Scholarships & Support

The Children's Commission regularly offers scholarships to judges and attorneys to attend state and national conferences. Scholarships typically reimburse attendees for conference registration fees, and occasionally, for travel-related expenses.

For all scholarships, the Children's Commission determines scholarship criteria and deploys an application process that includes pre- and post-conference evaluations to identify or confirm the knowledge gained from the training, new practices which awardees plan to implement, and/or a current practice which they plan to change. Surveys also inquire about additional topics of interest to help inform planning for future training.

Information on scholarships will be available on this webpage and also through the Children’s Commission’s Resource Letter for Judges and Attorneys. Subscribe to get the Resource Letter to receive important announcements and scholarship opportunities.

Generally, to meet the criteria for attorney scholarships, the applicant must:

  • currently represent DFPS or currently receive appointments on a child welfare docket;
  • be in good standing with the State Bar of Texas;
  • be in good standing with their primary or appointing judge; and
  • commit to completing and timely submitting a post-event survey from the Children’s Commission, in addition to the pre-event survey portion contained in the Commission scholarship application of their choice.

To be eligible for a judicial scholarship, applicants must handle civil child welfare cases.

Preference may be given to judicial and attorney applicants who have not received scholarships from the Children’s Commission within the past two years. Other considerations include, but are not limited to, the percentage of a judge’s docket or an attorney’s law practice devoted to child welfare cases.

Scholarship opportunities are funded by a federal grant, which is managed by the Supreme Court of Texas Children's Commission. The Children's Commission is responsible for reporting attendance in support of the grant expenses. All scholarship awardees will be expected to participate in the training on the event dates and to provide detailed responses to a post-event survey from the Children’s Commission thereafter.

 

Scholarship Request

The Children’s Commission offers assistance to judges and attorneys who handle civil child welfare cases in Texas and need financial support in order to attend recognized trainings related to child welfare. The scholarship covers reimbursement for training registration fees and does not cover travel, food, or lodging. This opportunity is designed for trainings which are not already addressed by current Commission scholarships (i.e., CPL or NCJFCJ conferences).

 

The Children’s Commission offers assistance to judges who handle civil child welfare cases in Texas and need financial support in order to attend recognized trainings related to child welfare. The scholarship covers reimbursement for conference registration fees. 

Trainings must demonstrably relate to improving the safety, permanency, or well-being for children and families involved with the child welfare system. The application must indicate which of the Children’s Commission’s Strategic Plan goal(s) the training aligns with (Collaboration, Systems Improvement, Legal Practice & Process, Training, and/or Data). Please note that the Children’s Commission is a state organization and thus cannot participate in or support any political or lobbying activities.

The judicial scholarship request funding is awarded for conferences within the current fiscal year (September 30, 2024 - October 1, 2025).  Applications must be submitted no later than two months before the registration deadline of the conference. The Children’s Commission staff will respond regarding the status of an application no later than two weeks after a complete application is submitted.

Applications will be reviewed and approved on an ongoing basis. Approval of applications for a judicial scholarship request is at the discretion of the Children’s Commission staff.

Funding is limited and each scholarship request is subject to availability. There is a limit of one such judicial scholarship per judge per year. Preference may be given to judges who have not received scholarships from the Children’s Commission within the past two years. Other considerations include, but are not limited to, the percentage of a judge’s docket devoted to civil child welfare cases.

Scholarship Recipients

Scholarship recipients:

  • must submit reimbursement requests for conference registration within 30 days of the date of the conference.
  • are responsible for conference registration and all necessary expenses up front in order to attend.
  • must monitor the conference host’s announcements regarding cancellation. In the event of cancellation, recipients are responsible for refund policy requirements and travel plans. Scholarship recipients must submit their reimbursement request for conference registration to the Children’s Commission staff within 30 days of the date of the conference.
  • must notify Children’s Commission staff if they become unable to attend the conference for which they received a scholarship due to an unforeseen circumstance. The Children’s Commission cannot offer reimbursement for those who incur costs and do not attend.  

