Child Welfare Mini-Plenary Sessions and Workshops Helping Children Who Witness Domestic Violence Tuesday, July 24 10:45 – 12:15
Strengthening Families to Protect Children from Abuse and Neglect Monday, July 23 1:30 – 3:00
Kiersten Stewart, Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, Futures Without Violence Kristin Shrimplin, Director, Family Violence Prevention Project, YWCA of Greater Cincinnati MaryLee Allen, Director, Child Welfare and Mental Health, Children’s Defense Fund Theresa Singleton, Director, Protection from Abuse, YWCA of Greater Cincinnati As many as 10 million children witness acts of domestic violence each year. If left untreated, negative consequences follow them to school and throughout their lives. The best way to help many of these children is to help their abused parent. Learn how to aid the silent victims and families enduring domestic violence. MaryLee Allen, Director, Child Welfare and Mental Health, Children’s Defense Fund Patricia Valentine, Executive Deputy Director for Integrated Program Services, Allegheny County Department of Human Services Kathy Goetz Wolf, Project Director, Strengthening Families Illinois, and Founder & CEO, Be Strong Families Christine Zielinski, Litigation Supervisor, Center for Family Representation, Inc. A child is abused or neglected every 47 seconds; almost 80 percent of these children are victims of neglect. Many of these maltreated children receive no services. This session will examine strategies to prevent child abuse and neglect and keep children safely at home with their families, and what advocates can do to promote needed federal reforms.
Finding Permanent Families for Children in Foster Care Tuesday, July 24 4:30 – 6:00
JooYeun Chang, Senior Director, Public Policy, Casey Family Programs Rita L. Soronen, President & CEO, Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, Home for Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Larissa L. Spell-Berger, Family Finding Program Supervisor, Children’s Home Society of North Carolina Christine Zielinski, Litigation Supervisor, Center for Family Representation More than 107,000 children in foster care are waiting for permanent adoptive families. An estimated 28,000 youth age out of care each year without being reunified with family members or adopted. Participants will learn about efforts to find permanent families for children and connect children with relatives when they first enter foster care.
Educational Stability and Success: A Goal for Every Child in Foster Care Tuesday, July 24 4:30 – 6:00
Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children: Supporting Our
Kathleen McNaught, Assistant Director, American Bar Association Center for Children and the Law Elaine Fink, Managing Attorney, Children’s Advocacy, Legal Aid Society of Southwest Ohio, LLC Carla Guenthner, Chief Magistrate, Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division Dauntea Sledge, Media Spokesperson, Ohio Youth Advisory Board, 2011 FosterClub All-Star Many of the more than 400,000 children in foster care have multiple special needs and face unique educational challenges. The trauma of abuse, neglect and removal from their families, compounded by multiple moves from home to home and school to school, creates enormous barriers to success. This session will examine how child welfare and education agencies are working together to ensure greater educational stability and success for children. Mary Bissell, Partner, ChildFocus Dionne Simmons, Program Director, Kinship Caregiver Coalition, Center for Healthy Communities, Wright State University Connie Siskowski, Ph.D., President, American Association of Caregiving Youth
25 E Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001
p (202) 628-8787
f (202) 662-3510
www.childrensdefense.org
Unsung Heroes Wednesday, July 25 1:30 – 3:00
More than 2.7 million children live with grandparents or other relatives without their parents present. Grandparents and other relatives are stepping in to care for children whose parents are challenged by substance abuse, mental health and other problems. Learn how you can help support these caregivers and children in your own communities. This session will also focus on the thousands of school-age Âchildren caring for adult relatives with special needs who need your support.
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