In recognition of September as National Kinship Care Awareness Month, the Child Welfare Court Improvement Project, and the Lived Experience Advisory Group (LEAG) for Child Welfare and Family Court Practices, is hosting a 90-minute program to highlight the experience of kinship care and the voices of people impacted by the child welfare and legal system. There will be a welcome address by Honorable Anne-Marie Jolly, the Administrative Judge of the New York City Family Court, followed by a keynote address by lived experts of kinship care. You will then hear from a panel of multidisciplinary professionals in the field to discuss the different forms of kinship care, the Family First Prevention Services Act, how county agencies and attorneys across NYS can become champions for a “kin-first” culture, what rights and legal options kin resources have in the child welfare and legal system, and most importantly, the parent and youth experience.

This is a multidisciplinary training offered to judges, attorneys, social service professionals, community providers, and people with lived experience in the child welfare and legal/judicial system across NYS.  Participants will become more trauma informed and will learn best practices and skills to help locate, engage, and support kin as resources, and ultimately help preserve the connection of children with their families.