Archive of Past CCA Training Seminars

Index of archived training seminars (for current seminar info, see the Connecticut Training page.

Past CCA Training Seminars: Topics and Speakers

CCA Training Seminar Bridgeport, June 12, 2007
Educational Advocacy

CCA Training Seminar April 4, 2007
Educational Advocacy: Red Flags for Early Identification (PPT)

November 30, 2006 at the Child Guidance Center of Greater Bridgeport.

Entitled, "What's New? What's in the Pipeline?" this seminar will repeat recent presentations held in Hartford. Speakers will be:

Darlene Dunbar, Commissioner, Department of Children and Families

Bill Carbone, Executive Director, Judicial Branch Court Support Services Division

Carolyn Signorelli, Chief Child Protection Attorney, Child Protection Commission

Honorable Barbara Quinn, Chief Administrative Judge, Superior Court for Juvenile Matters

If you would like to attend this seminar, please reserve a space by emailing: atremont@kidscounsel.org

Training: October 5, 2006 - What's New? What's in the Pipeline? (PDF)

An update on important information critical to representation and advocacy in Connecticut. Speakers: Commissioner Darlene Dunbar, DCF; Carolyn Signorelli, Commission on Children; William Carbone, Court Services Support Division; Hon. Barbara Quinn, Superior Court for Juvenile Matters.

Training: February 8, 2006 CCA Training Seminar at Blumberg Hall (upstairs in the Hosmer Hall building), University of Connecticut School of Law

  • Teens in Emergency Placements
    Psychological Impact, Trauma, and Legal Issues
    Janet Williams, MD
    Peter Mendelson, PhD
    Martha Stone, JD

  • Teen Dating Violence
    National TDV Awareness Week Feb 6 - 10, 2006
    Stacey Violante-Cote, JD, MSW
    Gladys Idelis Nieves, JD

    February 8, 2006 Training Seminar (Adobe PDF)

Training: November 8th, 2005 CCA Training Seminar at the University of Connecticut School of Law , Starr Hall, Room 204

  • Honorable Barbara Quinn, Chief Administrative Judge, Superior Court for Juvenile Matters
    Vision for the Juvenile Court in Connecticut.

  • Dean Paul Chill, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Clinical Professor of Law, University of Connecticut School of Law.
    New Commission on Child Protection to administer the attorney appointment system in child protection cases.

  • Attorney Art Webster, Assistant Attorney General, Child Protection Session, and Adjunct Faculty, University of Connecticut School of Law.
    Recent Developments in Child Law.

Training: June 29th, 2005 Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and Education Commissioner Betty Sternberg present the legal and policy issues regarding implementation of No Child Left Behind

Training: February 1, 2005 (The Spanking Case: Crossing the Line?)

  • Introductions and Welcome: Martha Stone, Executive Director, Center for Children's Advocacy

  • The Spanking Case: Crossing the Line?: A Panel Discussion, Moderator: Christina D. Ghio, Senior Staff Attorney, Center for Children’s Advocacy

  • Panel:

    • Frederick Berrien, M.D., Dr. Berrien is Director of the Aetna Foundation’s Children’s Center and was instrumental in the development of child abuse services at Saint Francis Hospital. He serves on the Governor’s Task Force on Justice for Abused Children. Dr. Berrien will examine the implications of corporal punishment and the potential impact of this decision from a clinical point of view.

    • Susan Perlman, J.D., Assistant Attorney General, Susan Perlman, a graduate of University of Connecticut School of Law, has been practicing law since 1974. She has been an Assistant Attorney General in Child Protection for 15 years, and is the Department Head of Child Protection. Susan will discuss the legal impact of Lovan C.

    • Paul Chill, J.D., Paul Chill, also a graduate of University of Connecticut School of Law, is Clinical Professor of Law and the first alumnus to become the Law School's Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. Professor Chill formerly supervised clinical programs focusing on child protection. His writings include 'The Law of Child Abuse and Neglect in Connecticut', and a recent law review article on the deleterious procedural impact of emergency removal in child protective proceedings.