To apply, please email CCscholarships@txcourts.gov.

The Children’s Commission offers assistance to attorneys who practice civil child welfare law in Texas and need financial support in order to attend recognized trainings related to child welfare. This attorney scholarship is designed for local, regional, and state trainings that are not already addressed by Commission scholarships for attorneys (i.e. the State Bar of Texas Child Protection Law Section training, or Civil Appellate 101 conferences).

Applications for attorney scholarship requests must be for trainings that demonstrably relate to improving the safety, permanency, or well-being of children and families involved with the child welfare system. Please note that the Children’s Commission is a state organization and thus cannot participate in or support any political or lobbying activities.

Applications will be reviewed and approved on an ongoing basis, and approval is at the discretion of the Children’s Commission.

All requests for financial assistance are subject to the availability of funds; funding may be limited. Preference may be given to attorneys who have not received a scholarship from the Children’s Commission within the past two years. Preference may also be given to attorneys who either represent DFPS or who actively receive appointments to represent parents and/or children on a child welfare docket. Other considerations include, but are not limited to, the percentage of practice dedicated to civil child welfare law.

Applications must be submitted no later than two months before the registration deadline of the training. The Children’s Commission staff will respond regarding the status of an application no later than two weeks after a complete application is submitted.

Scholarship recipients:

  • are responsible for registration and all necessary expenses up front in order to attend.
  • must submit reimbursement requests for registration fees within 30 days of the date that the training concludes.
  • must monitor the training host’s announcements regarding cancellation. In the event of cancellation, recipients are responsible for refund policy requirements and travel plans. 
  • must notify Children’s Commission staff at a minimum of two weeks prior to the event if they become unable to attend the training for which they received a scholarship due to an unforeseen circumstance. The Children’s Commission cannot offer reimbursement for those who incur costs and do not attend. 

To apply, please email CCscholarships@txcourts.gov.

 

Past Scholarship Opportunities

For Judges

The NCJFCJ 89th Annual Conference will be held on July 19-22, 2026, in Nashville, Tennessee. This conference features educational sessions on domestic relations, juvenile justice, child welfare, and family violence. More information about the conference is available on the NCJFCJ website.

The Children’s Commission is offering up to 12 scholarships to Texas judges to attend the in-person 89th Annual Conference. Please note, this is a reimbursement scholarship and recipients will be required to cover their expenses up front in order to attend. Please read below for scholarship criteria, logistics, and a link to apply.

Scholarship Criteria:

To be eligible for a scholarship, applicants must handle civil child welfare cases. Preference is given to judges who have larger percentages of their docket dedicated to child welfare cases. Additionally, all scholarship recipients must agree to complete a post-event survey from the Children’s Commission. Early applications are strongly encouraged due to the limited number of scholarships.

This scholarship takes the form of reimbursed registration fees and allowable conference-related expenses per state guidelines, such as travel, lodging, and meals, up to $2,000 total. Any additional expenses must be covered by the scholarship recipient.

Scholarship Notification and Travel Logistics:

The Children’s Commission will notify all applicants the status of the scholarship by March 27, 2026. Scholarship recipients are responsible for conference registration, travel arrangements, and hotel reservations. Reimbursement for eligible expenses may be submitted following the conference and upon confirmed attendance. For information regarding eligible travel expenses, please review the Commission’s travel reimbursement guidelines.

Please also note the following important dates:

  • The early bird registration rate ends on April 30, 2026, and 
  • NCJFCJ’s final date to cancel registration is June 29, 2026 with a $100 fee.

Scholarship recipients will be responsible for monitoring the NCJFCJ’s cancellation policies and cancelling their own registration and travel plans in a timely manner, should they become unable to attend. The Children’s Commission cannot offer reimbursement for those who incur costs and do not attend. More information on NCJFCJ’s cancellation policies is available on their conference webpage.

