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Announcements |
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Fall Edition 2008 |
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NCALP Receives 2008 Angels in Adoption Award Nominated by Congresswoman Deborah Pryce, L'76, the Center has received an Angels in Adoption Award for its work on behalf of children who are involved in our nation’s child welfare systems. More...
Center Offers New Training Initiative This fall, NCALP staff members are traveling throughout Ohio to deliver a series of new interdisciplinary workshops for child welfare professionals. More...
News Briefs: More… New Adoption & Child Welfare Law Fellows Summer Adoption Law Institute 2008
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Upcoming NCALP Presentations:
“Why Choose the Law?” Panel: Options available with a law degree The JMLBA Second African-American Conference for Aspiring Attorneys October 24, 2008, Columbus, OH
“Ethics in Child Placement Decisions: Best Interests & Ethical Considerations” Promoting Healthy Attachments, Tri-State Adoption and Foster Placement Conference November 25, 2008, Oglebay, WV
Developing the Child Welfare Team: Building a Collaborative Legal Representation Model Workshops Ohio counties: October 23 Seneca County, October 28 Wayne County, October 30 Trumbull County
Past Presentations:
“International Adoption Law” 2008 Legal Services Staff Professional Development Seminar, National Conference of State Legislators September 12, 2008, Columbus OH
“Ohio Abuse and Neglect Laws” & “Ohio Child Welfare Systems Improvement Efforts: CHIPS and Alternative Response” Ohio CASA/GAL Association’s Celebrate Kids Conference October 2-3, 2008, Columbus OH
Developing the Child Welfare Team: Building a Collaborative Legal Representation Model Workshops Ohio counties: August 19 Summit County, September 12 Richland County, September 16 Monroe County, September 23 Mahoning County, September 30 Clark County |
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Maestro: (noun) genius, expert, rare talent, ace, whiz.
NCALP staff endearingly refer to the figure in the Center’s logo as the “maestro.” |
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National Center for Adoption Law & Policy Capital University Law School 303 E Broad St • Columbus, OH 43215 (614) 236-6730 • adoption@law.capital.edu • www.ncalp.org |
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…Because every child deserves a family. |
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Center Staff
Denise St. Clair Executive Director
Angela Upchurch Real Living Academic Director
Carla Carpenter Associate Director
Jenifer Thompson Staff Attorney
Dawn Viggiano Staff Attorney
Anna Lin Financial Projects Coordinator
Christine Morris Assistant Director of Information Services
Jackie Martin Administrative Coordinator
Maureen McCann Administrative Assistant |
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On September 16, the National Center for Adoption Law & Policy (NCALP) at Capital University Law School received a 2008 Angel in Adoption™ for its outstanding advocacy on behalf of children who are involved in our nation’s child welfare systems and the assistance it provides professionals who serve these children. NCALP was honored, along with more than 180 Angels, at the two-day event which included a day on Capitol Hill to meet with Congressional members, the Angels in Adoption Pin Ceremony, and the Angels in Adoption Gala in Washington, D.C.
The Angels in Adoption™ program, organized by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, is a public awareness program that gives all members of the U.S. Congress the opportunity to honor the good work of their constituents who are improving the lives of children in need of permanent homes. This year, more than 150 Members of Congress participated, making it the year’s single most significant Congressional event pertaining to child welfare in the United States. |
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Features |
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Friday, October 17, 2008, Autumn Wine Celebration Smith Brothers Hardware Building, Downtown Columbus One dozen wines to taste, a selection of beers to sample, gourmet appetizers and desserts, silent auction and live music
Join us in celebrating our 10th Anniversary and our 2008 Angel in Adoption Award!
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Good Search Support NCALP by searching the internet at no cost to you! Powered by Yahoo!, GoodSearch is a search engine that donates a percentage of advertising revenue to the Center every time a person uses its search website. Click here to download the GoodSearch toolbar and get started. |
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Throughout the fall, staff members of the National Center for Adoption Law & Policy are traveling the state of Ohio to deliver a series of new interdisciplinary workshops for child welfare professionals. NCALP developed the curriculum and materials for these workshops, entitled Developing the Child Welfare Team: Building a Collaborative Legal Representation Model.
Each workshop is co-facilitated by Center legal and social work professionals and is carefully planned to elicit teamwork across disciplines. Workshops are attended by child protection agency staff, juvenile court personnel, child welfare attorneys, CASA volunteers and other child welfare system stakeholders.
Each half-day training session includes discussion and interactive team tasks designed to:
· Foster a shared understanding of the roles, responsibilities, and professional and ethical challenges for all members of the child welfare team. · Develop collaborative practice skills to enhance representation for children, parents and child welfare agencies. · Provide opportunities for counties to explore practical ways to implement collaborative practice skills.
All workshops are offered free of charge to participants and to the hosting counties. Funding for the project is provided by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
Ohio counties offering the training to date include: Hancock, Richland, Monroe, Mahoning, Clark, Seneca, Wayne, and Trumbull. Additional locations and dates are to be announced. Contact the Center if you are interested in organizing a workshop for your county.