  • Recent Developments in Child Law, Art Webster, Esq., Assistant Attorney General, Child Protection Unit; Adjunct Professor of Law, University of Connecticut School of Law

Training: September 22, 2004

  • Introductions and Welcome: Martha Stone, Executive Director, Center for Children’s Advocacy

  • How to Use the Juan F. Exit Plan and Emily J. Court Order to Improve Your Client’s Representation:

    • D. Ray Sirry -- Court Monitor for the Juan F. Consent Decree, Ray Sirry leads the Transition Task Force appointed by U.S. District Judge Alan H. Nevas as part of his ruling that DCF has failed to comply with court-ordered improvement standards for children in foster care. The Juan F. consent decree originally resulted from a federal class action suit filed against DCF, which challenged the Department’s management, policies and practices regarding children in its custody.

    • Donald DeVore -- Court Monitor for Emily J. and a nationally recognized expert in juvenile justice, Don DeVore was recently appointed Director of Juvenile Services for DCF. Prior to this appointment, Don DeVore worked as a consultant to DCF, to improve programming and operations at the Connecticut Juvenile Training School. Emily J. was originally filed on behalf of children in state juvenile detention centers, and focuses on timely and appropriate mental health care for this population.

  • Recent Developments in Child Law -- Art Webster, Assistant Attorney General, Child Protection Unit; Adjunct Professor of Law, University of Connecticut School of Law

Training: June 30, 2004 Bullying: The Law and The Mental Health Issues, How To Advocate For Your Client

  • Introductions and Welcome: Martha Stone, Executive Director, Center for Children's Advocacy

  • Panel:

    • Mark A Stapleton, Chief, Office of Legal and Governmental Affairs, Connecticut State Department of Education -- State Law and What is Required of School Districts to Comply with the Law

    • Elaine Zimmerman, Co-Chair, Governor's Prevention Partnership Bullying Task Force; and Executive Director, Commission on Children -- Mental Health Issues Associated with Bullying and Behaviors that Indicate Bullying is Occurring

    • Ann-Marie DeGraffenreidt, Project Director, TeamChild, Center for Children's Advocacy, Why Advocates Need to be Informed about Bullying Law and Behaviors; How to Effectively Advocate for Your Client

  • Recent Developments in Child Law, Art Webster, Esq., Assistant Attorney General

Training: February 4, 2004

  • Introductions and Welcome: Martha Stone, Esq., Executive Director, Center for Children's Advocacy

  • Reflections on Connecticut's Model of Legal Representation for Children:

    • Jean Koh Peters, Esq. -- Clinical Professor of Law and Supervising Attorney, Yale Law School Author, Representing Children in Child Protective Proceedings. Professor Koh Peters will compare and contrast legal representation in Connecticut to that in other parts of the country, helping us understand how best to represent our child clients.

  • Contesting OTCs: The Implications for Advocates in Child Protection Cases:

    • Paul Chill, Esq., Clinical Professor, University of Connecticut School of Law -- Professor Chill will discuss the importance of contesting Orders of Temporary Custody and provide useful information on how to successfully contest them.

  • Recent Developments in Child Law and Education Law, Art Webster, Esq., Assistant Attorney General

Training: Thursday, June 27, 2003

  • Darlene Dunbar, newly appointed Commissioner of DCF, will share her vision for the Department and answer your questions regarding new initiatives at DCF.

  • In addition to Commissioner Dunbar's talk, there will be an update on state legislation regarding children's issues, presented by Liz Brown, Commission on Children, Kim Harrison, consultant to Center for Children's Advocacy.

Training: February 4, 2003

  • Introductions and Welcome: Martha Stone, Executive Director, Center for Children's Advocacy

  • BULLYING: THE LAW and THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR YOUR CLIENT

    • Mark A. Stapleton, Chief, Office of Legal and Governmental Affairs, Connecticut State Department of Education

    • Paul Chill, Esq., Clinical Professor, University of Connecticut School of Law. Professor Chill will discuss the importance of contesting Orders of Temporary Custody and provide useful information on how to successfully contest them.

