I’m happy to report that on Jan. 11, 2012 I will deliver the keynote address for the 19^th annual Children’s Law Institute Conference (CLI) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 

Every year the CLI conference brings together hundreds of social services professionals from the State of New Mexico and beyond to enhance their skills and knowledge of how best to serve child victims of abuse and neglect.  Attendees explore a range of best practice responses, highlight new research, recommend changes in the foster care and juvenile justice systems, and look at a variety of ways for professionals to build support and connections for the children and families they serve.

The theme of this year’s conference is “Community Matters” and is a call for social work professionals to come together as a community, rejuvenate, hone skills and find inspiration.  Like many other industries across the U.S., the child welfare system is facing tough times.  Agencies are being asked to better the lives of children and families in the face of shrinking budgets, fewer resources, and increasingly complicated cases. 

Do more with less, is the constant refrain in all sectors of American society.  But I will talk about how the social services community can band together to do more AND BETTER for children in care.  I will share the story of my foster care journey and highlight the social workers and community that rallied around me as a child and ultimately empowered me to finish growing up.  I will also emphasize key ways the social services industry can build community by strengthening cultural competence and bettering communications with the families they serve.

This year, the CLI conference will offer 35 workshops that are designed to refresh thinking about core topics in social work practice, inspire new ideas, and leave attendees feeling united and energized.  On Jan. 11 and 12, I will lead a workshop called “The Grief Journey of the Child Placed in Foster Care.” 

My workshop is designed to help social workers, supervised visitation professionals, Court Appointed Special Advocates, counselors and other direct care providers understand the stages or phases of grief and ways that children may act during these stages.  Through interactive exercises and discussions participants will learn how to identify and appropriately document the behaviors that children demonstrate as they move through stages of grief and loss and develop strategies on how to respond not only to the behaviors but also the emotions behind the behaviors.

Among the list of dynamic speakers and presenters is Ashley Rhodes-Courter, author of Three Little Words.  Ashley spent 10 years in foster care, living in 14 different foster homes.  She will discuss her time in foster care and highlight the CASA worker that was able to get her out of abusive situations and eventually find her an adoptive family. Ashley will also shed light on what it means to be a foster youth, what tools are important when working with youth, and how one person can change the life of a child.

Also on the list of speakers is Alan Webber, founder of Fast Company Magazine.  Alan will deliver the closing keynote on Friday.  He will share relevant lessons from other sectors about building efficient and effective teams within the social services community.

Stay tuned for updates from New Mexico and hopefully a video of my keynote!