07/13/11
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Update on New Legislation Concerning Child Abuse and Neglect Is Now Available Here
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Sandra Hachem, Senior Asst. County Attorney in the Harris County Attorney's Office and a member of the State Bar's Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect, has graciously provided TLC with her latest update of new legislation concerning child abuse and neglect. This update dicusses new laws passed in the 2011 legislative session which impact child abuse and neglect issues and would be of particular interest to judges and attorneys handling suits filed by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Click here to view Ms. Hachem's legislative update.
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06/20/11
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Children's Commission Is Providing Attorney Registration Scholarships for NACC's 34th National Conference - Deadline June 24
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The Texas Supreme Court's Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth and Families is providing a limited number of scholarships for Texas attorneys to attend the 34th National Child Welfare, Juvenile, and Family Law Conference sponsored by the National Association of Counsel for Children, which will be held from Aug. 29 - Sept. 1, 2011, at the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, California. The deadline to apply for a scholarship is the close of business on Friday, June 24. The scholarship covers registration only and does not include expenses for travel or lodging. To view the requirements to be eligible to apply and to access the application form, click here.
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06/20/11
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U. S. Supreme Court Rules that Child Support Obligors Faced with Incarceration Are Not Entitled to Legal Representation, but Court Must Find Ability to Pay
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On June 20, 2011, the U. S. Supreme Court, in Turner v. Rogers, held that a child support obligor faced with incarceration for civil contempt is not entitled to legal representation. The Court ruled, however, that the state must ensure that "alternative procedural safeguards" are in place, such as notice to the obligor that ability to pay is a critical issue, a fair opportunity to present and to refute evidence, and an express finding by the court that the obligor has an ability to comply with the support order. To view the Court's opinion, click here.
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06/16/11
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U.S. Supreme Court Holds that Age Is a Factor for Miranda in Juvenile Interrogations
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On June 16, 2011, the U. S. Supreme Court held that a juvenile's age properly informs Miranda custody analysis. In J.D.B. v. North Carolina, the Court considered the interrogation of a 13-year-old in a room at his school by uniformed police officers. The juvenile was not read Miranda rights and gave a confession. The Court explained that a child's age affects his perception of whether he is free to leave, and ruled that the interrogators should have taken age into consideration in determining whether the child was "in custody" and, therefore, entitled to Miranda warnings. To view the Court's opinion, click here.
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05/05/11
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DFPS Is Seeking Comments by June 1 on Its Foster Care Redesign Draft RFP
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The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is requesting comments on a DRAFT version of a Request for Proposals (RFP) that it plans to publish in August 2011 as a final RFP. The DRAFT RFP is for DFPS' planned solicitation of proposals for the provision of a full continuum of residential child-care services for children in DFPS' legal conservatorship and for services to the families of those children. Comments to this DRAFT RFP are requested by no later than 4:00 p.m. Central Time on June 1, 2011. Comments received will be reviewed and will help inform any appropriate revisions to a final RFP.
To view the Draft RFP and instructions for providing comments, click here.
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05/05/11
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Children's Commission Is Providing Attorney Registration Scholarships for Child Abuse and Neglect Workshop at Advanced Family Law Conference - Deadline May 20
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The Texas Supreme Court's Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth and Families is providing a limited number of scholarships for Texas attorneys to attend the one-day Child Abuse and Neglect Workshop at the State Bar's Advanced Family Law Conference on Aug. 3, 2011, in San Antonio, or for the video replays in S. Padre Island on Oct. 14 and in Dallas on Oct. 21. The deadline to apply for a scholarship is Friday, May 20. The scholarship covers registration only and does not include expenses for travel or lodging. To access the application form, click here. If you have not yet registered to use this site, please click on "Register" on the blue menu bar at the top of the page, and follow the instructions. Access is free to all active Texas judges and attorneys.
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04/11/11
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See Updated Summary of Pending Legislation Affecting Child Protection
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Sandra Hachem, Senior Assistant County Attorney for Harris County, who prepares summaries of pending legislation relating to child protection for the State Bar's Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect (the "Committee"), has updated her prior summaries to include bills filed as of April 11, 2011, and to note the status of many bills. This summary also includes Ms. Hachem's comments where there are items of possible concern or other issues of note. TLC thanks Ms. Hachem for allowing us to share these summaries with the judges and attorneys who use TLC's Online Center. Please note that the comments do not reflect the official position of the Committee or of TLC. To view the updated summary,
click here.