  • Recent Developments in Child Law and Education Law, Art Webster, Esq., Assistant Attorney General, Jay Sicklick, Esq., Director, Medical-Legal Partnership Project

Training: May 22, 2002 (BRIDGEPORT, CT)

  • EXPEDITING PLACEMENTS AND SERVICES FOR YOUR CHILD CLIENT

    • Mickey Kramer, Assistant Child Advocate, Office of the Child Advocate

    • Roxanne O'Brien, Program Director, Residential Services

  • DCF CASE UPDATES, Martha Stone, Esq., Executive Director, Center for Children's Advocacy

Training: May 1, 2002

  • EXPERT WITNESSES AND CROSS EXAMINATION IN CHILD PROTECTION CASES

    • Philip Scribano, DO, Director, Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect Program, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center

    • Frederick Berrian, MD, Director, Aetna Children’s Center, St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center

  • CASE UPDATES, Art Webster, Esq., Assistant Attorney General, Child Protection Unit.

This Training Seminar is generously sponsored by the law firm of Tyler, Cooper and Alcorn

Training: February 27, 2002

  • EXPEDITING PLACEMENTS and SERVICES FOR YOUR CHILD CLIENT

    • Mickey Kramer, Assistant Child Advocate, Office of the Child Advocate, Heather Panciera, Assistant Child Advocate, Office of the Child Advocate, * Jed Schulman, Esq., private practice attorney with extensive child protection case experience, * Roxanne O Brien, Program Director, Residential Services

  • DCF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN CHILD LAW AND PENDING FEDERAL LEGISLATION

    • Arthur Webster, Assistant Attorney General, Child Protection Unit, and Martha Stone, Executive Director, Center for Children's Advocacy, Inc.

This Training Seminar is generously sponsored by the law firm of Shipman and Goodwin.

Training: October 17, 2001

  • HOW TO REPRESENT YOUR CLIENTS UNDER THE NEW YOUTH IN CRISIS ACT AND THE FWSN LAWS

    • Francis J. Carino, Supervisor, Juvenile Prosecutors, Office of Chief State's Attorney, Rocky Hill Paul D. Schneider, Private Attorney, Southport Michele Hall, Supervisor, Juvenile Court Probation Office, Hartford

  • RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN CHILD LAW AND RECENT STATE LEGISLATION AFFECTING CHILDREN

    • Arthur Webster, Assistant Attorney General, Child Protection Unit Martha Stone, Executive Director, Center for Children's Advocacy, Inc.

Training: May 23, 2001

  • HOW TO USE THE DCF CONSENT DECREE TO PROTECT YOUR INDIVIDUAL CHILD CLIENT

    • Dr. D. Ray Sirry, Federal Court Monitor, Juan F. v. Rowland Raymond Mancuso, Deputy Court Monitor

  • RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN CHILD LAW AND RECENT STATE LEGISLATION AFFECTING CHILDREN

    • Arthur Webster, Assistant Attorney General, Child Protection Unit Martha Stone, Executive Director, Center for Children's Advocacy, Inc.

This training session is underwritten through the generosity of Shipman & Goodwin, and co-sponsored by the Children and the Courts Committee.

Training: March 21, 2001 Addressing Issues Involving Cognitively Impaired Parents in Child Abuse Cases: Use of the ADA

Training: January 2001 Protecting the Health of Your Child Client by Enforcing the EPSDT Requirements

Training: January 19, 2000: Improving Educational Services for Children in the Child Protection System

Training: November 17, 1999: Effects of Domestic Violence on Children: How to Protect Your Child Client

Training: May 21, 1999: Recent Developments in Improving Representation of Children: A Status Report of Where We Are And What More Needs To Be Done.

Training: March 24, 1999: How To Protect Your Child Client Who Is A Victim of Sexual Abuse.

Training: January 20, 1999: Reactive Attachment Disorder in Abused Children: What Should be the Response of Children's Attorneys?