Child Welfare League of America

Full Day Super Session Panel

8:30 A.M. - 6:00 P.M.

Instead of two more sets of workshops, this year our member advisory committees have put together Super Session Panels on topics felt to be most relevant to today's child welfare practitioners. Time for question and answer sessions will be incorporated into each session. Choose the one for which you have the most passion!

S6 Advocating for Kinship Care as a Valuable Resource for Families

This session examines legislative, grassroots, and child welfare policy initiatives that focus on bringing equity in funding and services for kinship caregivers and the children in their care. Legislators on the federal and state level discuss examples of proposed and achieved federal and state legislative initiatives. Additionally, the Keeping the National Focus on Kinship Care panel-representing state-level and private child welfare service providers, advocates, and caregivers-will share their insight and perspectives on lessons learned, partnerships and strategic alliances, and a view for the future.

Opening Speaker
Assemblywoman Karen Bass, 47th District, Los Angeles (invited)

Panel Presentation
Making Kinship Care a National Priority
Presenters: Linda James, Caregiver and Program Coordinator, SKIP Generation, New York; Gerard Wallace, Director, Kin Care Support, Albany Law School, Albany, NY; Wallace Seay, Chair, New York City Committee for Kinship Care, New York; and Brenda Rich, Manager, Clinical Supervisor, Philadelphia Society for Services to Children, Philadelphia

Morning Closing Speaker
Congressman Danny Davis (D-IL)

Kinship Care Session breaks for Awards Presentation and Closing Luncheon
NOON-2:30 P.M.

Children of Incarcerated Parents in Kinship Care
This presentation addresses the impact of incarcerated parents on children- in particular, children residing in kinship care arrangements. Clinical and transitional issues for the children are discussed, as well as strategies for intervening and interrupting recidivism in kinship families.
Presenter: Joseph Crumbley, Family Therapist and Consultant, Philadelphia

An Overview of Current Kinship Care Research and Literature
A review of current research and literature is analyzed during this presentation. Although the body of available research and literature has increased during the past 10 years, gaps in knowledge still exist. The discussion provides participants with an update of the research and literature, and areas for further study.
Presenter: James Gleeson, Associate Professor, Jane Addams College of Social Work, University of Illinois, Chicago

Closing Reception
A Family Celebration of Kinship Care
This part of the program includes short film on kinship care with brief remarks by a kinship caregiver. There is also the presentation of Champions for Kinship Families Awards to a kinship family and a CWLA member agency demonstrating exemplary work in the area of kinship care.


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