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03/31/11
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Children's Commission Is Providing Scholarships for Attorneys to Attend ABA Training — Deadline April 8
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The Texas Supreme Court's Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth and Families is providing scholarships for approximately 80 Texas attorneys to attend either of the following two highly acclaimed national training conferences sponsored by the American Bar Association and relating to representation of children and parents in child protection cases: the Second Annual National Parent's Attorney Conference on July 13 & 14 in Washington, DC, and the 2011 National Conference on Children and the Law on July 15 & 16, also in DC. The deadline to apply for a scholarship is April 8. To view information about the application process and to access the application form, click here. If you have not yet registered to use this site, please click on "Register" on the blue menu bar at the top of the page, and follow the instructions. Access is free to all active Texas judges and attorneys.
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03/29/11
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Class Action Suit on Behalf of Texas Foster Children Is Filed in Federal Court
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A class action suit on behalf of the approximately 12,000 children in the permanent managing conservatorship of the State of Texas has been filed in federal court in Corpus Christi. The suit names Gov. Rick Perry, Texas Health and Human Services Commissioner Thomas Suehs, and Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Commissioner Anne Heiligenstein as defendants. The suit alleges that the defendants have mismanaged the Texas foster care system by failing to maintain a caseworker staff of sufficient size and capacity, by failing to focus adequate resources on permanency planning for the children, by failing to create an adequate number and array of placements and services, and by failing to adequately oversee substitute care, including, among other things, failing to ensure that caseworkers conduct frequent and quality visits with the children. The suit states that it "is the collective cry of Texas' forgotten children, now demanding to be remembered." To view the lawsuit,
click here. To view an article about the suit published in the The Dallas Morning News, click here.
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03/15/11
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The State Bar's Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect Seeks Nominations for Its Annual Fairy Davenport Rutland Award for Distinguished Service to Children and Families
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The State Bar's Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect is seeking nominations for its annual Fairy Davenport Rutland Award for Distinguished Service to Children and Families. The award is named after Ms. Rutland in recognition of her exceptional leadership as a founding member and chair of the Committee for over 20 years and her continuing dedication and many ongoing contributions to the field of child welfare. The award honors an attorney who has made a substantial contribution to the field of advocacy for abused and neglected children. The deadline for nominations is April 1, 2011. Click here to view the nomination form.
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02/25/11
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See Summary of Pending Legislation Affecting Child Protection
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Sandra Hachem, Senior Assistant County Attorney for Harris County, prepares summaries of pending legislation relating to child protection for the State Bar's Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect (the "Committee"). These summaries include comments where there are items of possible concern or other issues of note. TLC thanks Ms. Hachem for allowing us to share these summaries with the judges and attorneys who use TLC's Online Center. Please note that the comments do not reflect the official position of the Committee or of TLC. To view the summaries of key bills filed through February 15, 2011, click here.
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12/14/10
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National Coalition Calls Attention to Strategies to End Child Abuse Deaths
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On December 14, 2010, the National Coalition to End Child Abuse Deaths held a news conference to bring attention to the lack of national media coverage of child abuse deaths. Deaths of children from abuse and neglect outnumber deaths that receive much more national coverage, such as deaths from the H1N1 virus, Toyota automobile malfunctions, food-borne illnesses, military incidents in Iraq and Afghanistan, and coal mining. The coalition outlined seven initiatives to end child abuse deaths, including: developing a governmental strategy aimed at strengthening families and preventing maltreatment, additional spending to lower caseloads and increase training of caseworkers, requiring states to adopt national standards for protecting children, revising confidentiality laws, starting a public education campaign on reporting abuse, and creating a protocol for coordinating legal proceedings between child protection and law enforcement agencies. The coalition consists of the National Association of Social Workers, National Center for Child Death Review, National Children's Alliance, Every Child Matters Education Fund, and National District Attorneys Association. To view the Coalition's recommendations, click here.
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12/09/10
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ABA Offers Free Web-Based Training for Parents' Attorneys Handling CPS Appeals
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On December 15, 2010, at 11 a.m. Central Time, the American Bar Association will host a free web-based training for attorneys who represent parents appealing child welfare cases. The training will provide tips for appellate attorneys and will cover how to file an appeal and discuss common occurrences that may arise during an appeal, including constitutional issues and incorrect rulings on pre-trial motions. Click here to view the announcement of the training, which includes information on how to register.
