In 1976, more than half a million children in the United States were in foster care. Most were unable to reunite with their families or be adopted by new ones. Designed to be a temporary shelter, foster care had become a de facto permanent placement. Unintentionally contributing to this problem were judges who often lacked the information they needed to determine the best interests of abused and neglected children in the family court system.

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Judge David Soukup, a King County Superior Court Judge in Seattle, Washington, was deeply concerned about making life altering decisions for dependent children. To ensure he was getting all the facts and that the long-term welfare of each child was represented in court, Judge Soukup created an organization that changed America's judicial procedure and the lives of thousands of neglected children.