NACC HAPPENINGS
June's NACC Members-Only Webinar
This week's members-only webinar,
A Courtroom Advocate’s Guide to the Family First Galaxy,
was our most popular to date! NACC thanks Stefanie Sprow of the Children's Defense Fund for joining Allison Green on Tuesday for a fantastic presentation on the
Family First Prevention Services Act
and opportunities for courtroom advocacy. Missed the webinar? No worries--all NACC members can view/listen to NACC webinars
here on the Member Webinar Series page
of NACC's website after you log in. Need help logging-in? Contact
Membership@NACCchildlaw.org
.
Build the community and encourage your colleagues to join NACC to access these educational webinars. Our
Gold Membership Special
closes June 28th
so now is the time to join!
Other upcoming opportunities for the NACC Community:
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4th Edition Child's Right to Counsel National Report Card Released
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Right to Counsel Hill Briefing
Last week, advocates for the right to counsel for children, parents, and tribes presented a briefing to Congressional staff at the Rayburn House of Representatives Building. Moderated by Prudence Beidler-Carr of the ABA Center on Children and the Law, the discussion included presentations from two youth who experienced foster care, a tribal judge, Professor Marty Guggenheim, and Child Welfare Law Specialist Murphy Henry.
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Want to learn more about the Report Card? Catch the Next Member Webinar:
Tuesday, July 16, 2pm EST
4th Edition Right to Counsel Report Card & Federal CAPTA Update
Amy Harfeld, National Policy Director & Senior Staff Attorney
Children's Advocacy Institute. Moderated by Kim Dvorchak, NACC ED.
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NACC's ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Don't miss this year's 42nd National Child Welfare Law Conference!
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Recognize excellence in your community with an award to be presented at Conference:
- PRESIDENT'S AWARD (new!)
- OUTSTANDING LEGAL ADVOCATE
- OUTSTANDING NEW LAWYER
- OUTSTANDING CHILDREN'S LAW OFFICE/AGENCY (new!)
Click
here
for award criteria.
Nominations due June 21, 2019.
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The Program & Discounted Rates
NEW!
Lunch & Learn Session on
Human-Centered Design!
Add this session to your conference registration or email
Conference@NACCchildlaw.org
to register--seats are limited!
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Pre-Conference Sessions: Sunday, August 25th
Register for the
Red Book Training here
.
Don't miss this unique opportunity for a full-day live
Red Book Training
with Betsy Fordyce of the Rocky Mountain Children's Law Center.
Live/Online Combo!
All Red Book attendees will have the opportunity to deepen and refresh their knowledge by also taking the
Online Red Book Training Course (
and have access to its recordings for 6 months)
this fall fo
r $25.
Register for the
Children's Law Office Convening here
.
NACC is relaunching the Children’s Law Office Project to convene and support the leaders and managers of nonprofit children's law offices, state attorney ad litem or attorney guardian ad litem agencies, and law firms who contract with counties and states to represent children. The convening will offer opportunities for peer learning, discussions on current challenges and innovations, and support the next generation of children's law office leaders.
Elevate Your Profile--Sponsor/Exhibit/Advertise in Anaheim!
Got reports or products to share? Share information and elevate your organization's profile by participating as a Sponsor/Exhibitor/Advertiser. We anticipate over 700 attorneys, judges, social workers, will join us in Anaheim. See the Sponsorship/Exhibitor/Advertising application
here
.
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NACC State Coordinator applications due June 21
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NACC is recruiting its inaugural cohort of State Coordinators to help lead NACC’s expanded outreach and provide localized support to a growing network of child welfare attorneys. Review the volunteer
position description and application instructions
.
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NACC State Coordinators:
- Serve as a volunteer liaison between NACC and practitioners, courts, organizations, and law schools in your state
- Help grow the community of members and Child Welfare Law Specialists
- Help plan and promote attorney trainings in your state, including NACC’s Red Book Training, and customized state-based trainings
- Work with NACC staff to advance implementation of the Family First Prevention Services Act, Title IV-E funding for legal representation, and legal service delivery system development
- Work with NACC staff to seek funding and develop special projects, such as development of state-specific versions of the Every Kid Needs a Family Attorney Advocacy Guide
- Keep NACC staff informed of state and local practice concerns, policy developments, and potential amicus opportunities
- Provide quarterly updates describing activities and plans, and participate in quarterly calls with NACC staff and other state coordinators
- Attend NACC National Conferences, which will include an annual state coordinator meeting
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CERTIFICATION NEWS
Child Welfare Law Specialist (CWLS) certification is a professional achievement that signifies an attorney's specialized knowledge, skill, and verified expertise in the field of child welfare law.
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Congratulations to our newest Child Welfare Law Specialists!
Jolene Clearwater, JD, CWLS
48
th
Circuit Court – Family Division
Allegan, MI
Anna Rak, JD CWLS
Children’s Law Center of California
Monterey Park, CA
Certification is Now Available in Illinois and Maryland!
NACC is now able to offer the CWLS credential to attorneys in these additional states. Take a look at our
CWLS Certification webpage
to learn more about the program, review the standards, and request an application. Feel free to contact
Certification@NACCchildlaw.com
with your questions.
Interested in Becoming a CWLS?
NACC members benefit from 2019 CWLS Application Pricing
NACC Members - $375, Non-Members - $500
The application fee includes the exam and a copy of
Child Welfare Law and Practice, 3rd Edition.
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G
old Membership Special
ends June 28
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Extend/renew your Membership at the Gold level for $75 off and receive a copy of the Red Book and a 6 month membership for a friend. Renew early and add 12 months to your membership by using code
2019GOLD
here
.
All NAC Memberships are now payable in four installments.
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June is Pride Month
Join NACC in endorsing the federal
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June is National Reunification Month
New NACC Amicus Filing: A.R. v. D.R. (Colorado Supreme Court)
NACC filed an
amicus brief
in support of Respondent-Appellant mother in Colorado Supreme Court case, A.R. v. D.R. In A.R. v. D.R., a mother’s parental rights were terminated in the trial court. She appealed that decision claiming that her trial counsel was ineffective. A division of the Colorado Court of Appeals found the mother’s attorney’s deficient performance rendered the termination proceedings presumptively unfair and unreliable. It
reversed the judgment
terminating mother’s parental rights and remanded the case for a new termination hearing. In doing so, the Court of Appeals deviated from the standard previously applied to ineffective assistance of counsel claims in termination cases. The GAL filed a petition for writ of certiorari in the Colorado Supreme Court, which the County Department of Social Services joined. The Colorado Supreme Court granted review. NACC’s amicus brief supported the Court of Appeals decision to apply the fundamental fairness standard in assessing claims of ineffective assistance of counsel in termination of parental rights proceedings because children's interests are best served when all parties have competent counsel. NACC thanks
Christopher Church, CWLS
for co-authoring this brief with
NACC's Brooke Silverthorn, CWLS.
NACC Equal Justice Works/Skadden Fellowships
Know a talented law student passionate about children's justice who is graduating in 2020?
Let them know NACC is accepting Fellowship proposals through
July 22, 2019
.
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Technical Assistance for NACC Members
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Support NACC while you shop by selecting NACC on Amazon Smile.
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National Association of Counsel for Children | www.NACCchildlaw.org
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