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12/08/10
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ABA Center on Children and the Law's Bar-Youth Empowerment Project Is Seeking Input on Attendance of Children and Youth at Court Hearings
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The American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law's Bar-Youth Empowerment Project, directed by Andrea Khoury, would like to evaluate the frequency with which children and youth attend court hearings across the country and is asking that judges and attorneys answer questions about the practice in their jurisdictions. To participate in the survey, click here. The Center on Children and the Law started the Bar-Youth Empowerment Project to improve outcomes for youth currently in foster care, as well as young people who have aged out of care, by promoting youth participation in court cases that affect them and offering access to legal counseling and representation to youth in need of specialized legal assistance. For more information about the project, click here.
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11/19/10
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TLC's Online Center Is Honored with the "Award for Excellence in Social Innovation"
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Texas Loves Children, Inc., the nonprofit organization that created and operates the Texas Lawyers for Children Online Legal Resource and Communication Center, was honored with the "Award for Excellence in Social Innovation" for TLC's Online Center by the Dallas Center for Nonprofit Management, after selection by an independent panel of community leaders. This prestigious award is given to the organization that best provides "a novel solution to a social problem that is more effective, efficient and sustainable... and demonstrates significant positive change around a specific social issue." The award ceremony was held during the "Night of Light" gala on November 19, 2010, at the Hilton Anatole Hotel, with 700 people in attendance. To see a photo of TLC's Director, Barbara Elias-Perciful accepting the award from Ms. Gillian Breidenbach, click here.
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10/11/10
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TLC Has Been Selected as One of Three Finalists for the Award for Excellence in Social Innovation
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We are excited to let you know that TLC has been selected as one of three finalists for the Award for Excellence in Social Innovation to be given by the Dallas Center for Nonprofit Management. The nomination process is extremely competitive, so we are thrilled to be recognized as one of the top three Dallas nonprofits in the award category for organizations that provide "a novel solution to a social problem that is more effective, efficient and sustainable... and demonstrates significant positive change around a specific social issue." The nomination is for TLC's Online Legal Resource and Communication Center. The award ceremony will be held on November 19 at the Hilton Anatole with Dallas Morning News columnist Steve Blow as the Master of Ceremonies.
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09/29/10
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Kathleen Coulborn Faller, Ph.D., Summarizes APSAC's Concerns about Possible Inclusion of Parental Alienation in Upcoming DSM-V
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The American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC), a leading national organization supporting professionals who serve children and families affected by child maltreatment and violence, has concerns about a proposal to include parental alienation syndrome or disorder in the Amercian Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-V), to be published in 2013. Nineteen leading researchers, teachers, and clinicians with extensive experience in the area of family dissolution and child response to family break-up have signed a letter expressing concern as well. Kathleen Coulborn Faller, Ph.D., summarizes APSAC's concerns in a paper outlining weaknesses of the proposed diagnostic criteria. Click here to view Dr. Faller's summary.
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09/21/10
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The Center for Public Policy Priorities Notes that Texas Ranks Last in Child Abuse Prevention Coverage and Issues a Policy Paper on How to Improve Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect
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In a recent policy paper, the Center for Public Policy Priorities (CPPP) calls for prevention of child abuse and neglect to be a greater priority in Texas. CPPP notes that, compared to other states, Texas ranks 50th in the rate of child abuse and neglect prevention coverage. In Texas, about 5 of every 1,000 children receive prevention services, while the national average is almost nine times higher, at about 44 of every 1,000 children. The prevention services which are provided by Child Protective Services are administered by the Prevention and Intervention (PEI) division. PEI's budget is only about 3 percent of the overall budget of the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). In response to the legislature's request for a 10 percent budget reduction, DFPS has proposed an 84 percent reduction in the current PEI budget. CPPP urges that PEI's already small budget not be cut in the upcoming legislative session and makes specific recommendations on how PEI can prioritize where its services are provided to have maximum impact. Click here to view the paper.
