General Information
Date:
Friday, March 12, 2010
Registrations are due by Friday, March 5, 2010.
Location:
Washburn University
Bradbury Thompson Alumni Center
17th and Jewell
Parking: south and west of Bradbury.
Get Directions and Maps
Sponsors:
Children and Family Law Center at Washburn University School of Law and
Kansas Association of Counsel for Children
Registration Fee (includes reporting hours of attendance to the Kansas CLE Commission, written materials, lunch, and refreshments):
$125 - Attorneys
$75 - Social Workers/Court Personnel
$15 - Students
Please make checks payable to KACC. Unfortunately, the KACC is unable to accept credit/debit card payments.
CLE Credit:
Accredited by the Kansas and Missouri Continuing Legal Education Commissions for 8.0 CLE hours, including 1.0 hour of ethics. Attendance certificates will be available for social workers.
Cancellations:
If you cannot attend the seminar, you may send a substitute. If you cancel your registration at least two (2) business days prior to the seminar, your registration fee will be refunded. After that date, non-attending registrants will receive the course materials. Please allow two weeks for delivery. The sponsors reserve the right to cancel this seminar and return all fees.
Assistance for Special Needs:
If you require any special services or auxiliary aids to assist you while attending the program, please contact Donna Vilander at (785) 670-1105.
Ensuring Children's Voices Are Heard
About the Seminar
Courts are frequently called upon to make complex factual and legal determinations that affect children's lives. Issues include child custody as well as appropriate mental health, medical, and other community-based services for children and young adults in need of care. The child's voice is one in a sea of competing voices advocating for the child to undergo certain courses of action. While the child's voice should be a significant factor in making these determinations, it is often silenced and overshadowed by the voice of a prosecutor, parent, social worker, educator, and/or other adult. This seminar explores best practices for attorneys and other professionals who represent or serve children to ensure that the voices of children and young people are fully heard by those making decisions and plans for their future.
The conference opens with a keynote address by Frank P. Cervone, the Executive Director of the Support Center for Child Advocates in Philadelphia. Mr. Cervone has spent his career representing and advocating for children's rights. His efforts on behalf of children have involved both direct representation and systematic reforms. His keynote address will focus on best practices for working with children in legal arenas and current best practices in interviewing and examining children. Before and after lunch presenters will continue this discussion by examining best practices for ensuring that children's voices are heard in specific settings, including foster care, juvenile court, education, and parental divorces. Working break-out sessions will continue during the lunch hour. The day concludes with a judicial perspective on the ethics of working with children.
Who Should Attend
All attorneys, judges, social workers, and other professionals who are interested in ensuring the child's voice is heard in our legal system.
Sponsors
The Kansas Association of Counsel for Children is a not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to provide training, education, and support for attorneys, guardians ad litem, court-appointed special advocates, and others who advocate for children.
The Washburn University School of Law Children and Family Law Center is a collaborative effort involving Washburn Law students, alumni, and faculty. Its goal is to prepare lawyers who can address the vexing problems that arise in the fields of child advocacy and welfare, and the protection of families.
Agenda
8 a.m. — Registration
8:30 a.m. — Keynote Address
Best Practices for Connecting with Children
Presenter: Frank P. Cervone, Esq., Executive Director, Support Center for Child Advocates, Philadelphia
9:20 a.m. — Break
9:30 a.m.
Impact of Divorce and Conflict on Children
Presenters: Christopher Reecht, J.D.; Elizabeth Graham, LCPC-NCC
10:45 a.m. — Break
11:00 a.m.
Foster Youth — Best Practices in Transition Planning
Presenter: Marilyn M. Wilder, J.D.
12:15 p.m. — Break
12:30 p.m. — Working Lunch (provided) with Three Breakout Sessions
- Use of School-Wide Positive Behavioral Supports
Moderator: Allyson Palmer, M.A. - Kansas Youth Advisory Council
Moderator: Kerrie L. Lonard, J.D. - Special Concerns in Working With Immigrant Children
Moderator: Kathleen Anne Harvey, J.D.
