Registration for our Parent Time Lunches in February is now OPEN!

We will be holding three CLE luncheons in February around the state and discussing how to use  Parent Time Timelines.  We hope you can join us!  You will get a fantastic lunch full of relevant information for only $5.  Invite your friends.  One hour of CLE credit pending.

Note: Make sure you click on the correct link for the city and date you want.

St. George
February 6, 2015
12:00p.m. - 1:30p.m.
Painted Pony, 2 West Saint George Boulevard #22, St. George, UT 84770
Cost: $5.00
REGISTER HERE

Richfield
February 20, 2015
12:00p.m. - 1:30p.m.
Sagebrush Grill, 1345 South 350 West, Richfield, UT 84701
Cost: $5.00
REGISTER HERE

Vernal
February 27, 2015
12:00p.m. - 1:30p.m.
Vernal Quarry, 25 South Vernal Avenue, Vernal, UT 84078
Cost: $5.00
REGISTER HERE

Motion for Standard Parent Time and Upcoming CLE Luncheons

One of the most popular posts on this blog has been the summary of a presentation from the CIP Summit on the topic of family/parent time.  You can read the original post HERE.

We have added to the Forms Library on our website a Motion for Standard Parent Time which you can download and tailor to you specific cases.

In order to continue a discussion on the topic of Parent Time the PDA will be holding three CLE luncheons in February.  We hope you can attend one:

February 6, 2015:       St. George, Utah

February 20, 2015:     Richfield, Utah

February 27, 2014:     Vernal, Utah

Stay tuned for more details.

Vote for Breakfast at the Annual Conference!

I have some good news!  The PDA Annual Conference is returning to the Zermatt Resort.  We hope you are planning on joining us.

For the first time ever, the PDA is allowing its members to help choose what they eat at the annual conference.

One thing you should be aware of: as of July 1, 2013, the PDA has been required by the State of Utah to use the per diem pricing for state employees.  In the past, the PDA was not restricted in the amount it could spend on food at conferences, but now we are put on equal footing with all state employees including AGs, GALs, etc.

The use of per diem pricing limits what we can offer.  Below are the options that the Zermatt has available.  Vote for your favorite and the top two will be our choices for conference on April 23 and 24, 2015.

online polls

FREE Webinars Focusing on Immigration Issues

The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges is hosting a two-part webinar series exploring the complexities that arise when working with immigrant families.  The webinars are designed as a conversation and learning opportunity for child welfare personnel, legal professionals, advocates, and other community members working with immigrant populations.

Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) Status -- What Judicial Officers and Court Stakeholders Need to Know
Presented by Casey Family Programs, the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) and the NCJFCJ
Date: Monday, December 15, 2014
Time: 9am to 10am PST / Noon to 1pm EST
Cost: FREE
Register HERE

Eileen Matuszak of USCIS will give a brief description of SIJ status and respond to SIJ questions frequently asked by the courts. This presentation will provide an opportunity for judges to ask general SIJ questions of the federal agency responsible for administering the SIJ program. Additionally, Angie Junck of the ILRC will present information on newly enacted state laws addressing SIJ issues. Lastly, Elizabeth Thornton of Casey Family Programs will describe strategies and tools used to raise awareness of the SIJ program with state child welfare agencies and juvenile court judges. 

Immigrant Families -- How to Best Serve Them 
Presented by Casey Family Program, the American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law and the NCJFCJ
Date: Thursday, December 18, 2014
Time: Noon to 1pm PST / 3pm to 4pm EST
Cost: FREE
Register HERE

Andrew Lorenzen-Strait of ICE will explain the Facilitating Parental Interests in the Course of Civil Immigration Enforcement Activities Directive  (also known as the Parental Interest Directive). Mr. Lorenzen-Strait will describe how ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) field offices handle family court cases, as well as how courts can collaborate with ICE to help facilitate participation by parents in child welfare cases. Additionally, Kevonne Small of DOJ will discuss Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and its application to dependency courts and child welfare agencies, and will discuss how court and child welfare agency responses to immigrant parents may implicate this law. Lastly, Cristina Cooper of the ABA will describe steps states can take to mitigate some of the barriers faced by immigrant families involved in the child welfare system, as well as discuss what falls under the purview of the current federal and state laws.