This week, lawyers, judges, social workers and advocates will explore developments in children’s law during two conferences at the Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner, Va., hosted by the ABA Center on Children and the Law. Among the topics covered will be family separation at the border, parental incarceration, implicit bias against transgender youth and cultural identity in foster care.
CENTER ON CHILDREN AND THE LAW
ABA conferences to explore developments in children’s law
On Tuesday and Wednesday, April 9-10, the National Conference on Access to Justice for Children and Families will provide training and networking opportunities for child law professionals who advocate for children, parents, agencies and kin in child welfare proceedings. The conference also includes participation from judges, Court Improvement Program directors, court administrators and attorneys who handle cases that intersect with child welfare, such as in immigration, education, housing and family law. This year, the conference will include a track on implementing the Family First Prevention Services Act, which brought sweeping changes in child welfare law, with the goal of keeping families together.
The National Conference on Parent Representation on Thursday and Friday, April 11-12, co-hosted by the National Alliance for Parent Representation, includes workshops, facilitated small group discussions and plenary sessions to improve parent representation and outcomes for children and families.
Among the speakers at the conferences are Jerry Milner, associate commissioner at the Children’s Bureau and the acting commissioner for the Administration for Children and Families; Sherry Lachman, founder and executive director of Foster America; Aisha McWeay, chief executive officer of Still She Rises; Martin Guggenheim, professor of clinical law at New York University School of Law; Khiara Bridges, professor at Boston University School of Law; and Dinah Ortiz-Adames of the Bronx Defenders.
Related links:
- National Conference on Access to Justice for Children and Families
- National Conference on Parent Representation
- ABA Journal: 16 success stories for ABA advocacy during the 115th Congress
- ABA Journal: Judge who denied name changes for transgender teens is sued for alleged pattern of bias
- ABA Journal: Formerly separated immigrant families begin process for suing Trump administration