Relative Foster Care and Adoption

Minn. Event Code 453542.

Live Zoom Webinar: 

5/24/2022 - 9:00 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. CDT  Register

(Starting time in other Time Zones: 10:00 EDT; 8:00 MDT; 7:00 PDT, MST; 6:00 AKDT)

Video replay: 

6/10/2022, 9:00 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. CDT  Register

(Starting time in other Time Zones: 10:00 EDT; 8:00 MDT; 7:00 PDT, MST; 6:00 AKDT)

Agenda:

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. "Racial Bias in Child Welfare Proceedings" (1.0 Elimination of Bias credit)

The Minnesota House Select Committee on Racial Justice recently reported on Minnesota’s significant racial disparities in out-of-home care. In this segment of the course, Kelis Houston describes how racial bias operates at all stages of child welfare proceedings; the adverse consequences of foster care placements, including the increased risks of substance abuse, mental health issues, and involvement with the criminal justice system; and the role that racial stereotypes play. The presentation concludes with a discussion of measures that have been taken or that are proposed to be taken to address racial disparities in child welfare proceedings, such as the Hennepin County cultural liaison pilot program, cultural competency trainings, and the bill for an African American Family Preservation Act. 

 — Kelis Houston, founder/director, Village Arms 

10:00 a.m. – 10:05 a.m. Break 

10:05 a.m. – 11:35 a.m. “Representing Relatives in Post-Permanency Proceedings”

 Attorney Rhia Bornmann Spears walks you through the process of representing a relative in post-permanency proceedings:  

• Overview of the process, from a report of abuse/neglect/etc. through CHIPS, TPR, post-permanency proceeding, adoption, restoration of parental rights 
• Procedure for involving a relative in a proceeding 
• Applicable legal standards 
• Dealing with racial bias
• Mediation
• Appeals 

— Rhia Bornmann Spears, JD, attorney, Spears Family Law, PLLC 

11:35 a.m. – 11:40 a.m. Break 

11:40 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. “Home Studies and Foster Care Licensing”

Misty Coonce, LISW, elucidates home study and foster care licensing requirements, sharing insights to help attorneys navigate the process.  

 — Misty Coonce, LISW, senior program director, Ampersand Families 

12:00 p.m. – 12:10 p.m. Questions and Answers 

CLE credits: 

Minnesota: 3.0 CLE credits, including 1.0 Elimination of Bias credits, have been approved in Minnesota. 

Alaska: 3.0 CLE credits, including 1.0  Ethics, may be claimed.

Arizona: The State Bar of Arizona does not approve or accredit CLE activities for the MCLE requirement.  This activity may qualify for up to 3 hours toward your annual CLE requirement for the State Bar of Arizona, including 1 hour of professional responsibility.

Arkansas: 3.0 CLE credits may be claimed.

Connecticut: Acceptable for 3.0 credits, including 1.0 Ethics.

Florida: 3.0 CLE credits may be claimed, including 1.0 Ethics.

Guam: Approved for 3.0 CLE credits.

Hawaii: 3.0 CLE credits may be claimed, including 1.0 Ethics.

New Hampshire: 3.0 CLE credits may be claimed.

New Jersey: 3.0 CLE credits, including 1.0 Ethics, may be claimed.

New York: New York State approved jurisdiction policy applied. Minnesota is an approved jurisdiction, and has approved this course for 3.0 CLE credits, including 1.0 Elimination of Bias credit.

North Carolina: 3.0 CLE credits may be claimed.

North Dakota: Presumptively approved for 3.0 CLE credits, including 1.0 Ethics.

Northern Mariana Islands: Approved for 3.0 CLE credits.

Wisconsin:  Wisconsin CLE Rule 7.005 provides that "courses approved for CLE credit by, and attended in, any other state or territory or the District of Columbia are deemed approved for the same number of hours and for the same purposes in Wisconsin." The course has been approved by the State of Minnesota for 3.0 CLE credits, including 1 Elimination of Bias credits. 

CLE credit may be available in other jurisdictions. Check with the applicable continuing legal education authority. Updates will be posted here as they become available.

$75.

Click here to register for the 5/24/2022 course.

Click here to register for the 6/10/2022 video replay. 

Kelis Houston is the founder of Village Arms, a Christ-centered organization that supports African American families impacted by child protection. Village Arms' focus is family preservation and reunification through parenting education, in-home visits, resource acquisition, and advocacy with a cultural base.

Village Arms was created in direct respond to the over-representation and disparate treatment of African Americans across the child welfare service continuum. Kelis' personal mission is to address and help eradicate these disparities through legislative action, youth and family advocacy, policy reform, and community engagement.

She currently serves as cultural consultant to child welfare staff, students and service providers. Her training is designed ot bring a new level of cultural awareness to those working for and within the African American community, to achieve clearer lines of communication and a sensitivity to culture. 

Read more about Village Arms here.

A graduate of William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota, Rhia Bornmann Spears is an experienced family law attorney who practices in all areas of family law and in all Minnesota counties. She has helped families with the difficult issues that arise with divorce, unwed parents, establishing custody, legal separation, parenting time, child custody matters, child support, orders for protection, and harassment restraining orders. She also has experience representing relatives in child welfare cases including post-permanency proceedings. She passionately believes in working with her clients to serve the best interests of the children involved. 

Misty Coonce is a licensed independent social worker and the senior program director for Ampersand Families, a nonprofit organization providing permanency and adoption services to youth and families who face barriers to equity in child welfare. After earning her Permanency and Adoption Competency Certificate through the University of Minnesota’s Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare, she accumulated many years of experience working in the foster care and adoption field. Ampersand Families focuses on older children who are at risk of aging out of foster care without an adoptive placement. Her work has included, among other things, supporting survivors of abuse, neglect and domestic violence, and providing children’s mental health wraparound services. 

Read more about Ampersand Families here.