I am an attorney with the Louisiana State Department of Children and Family Services in the Alexandria Region. I began working for the Department in June of 2006 due in large part to the efforts and recommendations of Robert Elliott, who was an attorney with the Department. For over nine years I had the honor and privilege of working with and gaining from the knowledge and experience of Robert. He dedicated his career to advancing the well-being of children. Sadly in 2015 Robert lost his battle with lung cancer. A close friend, fellow child advocate and mentor was lost.

For six years prior to working for the Department I was a private practice attorney under contract with the local Indigent Defender Office. I represented children in a two parish area in child welfare cases. For a short time before I was appointed to represent parents in child welfare proceedings.

When I entered the legal profession I plotted a course for myself. I decided first to have a general law practice to be exposed to as many areas of law as possible. I was confident that eventually one area would capture my passion. Child welfare law became that passion.

Through my appointment as counsel for parents, representing children, and now as counsel for the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services my dedication and commitment to child welfare law has grown. Part of my commitment has been a desire to continuously gain knowledge and a better understanding of child welfare law. Thanks to the Pelican Center, a nonprofit organization in Louisiana, I was given the opportunity to seek certification as a Child Welfare Law Specialist. The process of becoming a Specialist has deepened my respect for the depth and breadth of child welfare law. To effectively practice child welfare law requires a dedication to apply oneself continuously to study, grow and develop. I know that my journey has only begun.

Without the love and support of my wife, Lauren, my journey would have taken a different course. We met and married early in my undergraduate studies. Our only child, Bryce, was born during law school. Lauren and I have seen the challenges of school, raising a son, and beginning and developing a legal career together. While in private practice we worked together for more than ten years.  This December we will celebrate thirty-five years of marriage. I am looking forward to many more years of our marriage and to following my passion of practicing child welfare law.

Syracuse.com
New York state lawmakers have agreed to raise the age at which those suspected of crimes can be charged as adults, part of a sweeping agreement reached Friday night on the state's $150-plus billion budget.

CNN
Internet access brings all sorts of benefits: Education, jobs, and connection to friends and family. But youth in the criminal justice and foster care systems often don't have access to it. That's why some lawmakers in California want to make it their right.

Education and the Workforce
The House Committee on Education and the Workforce today approved H.R. 1809, the Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2017. Introduced by Rep. Jason Lewis (R-MN) and Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA), the legislation reauthorizes and reforms the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) to help state and local leaders better serve at-risk youth and juvenile offenders.

Rapid City Journal
South Dakota legislators passed in 2015 a $3.2 million initiative pushed by Gov. Dennis Daugaard, a law that sought to reduce the number of juveniles in long-term detention and find alternatives to detention as a way to lower costs and reduce recidivism. The Juvenile Justice Public Safety Improvement Act took effect at the start of 2016.

Since then, new detentions have declined 43 percent while recommitments due to recidivism have gone down by 62 percent, reads a report released by Gov. Daugaard's office last week.

U.S. News & World Report
A social work expert says a Somali refugee shot by police should be allowed to face drug and robbery charges in juvenile court to give the 18-year-old a chance to rehabilitate.

JJIE
Data from growing research have stormed into the juvenile justice and child welfare fields over the past two decades, providing more raw material to help troubled teens than ever before. But turning that information wave into better outcomes for children — and convincing practitioners within established systems to adopt new approaches — still requires some prodding and commitment to adopting these findings, according to judges, case workers, academics and advocates for children.

Meredith Baker, NM

Shannon Mese, LA
Mallory Stoll, MN
Phillip Wiseman,OR