All scholarship recipients are responsible for monitoring notices and emails from the event organizer. The Children’s Commission is not affiliated with the event and may not be aware of notices issued by the event organizer regarding cancellation policies, CLE notices and reporting rules, notices or policies regarding COVID-19, etc.

For questions regarding this scholarship, please contact the Children's Commission at CCscholarships@txcourts.gov.

Application Link and Deadline to Apply:

This application is now closed.

Applications will be accepted until midnight on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.

The NCJFCJ will host the 2026 National Conference on Juvenile Justice on March 15-18, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The conference features plenary and breakout sessions on juvenile justice, trafficking, child welfare, court best practices, innovative solutions, and self-care. More information is available on the NCJFCJ website.

The Children’s Commission is offering up to 8 scholarships to Texas judges to attend the in-person 2026 National Conference on Juvenile Justice. Please note, this is a reimbursement scholarship and confirmed awardees will be required to cover their expenses up front in order to attend. Please read below for scholarship criteria, logistics, and a link to apply.

Scholarship Details and Criteria:

To be eligible for a scholarship from the Children’s Commission, applicants must handle civil child welfare cases. Preference is given to judges who have larger percentages of their docket dedicated to child welfare cases. Additionally, all scholarship recipients must agree to complete a post-event survey from the Children’s Commission. Early applications are strongly encouraged due to the limited number of scholarships.

This scholarship takes the form of reimbursed registration fees and allowable conference-related expenses, such as travel, lodging, and meals, up to $2,000 total. Any additional expenses must be covered by the scholarship recipient.

Scholarship Notification and Travel Logistics:

The Children’s Commission will notify all applicants of their scholarship status by November 21, 2025. Scholarship recipients are required to self-register for the conference and make individual travel arrangements, including hotel reservations. Confirmed scholarship recipients may submit for reimbursement of eligible expenses upon conclusion of the conference. For information regarding eligible travel expenses, please review the Commission’s travel reimbursement guidelines.

Please also note the following important dates:

  • The early bird registration rate ends on January 16, 2026, and
  • NCJFCJ’s final date to cancel registration is March 6, 2026, with a $100 fee.

Scholarship recipients are responsible for monitoring the NCJFCJ’s cancellation policies and cancelling their own registration and travel plans in a timely manner, should they become unable to attend. The Children’s Commission cannot offer reimbursement to those who incur costs and do not attend. More information on NCJFCJ’s cancellation policy is available on the registration webpage.

All scholarship recipients are responsible for monitoring notices and emails from the event organizer. The Children’s Commission is not affiliated with the event and may not be aware of notices issued by the event organizer regarding cancellation policies, CLE notices and reporting rules, notices or policies regarding COVID-19, etc.

For questions regarding this scholarship, please contact the Children's Commission at CCscholarships@txcourts.gov.

Application Link and Deadline to Apply:

Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 12, 2025. This scholarship is now closed.

 

For Attorneys

TexasBarCLE and the State Bar of Texas Child Protection Law Section will host the 8th Annual Advanced Child Protection Law Course (Advanced Course) in Georgetown on April 9-10, 2026. Additionally, a 3-hour Child Protection Law 101 Course (CPL 101) and a 3-hour Child Protection Law Appeals 101 Course (Appeals 101) will also be offered as concurrent tracks in a pre-conference training on the afternoon of April 8th. Both of the 101 Courses and the Advanced Course will also be offered via webcast replay. For more information on the 101 and Advanced courses, please see the current course brochure.

The Children’s Commission is offering registration scholarships for attorneys to attend the live events or webcast replays. Please read below for scholarship criteria, attendance policy, and a link to apply.