1:20 p.m. — Break
1:30 p.m.
Juvenile Offenders: Competency Issues for the Juvenile Offender and the Law
Speakers: Trevor Patton, Ph.D.; Paul Shipp, J.D.
2:20 p.m. — Break
2:30 p.m.
Lost Voices in Special Education
Presenters: Jessica Dunn, J.D.; Catherine E. Johnson, J.D., M.A.
3:20 p.m. — Break
3:30 p.m.
Ethics: Perspectives from the Bench
Presenters: The Honorable Kathleen L. Sloan, District Magistrate Sheila Hochhauser, and The Honorable Van Z. Hampton
Moderator: Trina A. Nudson, J.D., B.S.W.
4:20 p.m. — Adjourn
Speakers
Keynote
Frank P. Cervone, Esq., is Executive Director of the Support Center for Child Advocates, a pro bono program that represents abused and neglected children in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In this capacity, he provides both direct representation to child clients and a variety of systemic reform, leadership and community education services. He served as co-chair of the American Bar Association Section of Litigation Task Force on Children (now Children's Law Committee), and is now a member of the Children's Law Committee Working Group. Prior to his work at the Support Center, Mr. Cervone was a staff attorney at the Delaware County Legal Assistance Association and an adjunct clinical professor at Villanova University School of Law, where he instructed law students in domestic abuse and child support litigation. He previously served as counsel for Saint Gabriel's System, an agency providing treatment services for juvenile offenders. Mr. Cervone lectures and trains both lay and professional audiences in child abuse and child advocacy, and he enjoys work with students and teachers of all ages. His publications include works on children's rights and the legal representation of children, collaboration of lawyers and professionals from other disciplines, and spirituality and social justice. Mr. Cervone is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Villanova University School of Law.
Presenters and Panelists
Jessica M. Dunn is a graduate research assistant and Ph.D. student in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Kansas. She received a B.S. in Elementary Education in 2001 and M.S. in Special Education in 2002 from the University of Kansas. Jessica taught first grade in the Liberty Public Schools, Liberty, Missouri, from 2002 to 2008.
Elizabeth J. Graham is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and is approved by the Kansas Supreme Court as a mediator for domestic relations disputes as well as parent and adolescent conflicts. Ms. Graham has also worked in the area of collaborative law; helping couples with divorce and parenting issues. She is available to provide services as a Parent Coach and as a Child Specialist in this venue. Ms. Graham believes that dealing with family related conflicts using alternative dispute resolution processes can increase opportunities for positive growth, resolution of conflicts and the preservation of ongoing healthy relationships. Ms. Graham is licensed as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor by the State of Kansas through the Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board and she is approved as a Mediator through the Office of Judicial Administration in Kansas. Ms. Graham also is certified by the National Board for Certified Counselors, a voluntary certification, with strict standards of conduct and professionalism. Prairie Center Counseling and Mediation adheres to professional counseling and mediation practices and follows the Codes of Ethics for the American Counseling Association, the Association for Conflict Resolution as well as the National Board for Certified Counselors.
Judge Van Z. Hampton graduated from law school at Oral Roberts University in 1987 and with an LL.M in Agricultural Law from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1988. He was appointed by Governor Bill Graves to the 16th District Court of Kansas in 1995. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Hampton was with the firm of Patton, Kerbs and Hess from 1988 to 1995.
