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Judicial Training

Training Opportunities for Judges

The Children's Commission has developed a number of judicial education and training efforts including webcasts (produced by the Commission or produced in partnership with TexasBarCLE) and annual conferences.

Below is a description of current judicial webcast and conference offerings produced by the Children's Commission:

Webcasts

On September 7, 2023, the Children’s Commission hosted a live webinar entitled “Trauma History and Psychotropic Medications: What Judges and Attorneys Need to Know.”

Speakers included Hon. Delia Gonzales, Associate Judge of the Dallas County Child Protection and Permanency Court; Dr. Anu Partap, Medical Director of Health Equity at Cook Children’s Health Care System; Tiffany Crouch Bartlett, parent and child’s attorney in Central Texas, and Michelle Latray, parent and child’s attorney in Groesbeck, Texas. The webinar addressed the importance of having a patient’s complete trauma history to assist health professionals with providing proper medical diagnoses and treatment plans. Duties, responsibilities, and best practice tips for attorneys representing parents and children in child welfare cases when psychotropic medications are or may be prescribed to a child were also covered.

The video replay and accompanying materials are below.

Recording: Trauma History and Psychotropic Medications: What Judges and Attorneys Need to Know

Additional Resources:

MCLE Information: The recorded webcast was approved for 1.5 hours of MCLE and .25 hours of ethics credit. Attorneys and judges seeking MCLE credit hours may contact CCTraining@txcourts.gov after viewing the session recording to receive information on how to self-report their MCLE to the State Bar of Texas.

TBLS certification and recertification hours: This course has been approved by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization for 1.5 hours of certification and recertification continuing legal education requirements for attorneys and paralegals in the specialty field of Child Welfare Law.

On August 17, 2023, the Children’s Commission hosted a live webinar entitled “Reevaluating Reasonable Efforts Findings.”  

Children's Commission Jurist in Residence Hon. Piper McCraw; Legal Representation Director Dylan Moench; and Staff Attorneys Renée Castillo-De La Cruz and Aimee Corbin provided an overview of federal and state law on reasonable efforts and included a fictional scenario to demonstrate reasonable efforts followed by a Q&A discussion.

The video replay and accompanying PowerPoint presentation are below.

Recording: Reevaluating Reasonable Efforts Findings

Additional Resources:

PowerPoint: Reevaluating Reasonable Efforts Findings

MCLE Information: The recorded webcast was approved for 1.0 hour of MCLE and .25 hours of ethics credit. Attorneys and judges seeking MCLE credit hours may contact CCTraining@txcourts.gov after viewing the session recording to receive information on how to self-report their MCLE to the State Bar of Texas.

TBLS certification and recertification hours: This course has been approved by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization for 1.0 hour of certification and recertification continuing legal education requirements for attorneys and paralegals in the specialty field of Child Welfare Law.

On July 18, 2023 the Children’s Commission hosted a live webinar entitled “88th Regular Legislative Session Update.” Legal Representation Director Dylan Moench and Staff Attorney Aimee Corbin provided the update on bills affecting child welfare law passed during the 88th Regular Legislative Session, the statutes affected, and their effective date. In addition, the Children's Commission's 88th Texas Regular Legislative Session Report is now available. The Legislative Session Report lists the legislative changes by bill number and by statute and includes changes to the Texas Family Code.

The webinar replay, accompanying PowerPoint presentation, and report are now available below.

Recording: 88th Regular Legislative Session Update

Additional Resources:

MCLE Information: 

  • The State Bar of Texas approved this course for 1.5 hours of MCLE, including 0.25 ethics hours. Judges and attorneys seeking MCLE credit hours may contact CCTraining@txcourts.gov after viewing the session recording to receive information on how to self-report their MCLE to the State Bar of Texas.
  • The Texas Center for the Judiciary (TCJ) approved 1.5 Family Violence hours for judges. To request credit, please complete the FV Course Attendance Form and return to TCJ. 
  • The Texas Board of Legal Specialization approved 1.5 hours for certification and recertification continuing legal education requirements for attorneys and paralegals in Child Welfare and Family Law.

On May 17, 2023, the Children’s Commission hosted a webinar designed for judges and attorneys entitled “Overview of Treatment Family Foster Care.”  

