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Advocacy

Meaningful Ties for Transnational Families Part 1
Meaningful Ties for Transnational Families Part 2
Laurie Melrood, Southern Arizona Transnational Task Force, Tucson, AZ, recognized that research was needed and more sectors involved to be able to formulate reliable practices to assist transnational children and families. Members of the Task Force, the Bench, parent/child attorneys, the child welfare system, and the immigration detention facilities in Arizona have spent many long hours researching, writing, and revising as a group, a set of guidelines. The guidelines are directed to the professionals serving immigrant parents with children in state care. The results of our work are contained in a promising practices manual entitled: "Meaning Ties for Transnational Familes - A Toolkit for Child Welfare Cases – Judges, Attorneys and Child Welfare Personnel". This training will review policies and procedures for judges, attorneys, and case specialists to enable communication and/or achieve reunification.

Immigration and Foster Care, Maurice H. Goldman, Esq. (83 mins)
An overview of the basics in immigration laws. How these law and policies apply to undocumented juveniles and parents of U.S. citizens and permanent residents either applying for affirmative benefits or facing removal from the U.S. Presentation touches upon a variety of aspects of the current immigration policies and how they impact immigrant youth and their families. Session will also cover the intersection of the child welfare system with our federal immigration laws.

Reasonable Efforts in Dependency Cases, Judge Leonard Edwards (ret.) (91 mins)
Judge Edwards will address several questions regarding the concepts of "reasonable" and "active" efforts. Why is the court system called upon to evaluate and enter findings as to the agency's efforts? What do reasonable efforts look like today and is it realistic to expect similar efforts from an agency hampered with increased caseload and fewer resources than in the past? How are "active efforts" made in the cases of American Indian children in the state child welfare system? How can Judges lead efforts to improve the way the "system" handles the cases of Arizona's most vulnerable children? These questions and more will be addressed in this engaging session.

Offering HOPE to Families in Dependency Court, Rob Wyman, (72 mins); Offering HOPE to Families PowerPoint
This discussion provides a safety framework for judges, attorneys, and case managers in a dependency case. The presentation discusses safety measures and structure to answer the question - What needs to happen for this child to go home today? You will also hear from two parents, that have navigated the dependency process, explain what parents need from the parties in their case to be successful.

Please Don’t Make Me Change Schools Again: The Educational Rights of Students in Foster Care, Joey L. Taylor, Foster Care Education Coordinator, Arizona Department of Education (60 mins)
This session will cover the federally legislated educational rights of students in foster care, the programs that public schools must provide to support students in foster care, and how the child welfare agency collaborates to maintain school stability for students in foster care. Additionally, this session will cover the role that the court system can play in upholding the educational rights of students in foster care.

ALWAYS: Immigration Assistance for Minors in DCS Care, Shana Dawson Fish, Arizona Legal Women and Youth Services (84 mins)
This presentation will focus on immigration assistance to children under the care of AZDCS. The session will cover key aspects of immigration service relevant to these vulnerable children, including pathways to legal status, special immigrant juvenile status (SIJS), and additional legal services for victims. Attendees will gain practical insights on how to identify immigration needs and refer services to advocate effectively for the children’s rights and collaborate with child welfare professionals to ensure the best outcomes. This session is essential anyone working to protect and support immigrant children in foster care or similar settings.

Protecting the Federal Benefits of Foster Youth, Panel Consistent of DCS, AG and Dependency Attorney. (76 Mins.) 
We'll delve into the provisions of House Bill 2559 (now A.R.S. § 8 468) and its significance in safeguarding the economic security of Arizona's foster youth. This bill, signed into law by Governor Hobbs on June 19, 2023, is a milestone in protecting the financial well-being of Arizona’s foster youth. This legislation prohibits DCS from utilizing a youth’s federal benefits to offset foster care costs but, instead, requires the agency to conserve these benefits for future use by the foster youth. We will discuss the role that Judges, Attorneys, and Court Volunteers (CASA and FCRB) might play in ensuring that the provisions of this recent legislation are followed. You don’t want to miss this discussion!

AzEIP Information Session,  Lisa Valle Community Relations Liaison Dept. of Economic Security Arizona Early Intervention Program (60 mins.)
AzEIP provides developmental screenings and evaluations to determine if a child is eligible for educational support  and services under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). We will review the statewide interagency system of services and supports for infants and toddlers, birth through two years of age, with disabilities or delays. We will discuss the referral process, eligibility determination, and the family’s journey with AzEIP. We will share resources and information for you to share with families you support.

Extended Foster Care Update, Barbara Guillen, MSW Permanency & Youth Services Manager, Department of Child Safety (60 mins.)
In this presentation we will address the various options available for foster youth who will transition to adulthood. Barbara will provide guidelines for the extended foster care program, including updates coming later in the year. There are changes you will want to know about that will potentially benefit the youth with whom you work.

Surviving Our Work - How to Handle the Stress of Being a Volunteer (Part 1), (90 mins)
Surviving Our Work - How to Handle the Stress of Being a Volunteer (Part 2), (90 mins) Jude Clark (Pima County CASA Coordinator), Jill LaBrie (Pima County CASA Coordinator), Bonnie Lawrie-Higgins (Pima County CASA Volunteer), and Amy Brandhuber (Pima County CASA Program Supervisor)

This training focuses on the stress and vicarious trauma that CASA Advocates and FCRB Volunteers encounter in their work with the child welfare system. This training provides concrete ways one can successfully address vicarious trauma experienced through our work. The training also provides an overview of how trauma effects the brain and how to work with traumatized children and families served by the child welfare system.

Arizona Child & Adolescent Survivor Initiative, Bianca Harper, DSW, LCSW, Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University (90 mins)
The Arizona Child & Adolescent Survivor Initiative (ACASI) is a statewide program that provides a wide range of free, specialized services to children who lose a parent (or caregiver) to intimate partner homicide. Our services include trauma therapy, mentoring, peer support groups, therapeutic wilderness-based trips for child survivors, intensive case management, assistance with Victim Compensation and Victims’ Rights, and other victim services to meet the complex needs of intimate partner homicide survivors and their families.