Kathleen Anne Harvey is a solo practitioner specializing in Immigration and Naturalization law in Overland Park, Kansas. She has written and lectured on Immigration Law issues for family, corporate, juvenile, and criminal defense attorneys and legal assistants in multiple continuing education venues. A brief summary of publications and CLE presentations follows. As a 1992 graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, Ms. Harvey's law school honors include graduation "With Distinction," Dean's Honor Roll, several scholarships, Moot Court, International Law Moot Court, and UMKC Law Review Managing Editor. Her undergraduate degree is in Human Resources Management (Personnel) from Ottawa University, Ottawa, Kansas. Ms. Harvey's practice focuses on business nonimmigrant and immigrant issues, undocumented juveniles in foster care, international adoption, family member immigration, and political asylum issues for clients throughout the United States. Ms. Harvey is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the Missouri and Kansas Bar Associations, the Kansas Women Attorneys Association, the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, and the Christian Legal Society.
Judge Sheila Hochhauser graduated from law school at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in 1984, and moved to Kansas in 1985. In 1988, she was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives and she served as a state representative for Manhattan until 1997. She was in private legal practice for 22 years in Kansas before being sworn in as District Magistrate Judge for Riley County on August 31, 2007. She served on the Access to Justice Committee and the Pro Bono Legal Services Committee of the Kansas Bar Association. She was president of the Riley County Bar Association in 1996-1997. She taught Business Law at Kansas State University in 1987-1988 and from 1999-2007. Judge Hochhauser is married to a KSU professor and has two (2) children. Judge Hochhauser currently presides over cases involving Child Support Enforcement, Children in Need of Care, Juvenile Offender and other casework as assigned.
Catherine Johnson is a Disability Rights Attorney. She received her law degree from the University of Iowa, College of Law. Catherine is licensed to practice law in Iowa, Missouri, and Kansas. She received her undergraduate degree in Business Administration and English from the University of Iowa, as well as a Masters Degree in Higher Education, specializing in students' civil rights. Catherine started her legal career as a staff attorney for Muscatine Legal Services, advocating for individuals in civil, criminal and juvenile actions. Catherine's long standing interest in civil rights in education, led to her unique professional opportunities, as Director of Student Legal Services, University of Iowa, Assistant Dean of Students for Saint Louis University, School of Law for Managing Attorney Civil Justice Clinic, Washington University School of Law. In those capacities she represented, advocated and counseled students in legal, academic and life issues. Catherine has also been a civil commitment and defense staff attorney for the Iowa and Missouri Public Defender Offices, where she represented individuals the state sought to commit under newly enacted civil commitment statutes. Catherine has written numerous appellate briefs and presented oral arguments before the Iowa Appellate Courts.
Kerrie L. Lonard is a staff attorney for Kansas Legal Services. She received her BSW from the University of Kansas in 1998, MSW from Washburn University in 1999, and J.D. from Washburn University School of Law in 2007.
Trina A. Nudson received both her J.D. and Bachelors Degree from the University of Kansas. She earned her B.S.W. in 1998, and later that year received her BGS in Human Development and Family Life with an emphasis on Delinquency and Juvenile Justice. Trina continues to maintain her license as a social worker. While attending law school, Trina worked in the Child in Need of Care Division of the District Attorney's office in Topeka, and prior to that she held a position as foster care social worker with Kansas Children's Service League. She also served as a juvenile corrections officer, juvenile intake counselor and case manager, and truancy diversion officer. Trina is a licensed attorney and is currently a member of the Kansas Bar Association, Johnson County Bar Association, Juvenile Bench Bar, National Association for Council for Children, and Association of Family and Conciliation Courts. She also runs The Layne Project, Inc. Trina is a trained mediator and case manager, and is trained in collaborative law. The whole of Trina's professional career has been dedicated to helping children.
Allyson Palmer received her Master's of Education in Special Education from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She worked as a Special Education teacher in an elementary school for eight years. While teaching, she helped implement School-wide Positive Behavior Support as a member of her school's Positive Behavior Support team. Currently, she is pursuing her doctorate at the University of Kansas under the RTI Leadership Preparation Program fellowship. While at KU, she is studying the application of Response to Intervention for both academics and behavior.
