The Field Center for Children’s Policy and the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School is hosting a free community virtual event entitled Family Defense and Child Welfare: Exploring the Role of Representation for Parents in Improving Outcomes for Children on Friday, March 5, 2021 from 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM.

Across the country, parents are provided with free legal counsel when their children are removed and placed in foster care. However, the law does not define the type of legal representation to which parents are entitled, nor does it require a certain quality of representation.

One form of parental representation – an interdisciplinary model in which parents are represented by a team of attorneys, social workers, and parent advocates  – shows promise in producing better outcomes for children and families involved with the child welfare system. A recent study of New York City’s parent representation providers found that children of parents represented by interdisciplinary teams spent less time in foster care. 

The panel of academic, research and practice experts will present the findings from this important study, provide examples of local programs providing interdisciplinary representation to parents, and discuss the role of quality legal representation for parents in reforming the child welfare system.

Speakers:

• Kathleen Creamer, Esq., Community Legal Services
• Professor Martin Guggenheim, Esq., New York University School of Law
• April Lee, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
• Maggie Potter, MSW, MSSP, Community Legal Services
• Tim Ross, PhD, Action Research

The event link and an evaluation form link will be provided to you prior to the event.

CLE Credits Available

This program has been approved for 1.5 Ethics CLE credits for Pennsylvania lawyers. CLE credit may be available in other jurisdictions as well. Attendees seeking CLE credit should make a payment via the online registration link in the amount of $60.00 ($30.00 public interest/non-profit attorneys). In order to receive the appropriate amount of credit, passcodes provided throughout the program must be noted in your evaluation form.

Penn Law Alumni receive CLE credits free through The W.P. Carey Foundation’s generous commitment to Lifelong Learning.

CEU Credits Available

This program has been approved for two (2.0) continuing education hours for Pennsylvania Social Workers. Attendees seeking CEU credit should make a payment via the online registration link in the amount of $25.00.