request (phase 1): $760,322 (Judge Phillips stated the pared-down FY26 request). - Pilot for four navigators: $309,304.76 (Judge Alperstein and staff provided this estimate for four judicial navigators). - Judicial reserve account referenced by county administration: approximately $660,000 (county administrator identified this operating reserve for court administration local programs).

Selected direct quotes - "We are simply triaging...we don't have the resources to help these families to provide the therapy for the families that they need," Chief Judge Carol Lisa Phillips said of rising family-division caseloads. - "We need people with that background in the courthouse who are able to find the providers...and then monitor the cases," Judge Lauren Alperstein said, describing the navigators' intended role. - "There is a line item in the operating budget for judicial...about $660,000 and if you wanted to do the $309,000 for a Navigator pilot, maybe for one year, then we could make that amendment," Monica Sapero told the commission.

Next steps County administration will meet with the chief judge and Judge Alperstein to scope a proposed pilot and present the item to the commission on Oct. 7 with proposed budget actions to fund a one‑year pilot from judicial reserves or otherwise identify funding that will not reduce core judicial services.