Trever Patton, Ph.D., is a State of Kansas Licensed Psychologist and an independent practitioner at The Therapy Center. He is a unique specialist who works equally with patients and families for clinical therapy and as a neuropsychologist, assessing and defining brain deficits. Dr. Patton received his Ph.D. and M.A. in Clinical Psychology/Neuropsychology Emphasis from California School of Professional Psychology/Alliant University and his B.A. in Business Administration from Wichita State University.
Christopher M. Reecht was born in Columbia, Missouri. His family moved to the Kansas City Metropolitan Area before he began school. He grew up in Leawood, Kansas where he graduated from Blue Valley High School. After graduation, Chris went to Ft. Worth, Texas where he attended Texas Christian University and graduated in 1994 with a major in Criminal Justice and minor in Political Science. During college, Chris was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity and the men's golf team. He also interned with an attorney's office where he worked as a claims assistant. Upon graduation from college Chris came back to Kansas and attended Washburn University School of Law in Topeka as a Presidential Scholar. During law school, Chris interned for a small law firm in Kansas City, Missouri and the Johnson County District Attorney's Office. He was a member of the Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity and included in the Who's Who of law school students. Chris graduated from Washburn in 1998 and was sworn into the practice of law in Kansas in 1998 and Missouri in 1999. Since graduation, Chris has practiced in the areas of personal injury, business litigation, criminal defense and prosecution, family law, divorce law, Child In Need of Care, and juvenile law. Chris is also certified as a Guardian Ad Litem to advocate and represent the best interests of children involved in the Court system. He is currently licensed in both Missouri and Kansas but focuses his practice primarily in the District and Municipal Courts of Kansas in the areas of family law, divorce, CINC, Guardian Ad Litem representation, and Criminal Defense. Chris is also the Municipal Prosecutor for the City of Gardner, Kansas. Chris is currently serving as the President of the Johnson County, Kansas Bar Association. In the same organization he has previously served as the Vice President and Young Lawyers Section President. He is a member of the Kansas, Missouri and American Bar Associations.
Paul Shipp is a managing attorney with Kansas Legal Services (KLS). He began working for KLS in April 2003. He is passionate about reforming the juvenile court system to make it fair, and guarantee children the same due process rights afforded adults so long as they are criminally prosecuted. Paul was the litigator of In Re L.M., 186 P.3d 164 (2008), a historic Kansas Supreme Court decision that has forced legislators, judges and attorneys to revisit the underpinnings of the juvenile court system. Last year he was honored with the opportunity to speak regarding the L.M. case at a national conference of legal aid defenders in Washington, D.C. He recently won In Re E.R. (Docket #100,197), a case concerning the interpretation of the Romeo & Juliette statute, the E.R. case questions the propriety of dually charging teens engaging in consensual sexual activity. He continues to seek reform of the juvenile justice system. Paul currently manages the Flint Hills Offices for KLS where he primarily practices general poverty law. He has presented continuing legal education seminars for the Children's Advocacy Resource Center in the past.
Judge Kathleen L. Sloan graduated from law school at the University of Kansas in 1991. She was appointed to the 10th District of Kansas in 2004 by Governor Kathleen Sebelius. Prior to her appointment, Judge Sloan was District Court Trustee from 1997 to 2004. She is involved with several civic and professional organizations.
Marilyn M. Wilder is a Martindale-Hubbell "BV" rated attorney with a significant portion of her practice devoted to family law and is a certified domestic mediator. She also practices in a number of other areas including healthcare law and business law. Ms. Wilder is the current President of the Harvey County Bar Association. She grew up on a farm in Indiana before moving to Kansas. Her areas of practice include Business and Corporate Law, Estate Planning, Long Term Care Planning, Family Law, and Healthcare Law.
Washburn University School of Law
Continuing Legal Education
1700 SW College Ave.
Topeka, KS 66621
(785) 670-1105
cle [at] washburnlaw.edu
