June 2020
Greetings!
Change takes time! In 2018, Kids Matter participated in the legislative study committee that recommended legislation that led to a new guardianship of children law. Thanks to the efforts of Representative Steineke, Senator Johnson and other committee members, the law was signed in February and takes effect August 1, 2020.

The new law will keep more kids safe and empower more families to be able to step up for children in need. Below Kids Matter Staff Attorney and State Bar Children & the Law Section Chair Beth Lauck provides an overview of the changes under the new law.

Consider joining our book club in August to be part of the community discussing Ibram X. Kendi's How to be an Antiracist . We have lots of online continuing education opportunities for CASA volunteers--if there's a particular topic you want to know more about, let us know and we will find you a good resource.

Sue
Susan Conwell, JD
Executive Director
New Private Minor Guardianship Law
Do you know a caregiver who has questions about keeping children safe? Learn about a new state law with more guardianship options from our own Beth Lauck, J.D. Read more.
CLE Seminar
Tune into CLE webinar Working Through the Maze of the New Guardianship for Minors on Thursday, July 30, 2020 from 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM CT. Beth Lauck will co-present with Deanna Weiss of Legal Aid and Henry Plum of Henry Plum Law Offices.

  • Learn how to file an appropriate guardianship petition depending on the minor’s and parent’s circumstances.
  • Adjust to the changes in the Guardian ad Litem role and responsibilities.
  • Learn how to represent a respondent or petitioner.
  • Understand how to effectively participate in the hearing.

This webinar is presented by the Children and the Law Section and is available to members and law school students for free. The cost is $109 for non-members. Click here for more information and to register.
Meet our new intern!
Alyssa Paulus just finished her first year at Marquette Law School and is our law intern this summer. She is working with Staff Attorney Beth Lauck on creating resources for caregivers and youth on the new private minor guardianship law, power of attorney for health care and so much more. Alyssa has always know she wanted to help people through the law—she attended Marquette for undergrad as a Pre-Law Scholar, finishing her bachelor’s degree in three years. She hopes to go into family law and work with kids. In her free time Alyssa enjoys baking, biking on the Oak Leaf Trail, and trying out new local restaurants. Welcome, Alyssa!
Journal Sentinel Features Chaya Milchtein
Learn about 25-year-old Chaya's journey from foster care to automotive educator, businesswoman and LGBTQ icon. She's creating community online during this time of isolation. Click below to read more.
Laid off due to coronavirus, a plus-sized model teaches...

Chaya Milchtein hates being called an Instagram influencer, even though the title clearly fits. Queer, plus-sized and stylish, she has nearly 17,000 followers and frequent paid sponsorships. In many of her photos, Milchtein's bright dress and...

Read more
www.jsonline.com
Join the Kids Matter Book Club!
The Kids Matter book club will meet on Monday, August 10th from 6 pm to 8 pm over Zoom to discuss How to Be an Antiracist  by Ibram X. Kendi. 

If you’d like to join the discussion, email volunteer@kidsmatterinc.org to become a member. Please have "Book Club" in the subject line and include your name, preferred email address, and let us know if you're a CASA volunteer in the body of the email. CASA volunteers earn two hours of continuing education credits for reading the book and an additional two hours for attending the meeting.
More CASA Continuing Education Opportunities
CASA volunteers are invited to participate in webinars from Zero to Three Safe Babies Court! Please register in advance for the webinar using the links below. If you register in advance, you will receive handouts and a recording of the presentation even if you cannot attend.

Introducing New Tools for Infant Toddler Court Program (ITCP): What’s New & How to Use Them
Tuesday, June 30th at 2:00pm

Changes to the Brain Due to Substance Misuse & Trauma: Considerations for the Global Pandemic
Wednesday, July 1st at 10:00am

The Realities of Race in the COVID-19 Pandemic*
* This is the first part in a series of presentations on racial equality in Safe Babies Court Teams
Wednesday, July 8th at 10:00am
Virtual Empower Hour--Register by June 30th
T icket to Dream invites young women and girls in foster care to join Project Glimmer ’s new virtual Empower Hour on Wednesday, July 15th. This (Virtual)  Day of Empowerment  is for girls ages 16 - 24 -- they'll learn about cool careers in gaming, how to sharpen their professional edge in a virtual world, and hear conversations from industry-leading women who work their magic daily plus receive an amazing gift bag in the mail! 

Date: Tuesday, 7/15 
Time: 6:00 - 7:15pm CT
Where : Zoom (Invite to follow RSVP) 

Please send the following information for each attendee to stephanie@projectglimmer.org:
  • Name
  • Age
  • Email Address (Project Gimmer will only use this email to communicate about the event)