The NACC’s 47th National Child Welfare Law Conference is scheduled for August 12-14, 2024, in Salt Lake City, Utah. In addition, a second virtual conference will take place on September 11-13, 2024. More information about conference registration and both agendas are available on the NACC website.
The Children’s Commission is offering up to 8 reimbursement scholarships to qualifying judges and attorneys to attend the in-person conference in Salt Lake City on August 12-14, 2024. The scholarship will take the form of reimbursement of up to $1,200 for the conference registration fee and eligible conference-related travel expenses to attend the NACC Conference. Registration to the in-person conference in Salt Lake City automatically includes registration to the virtual conference in September. Scholarships for attendance solely to the virtual conference in September are not available. Please read below for scholarship criteria, logistics, the attendance and cancellation policies, and a link to apply.
Dates and Locations:
This scholarship covers the in-person conference registration, which also includes registration to the second, virtual conference in September.
NACC 46th National Child Welfare Law Conference
In-Person Conference
August 12-14, 2024
Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City
170 West Temple
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Virtual Conference (included with in-person registration)
September 11-13, 2024
See the NACC website for more information about dates, location, and hotel information.
Scholarship Details and Criteria:
This scholarship is intended for judges and attorneys who want to attend the in-person conference in Salt Lake City and require financial assistance in order to attend. The scholarship will cover registration costs and conference-related travel expenses to Salt Lake City for a total of up to $1,200. The funds will be used toward the dual conference registration ($475), with remaining funds available for reimbursement of eligible conference-related travel expenses following the event (up to $725), for a total of up to $1,200. The Children’s Commission will pay conference registration fees directly to NACC for each recipient, and NACC will register all Commission scholarship awardees.
Attorney applicants who meet all the criteria detailed below will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis for a scholarship. Scholarships are limited and early applications are strongly encouraged.
To meet the criteria for this scholarship, the applicant must:
- currently represent DFPS or currently receive appointments on a child welfare docket,
- be in good standing with the State Bar of Texas,
- receive support from their primary or appointing judge (to be requested by the Children’s Commission), and
- commit to timely completion of a post-event survey from the Children’s Commission.
Please note, preference may be given to applicants who have not received a scholarship from the Children’s Commission within the past 2 years.
Judges with applicants from their jurisdiction will be notified by the Children’s Commission and asked to confirm that the applicant currently represents DFPS or currently receives appointments on their child welfare docket, and asked to respond regarding the applicant’s suitability for the NACC scholarship (the applicant does not need to initiate the communication with their judge).
Judicial applicants must primarily hear civil child welfare cases. Please note, preference may be given to practicing attorneys who apply for the scholarship. Judicial applicants from all geographical regions in Texas are encouraged to apply. Preference may also be given to attorneys and judges who have not received a scholarship from the Children’s Commission within the past 2 years.
Additionally, all applicants must agree to complete a post-event survey from the Children’s Commission. Applicants who meet all the criteria will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis for a scholarship, until all 8 spots are filled. Early applications are strongly encouraged due to the limited number of scholarships.
Attendance Policy:
This event is hosted by the NACC. This scholarship opportunity is funded by a federal grant, which is managed by the Supreme Court of Texas Children's Commission. The Children's Commission is responsible for reporting attendance in support of the grant expenses. All scholarship awardees will be expected to participate in the training in Salt Lake City on the event dates and to provide detailed responses to a post-event survey from the Children’s Commission thereafter.
Cancellation Policy:
This scholarship is intended for judges and attorneys who are interested in attending the in-person conference in Salt Lake City. If you are awarded a scholarship and then can no longer attend the conference in person, or no longer need the scholarship in order to attend, you must notify the Children’s Commission by July 11, 2024, so that we may cancel your registration without incurring any financial penalty.
Awardees who cancel their registration after July 11, 2024, causing the Children’s Commission to incur costs associated with their anticipated attendance, may become ineligible to receive any scholarship from the Children’s Commission for the next two years. Furthermore, the awardee’s managing attorney or judge will be notified of the late cancellation for any cancellation after July 11, 2024.
Awardees with emergency situations requiring cancellation after July 11, 2024, must email Chelsea Martinez at CCscholarships@txcourts.gov mailto:as soon as possible so that the Commission can try and fill the slot from the waitlist.
Application Link and Deadline to Apply:
Applications will be accepted until midnight on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. This application period is now closed.
Scholarship Notification and Logistics:
If you are awarded a scholarship, the Children’s Commission will notify you after the scholarship application period has ended and we have verified your standing with the Bar and your eligibility with your primary or appointing judge. We hope to notify all applicants of their scholarship status no later than June 28, 2024.
If you are awarded a scholarship, the Children’s Commission will work with NACC to register you directly. Awardees do not need to register themselves for the conference. The reimbursement scholarship of $1,200 will be used to cover registration fees ($475), with remaining funds available for reimbursement of eligible conference-related travel expenses after the in-person event has concluded (up to $725).
A reimbursement form will be provided to awardees and must be submitted to the Children’s Commission within 45 days of travel. For information regarding eligible travel expenses for reimbursement, please review the Commission’s travel reimbursement guidelines.
As stated above, we will register all scholarship awardees directly with NACC (no need to register yourself). However, all scholarship awardees are responsible for securing their own travel plans and hotel reservations, and awardees must cover these travel costs before the conference. Confirmed scholarship awardees may submit for reimbursement upon return. Awardees are also responsible for cancelling their own travel plans, should they become unable to attend. The Children’s Commission is not able to offer reimbursement for those who incur costs and do not attend.
All scholarship awardees are responsible for monitoring notices and emails from the event organizer. The Children’s Commission is not affiliated with the event and may not be aware of notices issued by the event organizer regarding cancellation policies, CLE notices and reporting rules, notices or policies regarding COVID-19, etc.