Panelists included Children’s Commission Director of Legal Representation, Dylan Moench; Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) Program Lead, Lauren Morgan; DFPS Systems Improvement Analyst, Caroline Sinha; Monarch Family Services Owner and Administrator, Dr. Valerie Jackson; and CK Family Services Senior Director of Family Services, Michael Scrivner. The presentation provided an overview of the Treatment Foster Family Care (TFFC) model, goals and benefits, what makes a TFFC home different than a traditional foster home, the placement process, eligibility criteria, and how it all relates to judges, attorneys, and other child advocates.

The video replay, accompanying PowerPoint presentation, and responses to the questions posed in the live broadcast are now available below.

Recording: Overview of Treatment Family Foster Care

 

Additional Resources:

MCLE Information: The State Bar of Texas approved the recorded webcast for 1.5 hours of MCLE credit. Judges and attorneys seeking MCLE credit hours may contact CCTraining@txcourts.gov after viewing the session recording to receive information on how to self-report their MCLE to the State Bar of Texas. 

On October 22, 2022, the Children’s Commission hosted a live webcast entitled “Enhancing the Experience of Children & Youth in Court: How Judges and Attorneys Can Prepare and Support Youth Attending Court.” The discussion focused on the importance of youth voice and best practices for preparing a child client for a court appearance, including speaking with the judge about their needs and goals. The webcast featured a panel with a judge, attorney, and leaders with lived experience in the child welfare system. The panel included the following speakers:

 

  • Hon. Delia Gonzales, Associate Judge of the Dallas County Child Protection and Permanency Court; 
  • Lori Duke, Co-Director and Clinical Professor at the Children’s Rights Clinic at the University of Texas School of Law; 
  • Betty Bajika, former Young Adult Leadership Council Member, Texas Network of Youth Services;
  • Leroy Berrones Soto, Project Coordinator, Child Welfare Reviews Project, JBS International, Inc.; and
  • Ryan Harris, former Conservatorship Caseworker, Department of Family and Protective Services.

Recording: Enhancing the Experience of Children & Youth in Court: How Judges and Attorneys Can Prepare and Support Youth Attending Court

MCLE Information: The State Bar of Texas approved this course for 1.0 hour of MCLE, with 0.25 hours of ethics credit. Judges and attorneys seeking MCLE credit hours may contact CCTraining@txcourts.gov after viewing the session recording to receive information on how to self-report their MCLE to the State Bar of Texas.

TBLS certification and recertification hours: This course has been approved by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization for 1.0 hour of certification and recertification continuing legal education requirements for attorneys and paralegals in the specialty field of Child Welfare Law.

 

On May 17, 2022, the Children’s Commission hosted a virtual presentation designed for judges and attorneys entitled “Overview of Qualified Residential Treatment Program Legal Requirements.”  

Children’s Commission Executive Director, Jamie Bernstein, Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP) Lead, Texas Flowers-Moffett, and DFPS QRTP Specialist, Tiffani Tillman provided an overview of the QRTP model, the QRTP placement review process, and the required legal findings that must be made in court in relation to QRTP placements. Additionally, a sample case scenario was discussed to provide practical information to participants.

Judges are especially encouraged to view this webcast as it includes specific information about the court review requirements for placement of a child or youth in a QRTP and the related timelines required by the Texas Family Code.

The video replay, accompanying PowerPoint presentation, QRTP Referral Example, and responses to the questions posed in the live broadcast are now available below.

Recording: Overview of Qualified Residential Treatment Program Legal Requirements

Additional Resources:

MCLE Information:

The State Bar of Texas approved this recorded webcast for 1.0 hour of MCLE credit. Judges and attorneys seeking MCLE credit hours may contact CCTraining@txcourts.gov after viewing the session recording to receive information on how to self-report their MCLE to the State Bar of Texas.

 

On March 8, 2022, the Children’s Commission presented a 75-minute webcast entitled “Child Welfare Case Primer: Statutory Hearings and Current Issues.” The Honorable Rob Hofmann, Judge of the 452nd District Court and Children’s Commission’s Senior Jurist in Residence, provided a summary of the nuts and bolts of a child welfare case from investigations through various final outcomes. The presentation included a review of statutory requirements, including recent legislative changes, and current issues including dual status youth and placement. Best practices and practical tips for achieving positive permanency for children and engaging families and youth in the court process were also provided.

The video replay and accompanying PowerPoint presentation are now available below.

