Basics

On March 8, 2022, the Hon. Rob Hofmann, Judge of the 452nd District Court and Children’s Commission’s Senior Jurist in Residence, provided a summary of the nuts and bolts of a child welfare case from investigations through various final outcomes. The presentation included a review of statutory requirements, including recent legislative changes, and current issues including dual status youth and placement. Best practices and practical tips for achieving positive permanency for children and engaging families and youth in the court process were also provided.

The recorded webcast was approved for 1.25 hours of MCLE and 1.25 hours of Family Violence training credit. 

Recording: Child Welfare Case Primer: Statutory Hearings and Current Issues

Additional Resources:

MCLE/TBLS Information: The recorded webcast has been approved for 1.25 hours of MCLE credit.

Family Violence Credit Information for Judges: The recorded webcast has been approved for 1.25 hours of Family Violence credit. 

On May 17, 2023, Children’s Commission Director of Legal Representation, Dylan Moench led a panel discussion with Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) Program Lead, Lauren Morgan; DFPS Systems Improvement Analyst, Caroline Sinha; Monarch Family Services Owner and Administrator, Dr. Valerie Jackson; and CK Family Services Senior Director of Family Services, Michael Scrivner providing an overview of the Treatment Foster Family Care (TFFC) model, goals and benefits, what makes a TFFC home different than a traditional foster home, the placement process, eligibility criteria, and how it all relates to judges, attorneys, and other child advocates.

Recording: Overview of Treatment Family Foster Care

PowerPoint: Overview of Family Foster Care

Additional Materials: Webcast Q&A

MCLE Information: The recorded webcast was approved for 1.5 hours of MCLE credit. 

On August 17, 2023, Children’s Commission Jurist in Residence Hon. Piper McCraw; Legal Representation Director Dylan Moench; and Staff Attorneys Renée Castillo-De La Cruz and Aimee Corbin provided an overview of federal and state law on reasonable efforts and included a fictional scenario to demonstrate reasonable efforts followed by a Q&A discussion.

Recording: Reevaluating Reasonable Efforts Findings

PowerPoint: Reevaluating Reasonable Efforts Findings

MCLE/TBLS Information: The recorded webcast was approved for 1.0 hour of MCLE and .25 hours of ethics credit. This course has also been approved by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization for 1.0 hour of certification and recertification continuing legal education requirements for attorneys and paralegals in the specialty field of Child Welfare Law.

On July 18, 2024, Allison Green, Legal Director at the National Association of Counsel for Children (NACC) and Kellie Price, Special Projects Attorney at the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) provided a high-level overview of several significant federal child welfare laws and an in-depth look at related provisions in the Texas Family Code. The focused on the similarities and differences between these federal and state laws.

Recording: Understanding the Federal Intersection with Key Texas Child Welfare Laws

PowerPoint: Understanding the Federal Intersection with Key Texas Child Welfare Laws

Additional Resources: Children's Bureau Factsheet: Major Federal Legislation Concerned with Child Protection, Child Welfare, and Adoption

MCLE/TBLS Information: The recorded webcast was approved for 1.5 hours of MCLE credit. This course has also been approved by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization for 1.5 hours of certification and recertification continuing legal education requirements for attorneys and paralegals in the specialty field of Child Welfare Law.