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09/20/10
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Every Child Matters Education Fund Releases We Can Do Better: Child Abuse and Neglect Deaths in America
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On September 20, 2010, Every Child Matters Education Fund, a nonprofit organization that advocates for the adoption of legislation that makes children, youth, and families a national priority, released a report on deaths from child abuse and neglect. This report, We Can Do Better: Child Abuse and Neglect Deaths in America, provides statistics on deaths from child abuse and neglect and suggests legislation to prevent abuse and lower the number of children killed. Every Child Matters is a member of the National Coalition to End Child Abuse Deaths, which includes the National Center for Child Death Review, National Children's Alliance, the National District Attorneys Association, and the National Association of Social Workers. The coalition is bringing national attention to this issue and advocating a national strategy to end these preventable deaths. The first edition of the report was followed by a national summit, which generated recommendations and formation of the coalition. The coalition briefed Congressional staffers on the issue, and the General Accounting Office began a study of deaths in the child welfare system. The coalition also generated a petition requesting that Congress conduct hearings on child abuse deaths. Click here to view the report.
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09/14/10
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The Center for Public Policy Priorities Has Issued a New Report on Undocumented, Abused and Neglected Children
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On September 14, 2010, the Center for Public Policy Priorities issued a report that examines the problem of undocumented children who suffer abuse and neglect in this country. Who are these children, and why is it unworkable to send them back to their country of origin? The paper offers suggestions for system improvements to allow these children to obtain legal residency and for aligning immigration and child welfare laws to protect this population. Click here to view the report.
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08/11/10
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Paper Examines Various Constitutional Rights of Children
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In a paper presented at the Advanced Family Law Course in August, TLC's Director, Barbara Elias-Perciful examines various constitutional rights of children that can impact child protection cases. Among others, the rights discussed include the right to effective assistance of counsel, the right to sibling access, the right to protection and proper care when in state custody, and the right to maintain family relationships. Click here to view the paper.
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08/11/10
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Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect Honors R. Darin Darby with Fairy Davenport Rutland Award
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The State Bar's Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect (the "Child Abuse Committee") honored R. Darin Darby as the recipient of its annual Fairy Davenport Rutland Award for Distinguished Service to Children and Families. The award is named after Ms. Rutland in recognition of her exceptional leadership as a founding member and chair of the Committee for over 20 years and her continuing dedication and many contributions to the field of child welfare. The current Chair of the Child Abuse Committee, Barbara Elias-Perciful, presented the award to Mr. Darby at the Advanced Family Law Course in August. Mr. Darby is a Felony Chief Prosecutor in the Crimes Against Children Division of the Harris County District Attorney's Office, where he prosecutes sex offenders and others who injure children. He is devoted to protecting children and advocating for those children who have been victimized by physical and sexual abuse. Click here to view the 4 letters in support of Mr. Darby's nomination. Click here to see a picture of the award presentation.
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08/10/10
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ABA Affirms Child's Right to Counsel at All Stages of Child Protection Proceedings and Adopts Policies for Court Improvement
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At its annual meeting in August, the American Bar Association adopted several policies concerning children and parents in the justice system. Most notable is a policy calling child custody a "basic human need" in access to justice. In its new "Model Access Act," the ABA makes clear that there should be a right to legal representation of children in any proceedings initiated by government "for the purposes of child protective intervention." The ABA also clarifies that in child abuse and neglect related proceedings, the child's legal representation should extend "as long as jurisdiction continues." The ABA policies also call for full, prompt, and expansive implementation of the "older youth provisions" of the federal Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act. Finally, the ABA approved the first comprehensive set of national administrative standards for courts hearing child abuse and neglect civil proceedings. These Judicial Excellence Standards were developed by a multidisciplinary committee and were previously endorsed by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. Click here to view the ABA's announcement about the policies.
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07/27/10
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Utah Supreme Court Reverses Warren Jeffs' Convictions for Rape as an Accomplice and Remands for New Trial
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FLDS leader Warren Jeffs was convicted in Utah of 2 counts of rape as an accomplice for his role in the compelled marriage of 14-year-old Elissa Wall to her 19-year-old cousin and the subsequent sexual intercourse between them. He was sentenced to two consecutive prison terms of 5 years to life. Finding that the trial court's jury instructions on sexual consent were erroneous, the court reversed and remanded the case for a new trial, saying, "We regret the effect our opinion today may have on the victim of the underlying crime, to whom we do not wish to cause additional pain. However, we must ensure that the laws are applied evenly and appropriately, in this case as in every case, in order to protect the constitutional principles on which our legal system is based. We must guarantee justice, not just for this defendant, but for all who may be accused of a crime and subjected to the State's power to deprive them of life, liberty, or property hereafter." Click here to read the court's opinion.
