Program of Events

Friday January 26, 2018

Trauma-Informed Termination of Parental Rights Mock Trial

3:00pm - 6:00pm

Hatton Lovejoy Courtroom, Hirsch Hall, University of Georgia School of Law

We invite you to observe the CEASE Clinic Trauma-Informed Termination of Parental Rights Mock Trial. The mock trial is part of a "mini-course" offered to University of Georgia School of Law and School of Social Work masters students. In this simulation course, students learn about the child welfare system, trauma-informed lawyering, and interdisciplinary collaboration through classroom instruction and participation in a mock termination of parental rights trial. Guest faculty include attorneys, judges, and social workers. The 2-hour mock trial will be followed by a 1-hour discussion with participating students, faculty and conference audience.

Saturday January 27, 2018

8:30am - 9:00am Registration and Breakfast


9:00am - 9:15am Welcome Remarks

  • Emma Hetherington, Assistant Clinical Professor and Director, Wilbanks CEASE Clinic, University of Georgia School of Law
  • Marlan Wilbanks, Partner, Wilbanks & Gouinlock


9:15am - 10:45am Identifying and Reporting Child Sexual Abuse

Legal, law enforcement, and social work professionals will discuss mandated reporting laws and how various agencies and individuals working with children and in the community can better identify and report suspected child sexual abuse.

Moderator: Joanna Woolman, Associate Professor of Law and Director, Child Protection Program, Mitchell Hamline School of Law

Speakers:

  • Sally Sheppard, Executive Director, The Cottage Child Advocacy Center
  • Alicia Chandler, Forensic Interviewer Specialist, The Cottage Child Advocacy Center
  • Dr. Jennifer Elkins, Associate Professor, University of Georgia School of Social Work
  • Melissa Carter, Clinical Professor of Law and Executive Director, Barton Child Law and Policy Center, Emory University School of Law
  • Sergeant Harrison Daniel, Athens-Clarke County Police Department


11:00am - 12:30pm Commercial and Sexual Exploitation of Children: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Advocacy

Attorneys, Social Workers, and Advocates on local, state and national levels will discuss best practices in collaborative advocacy for survivors of child sexual abuse.

Moderator: Judge Robin Shearer, Chief Judge, Athens-Clarke County Juvenile Court

Speakers:

  • Heather Stockdale, CEO, Georgia Cares
  • Tom Rawlings, Director, Office of the Child Advocate
  • Alissa Tertichny, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
  • Cherice Hopkins, Staff Attorney, Rights4Girls


12:30pm - 1:30pm Lunch and Networking


1:30pm-3:00pm Keynote Speaker Maryland Delegate C.T. Wilson


3:15pm - 4:45pm USA Gymnastics: A Legal and Media Collaboration to Expose Institutional Abuse

Attorneys, journalists and survivors will discuss recent lawsuits against USA Gymnastics for child sexual abuse and how the media and attorneys can work together to reveal institutional abuse.

Moderator: Darren Penn, Partner, Penn Law Group

Speakers:

  • Courtney Kiehl, Attorney, Abused Children Heard Everywhere Foundation
  • Marisa Kwiatkowski, Investigative Reporter, Indianapolis Star
  • Derek Bauer, Attorney, BakerHostetler
  • Brian Cornwell, Attorney, Cornwell & Stevens, LLC


5:00pm - 6:30pm Reception and Networking