Dates and Locations:

Advanced Child Protection Law Course:
LIVE Advanced Course (in-person) 
April 9-10, 2026  
Sheraton Austin Georgetown Hotel and Conference Center  
1101 Woodlawn Avenue 
Georgetown, TX 78628

Webcast Replay (virtual) 
May 6-7, 2026 

Child Protection Law 101 Course (pre-conference):
LIVE 101 Course (in-person) 
April 8, 2026  
Sheraton Austin Georgetown Hotel and Conference Center  
1101 Woodlawn Avenue 
Georgetown, TX 78628

Webcast Replay (virtual) 
May 5, 2026

Child Protection Law Appeals 101 Course (pre-conference):
LIVE Appeals 101 Course (in-person) 
April 8, 2026  
Sheraton Austin Georgetown Hotel and Conference Center  
1101 Woodlawn Avenue 
Georgetown, TX 78628

Webcast Replay (virtual) 
May 5, 2026 

Scholarship Details and Criteria:

This scholarship will be awarded in the form of waived registration fees to attend the live course(s) or the virtual webcast replay(s). The Children’s Commission will work with the State Bar of Texas to register scholarship recipients directly for the CPL 101 Course, Appeals 101 Course, and the Advanced Course.

Applicants who meet all of the criteria detailed below will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis for the listed scholarships. To meet the criteria, the applicant must: 

  • Currently represent DFPS or actively receive court appointments on a child welfare docket,
  • Be in good standing with the State Bar of Texas, and
  • Complete a post-event survey from the Children’s Commission.

Preference will be given to applicants who currently represent DFPS or actively receive court appointments  on a child welfare docket. Additionally, preference may be given to attorneys who have not received scholarships from the Children’s Commission within the last 2 years. Scholarships may be awarded to additional attorney applicants with substantial involvement in the practice area of child welfare law if scholarship funds remain. 

For the purposes of this scholarship, other substantial involvement in the practice of child welfare law includes, but is not limited to, attorneys serving as general counsel or providing other legal services for an SSCC; attorneys serving as appellate, policy, or training attorneys for DFPS or CASA; attorneys at organizations which provide services to individuals involved with the child welfare system and/or to young adults who experienced the child welfare system; attorneys who provide legal education and resources to attorneys practicing child welfare law; and attorneys who mediate child welfare cases.  

Judges with applicants from their jurisdiction will be notified by the Children’s Commission and asked to confirm that the applicant currently represents DFPS or takes child welfare appointments.

Attendance Policy:

These events are hosted by the State Bar of Texas. This scholarship opportunity is funded by a federal grant, which is managed by the Supreme Court of Texas Children's Commission. The Children's Commission is responsible for reporting attendance in support of the grant expenses.

Applicants for the virtual trainings will be asked to verify their commitment to participate in the training in a timely manner to the Supreme Court of Texas Children’s Commission. If awarded a scholarship, awardees will be asked to verify their attendance at virtual events. 

Scholarship recipients for the virtual trainings are required to participate and submit a completed post-event survey within 30 days of the event, regardless of any extended access to the training. 

All awardees are required to notify the Children’s Commission in writing, at least 2 weeks prior to the event, in the absence of an emergency, if they require a change to their course registration or are unable to attend any of the training dates. Please note that awardees who accept a scholarship but do not attend the course may deprive others of the opportunity to attend the training. Failure to attend the course may also result in the disqualification of the awardee from receiving Commission scholarships in the future.

Application Link:

Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 6, 2026. 

This scholarship is now closed.

Notification and Logistics:

This scholarship will be awarded in the form of waived registration fees. If you are awarded a scholarship, the Children’s Commission will notify you after the scholarship application period has ended, and we have verified your standing with the Bar and your eligibility with your primary judge. We hope to notify all applicants of their scholarship status no later than the week of March 9.

Please note, the hotel room block ends on March 18: Sheraton Austin Georgetown Hotel and Conference Center.

The Children’s Commission will work with the State Bar to register all awardees directly. Awardees do not need to register for the CPL 101 Course, Appeals 101 Course, or the Advanced Course. Please note that the Children’s Commission is unable to reimburse attorneys who register for a course and pay the State Bar of Texas directly.

All scholarship awardees are responsible for monitoring notices and emails from the event organizer. The Children’s Commission is not affiliated with the event and may not be aware of notices issued by the event organizer regarding cancellation policies, CLE notices and reporting rules, notices or policies regarding COVID-19, etc.

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