It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Fulton County, Georgia Juvenile Court Judge Willie J. Lovett Jr.   Judge Lovett was a member of the NACC Board of Directors and was a Certified Child Welfare Law Specialist.  Judge Lovett was an incredible advocate for children and families and made an indelible mark on our field, both locally in Georgia and nationally.  

Below are the details for Judge Lovett's funeral service.

Friday, February 3rd at 11 am
Impact Church
2323 Sylvan Road
East Point, GA 30344 

Note that for those of you who are outside of the Atlanta Metro area and are not able to attend in person, the funeral service will be live-streamed at www.Impactdcd.org. Please also feel free to share this information with your networks. 

The abstract submission deadline for our 40th National Child Welfare, Juvenile and Family Law Conference has been extended to Wednesday, February 15th. You have great ideas and knowledge, and we want you to share! Submit here and get a waived registration to the New Orleans conference if we select your presentation. 

 

The American Bar Association is creating a Homeless Youth Legal Network to increase legal services for youth and young adults experiencing homelessness. This Network will provide information and foster collaboration in order to help attorneys and other advocates address existing gaps in legal services, and improve outcomes for homeless youth and young adults, including those transitioning from the child welfare system and exiting the juvenile justice system.

The ABA Homeless Youth Legal Network is currently looking to connect with attorneys, as well as legal and youth-serving organizations, to identify professionals who may wish to participate in the Network, as well as to determine the current scope of legal services provided to homeless youth across the country. (This includes civil legal matters, juvenile and criminal defense, and policy work/impact litigation for minors as well as young adults through at least age 25.) 

If you are an attorney/legal office representing homeless youth, or a homeless youth organization that either partners with legal providers or is interested in partnering with legal providers, please complete this brief survey and sign up to be part of the Network's listserv by e-mailing hyln@americanbar.org.

The Chronicle of Social Change
Youth Services Insider has been trying to get a handle on what the early days of the Trump administration have brought on at two key youth services agencies: the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) at the Justice Department, and the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at Health and Human Services.

The Chronicle of Social Change
Much attention has been paid recently, and alarm bells sounded, at the expressed plans of the Trump administration and Congress to eliminate programs and cut back on entitlements that support the poorest and most vulnerable American families and children.

NCJFCJ
The Honorable John J. Romero, Jr. has accepted an appointment on the National Advisory Committee on the Sex Trafficking of Children and Youth in the United States. The Committee advises the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Attorney General on practical and general policies concerning improvements to the nation’s response to the sex trafficking of children and youth in the U.S., as outlined in the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act of 2014.

CASCW
"Crossover youth" refers to youth who have experienced some form of maltreatment and also engaged in delinquency. Research increasingly points to the importance of designing comprehensive, integrated approaches for crossover youth.

The Atlantic
A new study shows that the disproportionate imprisonment rates faced by people of color contribute to race-based inequalities in educational attainment.

JJIE
Judges have become important behavioral health champions, and transformative leaders in matters of therapeutic justice. Yet, there is more to do to develop community partnership and alliances to advance Zero Suicide Initiatives on local and state levels.

Thank you to our newest Platinum Lifetime member, Henry Plum, JD in Milwaukee, WI.  We truly appreciate your support of NACC and the work we do.

The County of Kings is seeking a proven leader to lead and manage the Child Advocacy Division of the County Administrative Office. This single position classification reports directly to the County Administrative Officer. The Supervising Attorney - Child Advocacy is responsible for the ongoing administration and overall responsibility for the operation of the division, supervision of the juvenile contract and conflict attorneys, and for the review of billings and claims from conflict (outside) attorneys.

East Bay Children's Law Offices, Inc. (EBCLO) is seeking an exceptional person to lead a strong team including attorneys and social workers who represent children and youth in the juvenile dependency court. This leader must be committed to high quality legal advocacy, through a holistic approach, to provide young clients with a voice in the decisions affecting their lives both in and out of court. The new Executive Director will have a unique opportunity to work with the Board and staff to expand and deepen services for children who need lawyers.