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07/22/10
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You Are Invited to Celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the State Bar of Texas Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect at a Reception Featuring Supreme Court Justice Harriet O'Neill (Ret.) as Keynote Speaker
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The State Bar of Texas Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect invites you to join in celebrating its 25th Anniversary at a reception featuring Texas Supreme Court Justice Harriet O'Neill (Ret.) as the keynote speaker. Justice O'Neill is Chair Emeritus of the Texas Supreme Court Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth and Families. The festivities will be part of the annual Advanced Family Law Course to be held in San Antonio. The reception will immediately follow the Committee's full-day workshop and will be held from 5:00-6:30 pm in the Terrace Room of the Marriott Rivercenter Hotel, 801 Bowie, on Wednesday, August 11, 2010. Click here to view the invitation.
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07/01/10
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Travis County Model Court for Children and Families Issues First Newsletter
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The Travis County Model Court for Children and Families has issued its first newsletter. This installment focuses on the successful initiative conducted in March 2010 called "Explore UT," where 40 foster youth toured the UT campus and engaged in a number of events designed to introduce them to the many ways that attending college can impact their futures. The newsletter also discusses the Family Finding and Youth Connectedness Training the court hosted in April 2010, as well as other initiatives the court has underway. TLC thanks Hon. Darlene Byrne for graciously sharing information about her model court on an ongoing basis for the benefit of others around the state who may wish to undertake similar initiatives. Click here to view the newsletter.
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06/30/10
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Children's Commission Offers Registration Scholarships for Child Abuse and Neglect Workshop — Deadline July 21
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The Texas Supreme Court Children's Commission is offering a limited number of attorney scholarships to pay for registration for the one-day Child Abuse and Neglect Workshop at the State Bar's Advanced Family Law Conference on August 11, 2010, in San Antonio. Travel and lodging are not included in the scholarship. The workshop is being sponsored by the State Bar's Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect. The deadline to apply for a scholarship is 5:00 pm on July 21. To view the requirements to be eligible and to access the application form, click here.
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05/01/10
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DFPS Launches Major Foster Care Redesign Project
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The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) launched a foster care redesign project in January 2010. Objectives include determining the location and types of services needed, how to contract for quality services, and how to pay for the services. Guiding principles include placing children in their home communities and minimizing moves that disrupt children's personal connections and educational progress. DFPS contracted with Chapin Hall of the University of Chicago to compile data on outcomes, process of care, service quality, and system capacity. The PDF Group, LLC, will provide project management, including collaboration with external stakeholders. DFPS will make recommendations to the 2011 Texas Legislature regarding structuring foster care contracts and appropriations to promote desired outcomes for children, implications of system changes, and a way to balance demand and supply for foster care services. For more information, click here.
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04/30/10
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New Study Shows Number of Deaths and Injuries from Shaken Baby Syndrome Increased in Recession
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A story on www.msnbc.com dated April 30, 2010, reported on a review of 511 abusive head trauma cases at four U.S. children's hospitals. In the months after December 2007, at the beginning of the recession, the number of cases rose by 55 percent. According to the leader of the study, Dr. Rachel P. Berger, a University of Pittsburgh Medical Center brain injury specialist, a "perfect storm" of increased stress, increased poverty, and cuts in social services are to blame. Click here to view the article.
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04/15/10
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Hon. John Specia (Ret.) Is Producing Letters for Judges Hearing CPS Cases
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Hon. John Specia (Ret.), who is serving as Jurist in Residence with the Texas Office of Court Administration, is producing a series of letters giving current and compelling information for judges hearing CPS cases. In order to reach as many judges as possible with this information and in order to make the information available to attorneys as well, Judge Specia has graciously agreed to allow TLC to post these letters here. The first letter in this series provides information on health services for children in foster care through the STAR Health Program and information on psychotropic medication.
Click here to view it. The second letter concerns opportunities for judges and attorneys to be provided in 2010 by the Texas Supreme Court Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth and Families.
Click here to view it. The third letter discusses the Permanency Care Assistance Program (PCA), which is how Texas plans to implement a very important aspect of the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 and includes an update regarding verification under the new PCA program.
Click here to view it. These letters can also be found by topic or title in the section on Articles/Papers.
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