By Michelle R. Gros What do Louisiana judges and attorneys, pots of gumbo, popsicles in parks, medical mobile units, egg hunts, care baskets, block parties, drive-through services and resources, supporting families, foster care and community conversations have in common? My … Read More
Attorneys
ABCs of ACEs
Interviewed by Kellie J. Johnson Caitlin LaVine and H. Clay Walker V are Louisiana educators on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). LaVine is the trauma and resilience strategy lead with the Louisiana Department of Health’s Bureau of Family Health. Walker is … Read More
Using ACEs and TBRI to Implement a Trauma-Informed Courtroom
By Mark Harris, Josephine C. Vanderhorst and Kellie J. Johnson Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are defined in Louisiana law (R.S. 17:437.2) as “all types of abuse, neglect and other types of traumatic childhood experiences linked to lifelong health and social … Read More
Overview: LSBA Children’s Law Committee Continuing Advocacy for Louisiana’s Future
By Curtis Nelson, Jr., Kellie J. Johnson and Mariarenee Contreras The Children’s Law Committee was created in 2008 as an ad hoc committee at the request of the state Legislative Task Force on Legal Representation in Child Protection Cases. Since … Read More
Guide to Legal Guardianship in Child in Need of Care Cases (CINC)
Download Guide We are excited to announce the development of a Guide to Legal Guardianship in Child in Need of Care Cases (“Guide”). The Guide grew out of an awareness that legal guardianship appears to be underutilized in Louisiana. Guardianship … Read More
Recommendations for Child Welfare System Support from Youth Currently and Formerly in Foster Care
The Survey of Youth Transitioning from Foster Care (SYTFC) collected information from youth currently and formerly in foster care in two states who were at risk for human trafficking experiences based on their demographic characteristics, maltreatment allegations, and removal and … Read More
Survey of Youth Currently and Formerly in Foster Care at Risk for Human Trafficking: Final Report
O Human trafficking of youth is defined as the exploitation of minors for forced labor or commercial sex and is increasingly recognized as a public health and social justice concern. In recent years, federal lawmakers have highlighted the importance of … Read More
New Child Welfare Journal – Family Integrity and Justice Quarterly
A new child welfare journal, Family Integrity & Justice Quarterly, recently released its inaugural issue, which focused on harms created by the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA). The journal’s editors and writers point out problems with ASFA’s passage and implementation, including … Read More
Trauma-Informed Youth Transitions in Tribal Child Welfare
The Capacity Building Center for Tribes’ Tribal Information Exchange released a series of tip sheets on trauma-informed practice in tribal child welfare. One of the tip sheets, Trauma-Informed Youth Transitions in Tribal Child Welfare, focuses on helping tribal child welfare professionals … Read More
The Little Agency That Could: Louisiana’s Mental Health Advocacy Service
By Rebecca May-Ricks and Kathy Lynn Cook, Published in American Bar Association – Children’s Rights Litigation (online) The Mental Health Advocacy Service (MHAS) was established in the late 1970s as part of Louisiana’s Division of Administration under the Office of … Read More