Presenters will receive complimentary admission to the conference and, for those who live more than 50 miles from the conference site (6345 Powers Ferry Rd. NW, Atlanta GA 30339), a complimentary hotel room.

The deadline for submissions is July 26.

Abstract Submission Form

Next Parent Attorney Training:

May 13-14 at the Fulton County Juvenile Court.

UPDATE: Training has been postponed.
Check back later for new dates, details and registration.

The Certification Program

Child Welfare Law Certification is available to attorneys who represent children, parents and agencies in child abuse, neglect and dependency cases.  It is modeled after physician board certification and requires that attorneys satisfy the following requirements:

• Substantial involvement in the practice of child welfare law for the three (3) years immediately preceding the application.
• Satisfactory continuing legal education credit in child welfare law.
• Acquisition of satisfactory peer reviews of your competence, including one (1) judge.
• Satisfactory writing sample.
• Passage of the NACC national child welfare law exam.
• NACC’s CWLS certification program is accredited by the ABA.

More information about the program is available at http://www.naccchildlaw.org/resource/resmgr/certification/program_summary_02-09.pdf

Scholarships

The normal cost for certification is $600 ($300 payable when the application is submitted and $300 payable when the applicant sits for the certification exam.) Attorneys accepted for GACC scholarships will be required to pay only a $50 application fee and a $50 exam fee. GACC will subsidize the remaining costs.

Application

To request a scholarship and the application packet, contact Jane@GACCchildlaw.org. ACT NOW! The application is rigorous and the APPLICATION DEADLINE is JUNE 30, 2010

Save the date and apply now!

The Child Welfare Attorney Trial Techniques Training will be held June 18-20, 2010, at the Emory University School of Law. The training will begin at 7:30 a.m. on June 18, 2010, and conclude around noon on June 20, 2010.  Current confirmed sponsors of the program are the Supreme Court of Georgia Committee on Justice for Children, the Georgia Administrative Office of the Courts, the Georgia Association of Counsel for Children, the Georgia Office of the Child Advocate, the Georgia Public Defenders Standards Council, the Parent Attorney Advocacy Committee and the Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia.

To maintain an optimal faculty-student ratio, enrollment will be limited to 60 attorneys.  Scholarships are available for a limited number of attorneys meeting certain criteria. Contact cwtrialtechniques@gmail.com for more information.  The application and scholarship deadline is April 30, 2010.   Application Form

The goal of the training is to assist attorneys in developing the trial skills necessary to be more effective advocates in Georgia deprivation proceedings. The training is intended for Special Assistant Attorneys General, parents’ attorneys, children’s attorneys and attorney guardians ad litem.  We are developing a dynamic agenda offering a full year’s MCLE credit (12 MCLE hours, including 1 ethics hour, 6 trial practice hours and 1 optional self-report professionalism hour).

National faculty and local child welfare experts will lead attorneys in a Georgia specific, “learning-by-doing” trial techniques training.  The training will include problems and a mock trial based on deprivation case scenarios and Georgia law. Portions of the training take place in a simulated courtroom setting and students will receive faculty critique and video review. While the training will employ the NITA-method of operation for teaching the students, the training is not a NITA-sponsored training.

Application Form

Space is limited to 100 attendees

Child Welfare Attorney Training
(6/1/1*/3) *optional self-report
Seminar Number - 7381
Early Registration:  $85
On-Site Registration:  $105
in person: State Bar of Georgia Headquarters, Atlanta
via video conference:  Coastal Georgia Office—State Bar Of Georgia (Savannah)
via video conference:  South Georgia Office—State Bar Of Georgia (Tifton)
http://www.iclega.org/programs/7381.html

Performance Standards for Attorneys Representing Parents in Deprivation and Termination of Parental Rights Cases

Services offered include:

•    Information/orientation on the deprivation process;
•    Advisement on the obtainment of court ordered services
•    Assistance in locating relevant child welfare research
•    Assistance in researching DFCS Policies and Procedures
•    Assistance in locating expert services
•    Assistance in the interpretation of psychosocial assessments
•    Other research, advisory or recommendation based services as needed.

Please Note:
Social worker services are available in a limited capacity, and are currently in a pilot phase. While every effort will be made to assist parent attorneys with their requests, there may be circumstances where the social worker is unable to do so.

Additionally, the social worker is not available for home visits or investigations, and the social worker is unavailable for court appearances. Please keep that in mind when requesting services. These services are for the development of an attorney’s strategy or practice, and therefore the social worker is unavailable to provide testimony in court.

To make a request, please fill out the Request for Social Work Services form and include it with your email submission.

You may contact the social worker at childfamilypolicy@cviog.uga.edu.

This is a pilot program that will run from September 2009 through January 2010.