California State Bar Approved Juvenile Dependency Trainings for Attorneys

  • Advokids is the only California State Bar approved continuing legal education provider that focuses its trainings exclusively on juvenile dependency law.

    Per California Rules of Court § 5.660, within every three years attorneys representing children in dependency court must complete at least eight hours of continuing education related to dependency proceedings. Advokids currently offers 5 legal education activities approved by the State Bar of California. Advokids provides legal training to attorneys throughout California. Please contact our office if you are interested in scheduling a training in your county. Call 1.877.ADV4KID or email us .

    Dependency trainings offered by Advokids:

    IMPROVING ACCESS, ADVOCACY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE JUVENILE COURT

    (3 hours State Bar of California approved MCLE credit)

    Curriculum:

    • ASFA and child welfare policy
    • Juvenile Courts – the key to accountability
    • Critical advocacy at Disposition – the statutory requirements: paternity,relatives, siblings, the permanency alternative placement
    • Critical crafting of measurable reunification plans
    • Review Hearings and mandated Federal and state timelines
    • Review Hearings and the legal standards for return home, continued services, and termination of services
    • Review hearings and mandated reporting under WIC§366.21(d), 293(f), 309(e)
    • Fact based reporting and caseworker visits
    • Transition Plans
    • Requests to change a court order under WIC 388
    • De Facto Parent Status – the myths and the realities
    • Actions to Commence Proceedings in Juvenile Court under WIC§ 329 and §331
    • Transparency & Accountability--Tools for protecting a child’s physical, emotional and developmental health
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    PLACEMENT AND PERMANENCY PLANNING IN JUVENILE COURT CURRICULUM

    (3 hours State Bar of California approved MCLE credit)

    permanency efforts must start at the beginning of the case: When, Why & How

    • The critical first 60 days
    • Placement issues at detention, disposition, and review hearings
    • Timelines; Why they matter
    • What is NREFM?
    • Sibling placement considerations
    • CDSS Regulations and permanency, the Case Plan
    • Adoption planning
    • Guardianships
    • Permanency efforts never end, so never close the door on adoption

    Bonding & Attachment and the permanency imperative:

    Impediments to permanency

    • ICWA notice
    • Paternity
    • Sibling issues
    • Continuances

    permanency protections

    • JV 290 Caregiver Report Form
    • De facto Parent Status, JV 295,296
    • Prospective Adoptive Parent Status, JV 321

    Securing permanency: Ultimately, whose job is it?

    • The role of County Counsel
    • The role of the parent’s attorney
    • The role of the minor’s attorney
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    REPRESENTING THE CHILD IN DEPENDENCY PROCEEDINGS CURRICULUM

    (3 hours State Bar of California approved MCLE credit)

    Child’s Right to Representation

    • Legal competence and training requirements
    • Additional competencies: child development, age-appropriate language, attachment and bonding issues.

    Ethical Issues

    • Welfare & Institutions Code §317
    • ABA Standards for Representation of Children
    • Attorney’s Role as CAPTA guardian ad litem

    Duties

    • Investigation
    • Client contact
    • Client in Court
    • Preparing the client for testimony
    • Protecting the client’s interests

    Specific Issues

    • Placement & Visitation
    • Indian Child Welfare Act
    • Continuances
    • Siblings
    • Parentage
    • Psychotropic Medications
    • Services
    • Privileges
    • Special Immigrant Juvenile Status
    • Writs and Appeals

    Printable version (pdf) »

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    PERMANENCY: A LEGAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL MANDATE FOR FOSTER CHILDREN CURRICULUM

    (6 hours State Bar of California approved MCLE credit)

    A Multi-Disciplinary Training For:

    • Mental Health Providers
    • CASA Volunteers
    • Social Workers
    • Attorneys

    Topics addressed in Permanency training:

       • Concurrent Planning
       • Placement Considerations and
            Preferences
       • Relative Search Requirements
       • Reunification & Review Hearing
            Time Lines
       • Role of the Caregiver in
            Permanency
       • Permanency Tools
       • Attorneys’ Duties
       • Appeals & Writs
    		   • Attachment Theory
       • Types of Attachment
       • Emotional Tasks
       • Attachment & The Dependency System
       • Disruptions in Attachment
       • Factors to Consider Before
            Moving A Child
       • Repairing Disrupted Attachments
       • Nature & Legacy of
            Separation and Loss
       • Systemic Trauma
    View Permanency brochure (pdf) »
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    JUVENILE DEPENDENCY LEGISLATIVE AND CASE LAW UPDATE

    (2 hours State Bar of California approved MCLE credit)

    New Dependency Legislation

    • Review and discussion of recent legislation applicable to juvenile dependency law.
    • Review and discussion of recent changes and additions to Rules of Court and Judicial Council forms applicable to juvenile dependency practice.

    Recent Juvenile Dependency Case Law

    • A review and discussion of California Supreme Court decisions on juvenile dependency law in the last 12 months.
    • A review and discussion of most significant appellate decisions over the last 12 months interpreting dependency statutes and addressing other juvenile dependency issues.
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    ICWA NOTICE REQUIREMENTS IN JUVENILE DEPENDENCY CASES: THE ROLE OF COUNSEL FOR THE PARENTS AND THE CHILD

    (2 hours State Bar of California approved MCLE credit)

    Indian Child Welfare Act and Its Applicability in Juvenile Dependency Proceedings

    • California’s codification of federal requirements
    • Rules of Court implementing codification and appellate decisions interpreting ICWA notice requirements

    When ICWA Notice is Required

    • Social Worker’s Duty of Inquiry
    • Court’s Duty of Inquiry

    Agency’s Duty to Give Notice

    • When Notice is Required
    • Who is Entitled to Notice
    • Items That Must be Included With Notice
    • Mailing and Certification Requirements
    • Duty to File With Court and Serve on Parties

    Hearing on Whether Child is an Indian Child

    • Timing
    • Notice

    Attorney’s Roles in Assuring Accuracy and Adequacy of Notice

    • Child’s attorney
    • Parent’s attorney
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    JUVENILE DEPENDENCY LAW 101 – LEGAL SEMINAR

    (8 hours State Bar of California approved MCLE credit, .5 hours Ethics credit. This course will satisfy the California Rule of Court §5.660(d)(3) minimum eight hour training requirement for attorneys seeking to represent parties in juvenile dependency cases.)

    A course in basic dependency law and procedure for attorneys new to dependency law or those seeking a refresher course.

    Organized around each stage of a dependency case, this course covers the issues that regularly arise and the procedures that apply at each stage of the case. Designed to give attorneys an introduction to the statutes, rules of court, and case law applicable to dependency proceedings.

    This training will also touch on child development issues; what constitutes child abuse and neglect; substance abuse, domestic violence, and mental health issues; family reunification and preservation; and reasonable services and the importance and impact of these issues within the child welfare system.

    Presented by Janet G. Sherwood, JD, CWLS

    — For further information, or to schedule a training, please contact us.

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