Juvenile Rights Practice Hosts National Juvenile and Family Law Conference
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2009

The Legal Aid Society's Juvenile Rights Practice is hosting the 32nd National Juvenile and Family Law Conference of the National Association of Counsel for Children Wednesday through Saturday at the Brooklyn Marriott. The conference, designed primarily for attorneys who practice juvenile and family law, will focus on the theme: Effective Advocacy in Today's World. The five major areas to be discussed include: abuse and neglect, juvenile justice, family law, policy advocacy and children's law office program.

Tamara Steckler, the Attorney-in-Charge of the Juvenile Rights Practice of The Legal Aid Society, is a NACC Board Member and Conference Chair, and will be giving a short welcome address Wednesday evening. Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and Retired Chief Judge of the State of New York, Judith Kaye, will be giving opening addresses on Wednesday as well. The Commissioner of New York City’s Administration of Children’s Services, John Mattingly, will be speaking at the first General Session Thursday morning. Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman will be addressing the conference attendees at the Conference Lunch Banquet on Friday.

The following Legal Aid Society’s Juvenile Rights employees are faculty for the following workshop presentations:

  • Designing Your Own Special Education Advocacy Project-Working Models: Cara Chambers, Esq. Domestic Violence Cases: Linking Social Science Research and Family Court Practice: Louise Feld, Esq.
  • Dispositional Advocacy and Planning in Delinquency Proceedings: Mariella Martinez, Esq. and Deb McGee, MSW
  • Toward Culturally Sensitive Practice with LGBTQ Youth in the Juvenile Justice System: Kim Forte, Esq.
  • Successful Appeals: Different Appellate Approaches to Children’s Continuously Changing Circumstances: Judy Waksberg, Esq.; Judy Stern, Esq.; and Claire Merkine, Esq.
  • Client Counseling and Decision-making: Renee Mittler, Esq.; Peg O’Marra, MSW; and Nanette Schrandt, MSW
  • Children at Risk of Commercial Sexual Exploitation: From Legislation to Services: Katherine Mullen, Esq.; Elana Roffman, Esq.; and Alexander Wolf, MSW
  • Maintaining Appropriate Professional Boundaries with Child Clients: Vicki Light, Esq. and Roger Sherman, MSW
  • Family Matters: The Science, Statutes and Substantive Due Process Behind Kinship Foster Care: Arthur Perahia, MSW

The National Association of Counsel for Children (NACC) is a non-profit child advocacy and professional membership association. The NACC is dedicated to providing high quality legal representation for children.  Our mission is to improve the lives of children and families through legal advocacy. Founded in 1977, the NACC is located in the Kempe Children's Center on the campus of The Children's Hospital in Denver, Colorado. The NACC is a multidisciplinary organization with approximately 2,500 members representing all 50 states and several foreign countries.