The Children’s Commission will partner with the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to host a judicial conference in a virtual format on Friday, December 11, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. CST. Normally a part of the annual Child Welfare Judges Conference, the “Day with the Department” curriculum will be presented as a day-long, standalone judicial training this year.
This year’s conference will begin with a presentation from agency leadership, including DFPS Commissioner Jaime Masters, Deputy Commissioner Trevor Woodruff, Chief of Staff Demetrie Mitchell, Associate Commissioner for Child Protective Investigations Jim Sylvester, and Associate Commissioner for Child Protective Services Deneen Dryden. The morning sessions will continue with an update on statewide data by Dr. Jane Burstain of DFPS and Jeff Cox of the Texas Alliance of Child and Family Services. DFPS General Counsel Tiffany Roper will present on dismissal dates during the time of COVID-19 as well as other emerging issues.
The conference will also feature regional breakouts so that judges can meet with their Regional Director and Regional Systems Improvement Specialist, as well as Single Source Continuum Contractor representatives in regions with Community Based Care. The Commission consistently receives positive feedback about the regional breakout portion of the annual Child Welfare Judges Conference and is happy to once again offer this opportunity for judges to interact with DFPS outside of the courtroom environment. The conference will conclude with an interactive session to discuss some of the key takeaways from the regional breakouts. The complete schedule is available at 2020 Day with the Department Agenda.
Registration is limited to judges who hear child welfare cases and is open until Tuesday, December 1, 2020. There is no registration fee. Please visit Day with the Department to register for the conference.