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Welcome New Adoption & Child Welfare Law Fellows!
The National Center for Adoption Law & Policy is pleased to welcome the latest class of Adoption & Child Welfare Law Fellows.
Charlyn Bohland graduated summa cum laude from The University of Akron with a degree in political science and served as president of the Pre-Law Club and a member of the Honors College. Charlyn also worked as the office manager/program assistant for Summit Education Initiative, a non-profit organization which focuses on the educational challenges that face students in Summit County.
Autumn Hacker graduated from The Ohio State University with a degree in sociology. Autumn currently works for Permanent Family Solutions Network, a manage care facility for Franklin County Children Services. Autumn also volunteered with CASA of Franklin County where she served as a guardian ad litem for abused, neglected, and dependent children.
Tierra Poindexter graduated magna cum laude from The Ohio State University, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminology with a minor in social stratification and inequality. Tierra is especially proud of her accomplishments as a first-generation college graduate and professional school student.
2008 Summer Adoption Law Institute Draws Record Number of Students
Offered by Capital University Law School and NCALP from August 4 to 8, the 2008 Summer Adoption Law Institute attracted the largest attendance to date: 59 participants total; 26 law students enrolled from law schools outside of Capital; 15 law schools represented; and 5 continuing legal education participants, one as far as California.
Guest lecturers included: · Irene Steffas, founder, and Carine Rosalia-Marion, associate attorney, of Steffas & Associates, P.C. (Marietta, GA); · Kelly Stoner, Instructor in Law and Director of the Native American Legal Resource Center, Oklahoma City University School of Law; · Thomas Taneff, L'87, principal of Taneff Law Offices (Columbus, OH); · Susan Garner Eisenman, Columbus (OH) attorney and American Academy of Adoption Attorneys member; and · Samuel Peppers, L'93, former Franklin County Probate Magistrate and current associate at Dinsmore & Shohl (Columbus, OH).
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Center Offers New Training Initiative |
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NCALP News Briefs: |
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NCALP Receives 2008 Angels in Adoption Award |
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November has been set aside to raise awareness about the critical need for permanent homes for children in foster care. As part of National Adoption Month, 12 families will finalize the adoptions of their foster children in the Franklin County Ohio Probate Court on Monday, November 10, 2008. Find out more about the Franklin County event here.
Learn more about other events happening across the country at: www.nationaladoptionday.org |
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Call for Speakers |
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The Capital University Law School student group, Children & Family Law Advocates, is interested in engaging professionals in this practice area for presentations during its monthly meetings. Email Dawn Viggiano for more information. |
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Left to right: Capital University Law School Professor Angela Upchurch, Real Living Academic Director of NCALP; Congresswoman Deborah Pryce; and Denise St. Clair, Executive Director of NCALP. |
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Ohio Congresswoman Deborah Pryce, L'76, nominated NCALP for this honor, stating, “We are fortunate to have the National Center for Adoption Law & Policy in my home town of Columbus, Ohio. The Center is an excellent resource for family members and practitioners, providing a multitude of information services that can help the general public understand and navigate complex adoption laws and procedures. As an adoptive parent, legislator and Capital University Law School alumna, I am proud to have partnered with the center on a number of initiatives and am delighted for the opportunity to honor the great work of the Center.”
“Representative Pryce has worked closely with the center over the years and she was instrumental in securing federal funding for the original Adoption and Child Welfare LawSite we created,” said Denise St. Clair, executive director of NCALP. “We are deeply honored that she nominated us for this national award.”
Denise and Real Living Academic Director Professor Angela Upchurch met with members of Congress, including Representatives Pryce and Jean Schmidt of Ohio’s 2nd Congressional District. Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Executive Director Rita Soronen of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption gave a few remarks during the Angels in Adoption award presentation and kick-off reception. With more than 850 people in attendance, the Angels in Adoption Gala featured a keynote address by Senator Hillary Clinton and special messages of congratulation from former National Angel First Lady Laura Bush and President Bush.
“It’s very fitting that Capital’s National Center for Adoption Law & Policy has been honored as an Angel in Adoption ™ ,” said Capital Law School Dean Jack A. Guttenberg. “Their excellent work is not only positively impacting children in our adoption and foster care systems locally, but nationally as well. With this well-deserved recognition and honor, they are joining a prestigious group of local organizations and individuals who have previously been named Angels in Adoption, including the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption which provided seed funding to create the center.”
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Comments from our early program participants:
“Very useful getting to talk to other professionals outside of court or case specific situations.”
“Follow-up with state legislature or other decision makers on the points discussed.”
“Some of the finest facilitators/presenters I’ve had. Exceptional job! Thank you.” |
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Adoption & Child Welfare Law Fellowships are available to incoming first year students who are interested in pursuing a career in child welfare and/or adoption law upon graduation. Fellows receive various educational and financial benefits in exchange for a commitment to spend at least the first two years of their career working in this area of law. Learn more about the Fellowship here. |
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Left to right: Autumn Hacker, Tierra Poindexter, and Charlyn Bohland |
