Resource Letter:
For Judges and Attorneys Handling Child Protective Services Cases
October 1, 2020
Casey Family Programs Special Report
In September 2020, Casey Family Programs released a special report about how the landscape for children and families has been dramatically transformed by the COVID-19 pandemic and how the child welfare community has adapted to continue to provide tools for child and family well-being. Creating a Better Future for Children and Families in a Time of Crisis features a section about virtual court proceedings in Texas and how remote access for parents and other parties can further connect courts, children, and families to achieve permanency. 

The special report includes insights from Judge Rob Hofmann of the 452 District Court and Children’s Commission Jurist in Residence; Judge Melissa DeGerolami of the Child Protection Court of South Central Texas; Judge Darlene Byrne of the 126th Civil District Court; and Paula Bibbs-Samuels, who serves as a parent representative and Commissioner on the Children’s Commission.
Reminder: Survey for Printed Copies of the Tool Kit for Attorneys Representing Parents and Children in CPS Cases
The Children’s Commission’s survey for judges and attorneys interested in receiving a printed copy of the Tool Kit for Attorneys Representing Parents and Children in CPS Cases will close on Thursday, October 8, 2020. This brief survey will assist the Children’s Commission in determining the most efficient way to distribute printed copies during the COVID-19 pandemic. The tool kit covers essential legal basics at a glance, including pleadings; motions; evidentiary issues; hearing checklists; and related federal law issues. The tool kit also covers concurrent and special issues related to child protection cases including child well-being; normalcy; dual status; incarceration; and trauma-informed advocacy.

To access a free, downloadable PDF of the tool kit, please visit the Children’s Commission website.
2020 Pediatric Brain Health Summit on November 5-6, 2020
The Texas Pediatric Brain Health Initiative will be hosting the free, virtual 2020 Pediatric Brain Health Summit (Summit) on November 5-6, 2020. The Summit is a collaboration between the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, the Texas Department of State Health Services, the Episcopal Health Foundation, the St. David’s Foundation, The University of Texas System, and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler. The purpose of the Summit is to focus on building stronger connections between pediatric providers and community-based organizations that provide support and services for families, particularly within the prenatal to three-year-old developmental window. The Summit is open to all interested attendees.

Registration for the Summit opens on Monday, October 5, 2020. Please visit the 2020 Pediatric Brain Health Summit website for more information.
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For a complete list of Resource Letters, please visit the Children's Commission web page. Information provided by the Children’s Commission should not be read as a commentary by the Supreme Court of Texas or any other court. The Children’s Commission website is not equipped to facilitate dialogue or conversation about matters related to the information in this communique. For more information about the Children’s Commission, please visit our website.
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