Recording: Child Welfare Case Primer: Statutory Hearings and Current Issues

Additional Resources:

 

MCLE Information:

The State Bar of Texas approved this recorded webcast for 1.25 hours of MCLE and 1.25 hours of Family Violence training credit. Judges and attorneys seeking MCLE credit hours may contact CCTraining@txcourts.gov after viewing the session recording to receive information on how to self-report their MCLE to the State Bar of Texas.

The Judicial Trauma Institute was presented live on April 22-23, 2021, via webcast. The content was designed by Commission staff in partnership with the Statewide Collaborative on Trauma-Informed Care (SCTIC) Training Workgroup and hosted by the Texas Center for the Judiciary. The goal of the conference was for judicial teams to gain information and discover practical tools and resources about how to become a trauma-informed and trauma-responsive court in CPS cases. Judicial teams were composed by judges who invited the following members from their jurisdictions: a court coordinator; a prosecutor; an attorney who takes appointments for parents and for children in CPS cases; a senior-level Caseworker or Supervisor at DFPS; and a CASA Executive Director or Program Director. Due to the virtual format, additional child welfare stakeholders and single registrant judges also attended.

Video replays and conference materials can be accessed on the Judicial Trauma Institute webpage. 

MCLE Information:

The State Bar of Texas approved the video replays for 8.50 MCLE credit hours, including 2.0 ethics hours. Judges and attorneys seeking MCLE credit hours may contact CCTraining@txcourts.gov after viewing the session recording to receive information on how to self-report their MCLE to the State Bar of Texas.

This first of its kind virtual Texas Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Summit provides the judicial and legal communities, caseworkers, and other child welfare stakeholders with an in-depth training on the history of ICWA, critical legal components of ICWA, related case law updates, and the important impact of ICWA for Tribal communities. 

Presented live on January 22, 2021, the Summit was hosted by the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas, and the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Tribe, in partnership with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and the Supreme Court of Texas Children’s Commission. Video replays and conference materials can be accessed on the Texas ICWA Summit webpage. 

MCLE Information:

The State Bar of Texas approved the video replay for 5.5 MCLE hours. Judges and attorneys seeking MCLE credit hours may contact CCTraining@txcourts.gov after viewing the session recording to receive information on how to self-report their MCLE to the State Bar of Texas.

The following are available for viewing without MCLE credit. 

On June 5, 2020, the Children's Commission hosted a one-hour webcast, “Benefits of Utilizing Technology in Child Welfare Cases,” designed for judges who preside over the CPS docket.

Moderated by Hon. Rob Hofmann, Judge of 452nd District Court and Senior Jurist in Residence for the Children’s Commission, the panel discussion includes five judges who share their experiences with virtual child welfare hearings and related silver linings. Topics include how to manage dockets and find an interpreter; greater child and parent engagement; the advantages of virtual mediation; an increase in attorney participation and preparation; and the benefits of increased frequency of family time (also known as visitation). Viewers will also learn about how all of these technological benefits can be used to advance permanency for children in care.

Panelists are Hon. Melissa DeGerolami, Associate Judge of the Child Protection Court of South Central Texas; Hon. Delia Gonzales, Associate Judge of the Child Protection and Permanency Court in Dallas County; Hon. Thomas Stuckey, Associate Judge of the Centex Child Protection Court South; Hon. Angela Graves-Harrington, District Judge of the 246th Family Court in Harris County; and Hon. Carlos Villalon Jr., Associate Judge for the Child Protection Court of the Rio Grande Valley West.

Recorded Webcast: Judicial Webcast on Benefits of Utilizing Technology in Child Welfare Cases.  Please note that MCLE is not offered for this webinar.

On Thursday, January 20, 2022, the Children’s Commission’s Judicial Workgroup on the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) presented a free, 1.5-hour webcast entitled “The Texas Response to the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children.” Panelists from the Office of the Texas Governor, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, the Texas Alliance of Child and Family Services, Texas CASA, and Texas Juvenile Justice Department provided insight into their efforts to prevent, identify, and support children at risk and survivors of commercial sexual exploitation. 

The recorded webcast, accompanying PowerPoint presentation, and handouts are available below. 

Recording: The Texas Response to the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children

 

Additional Resources:

 

Conferences

The Children’s Commission, in partnership with the Texas Center for the Judiciary (TCJ), will host the 16th Annual Child Welfare Judges Conference on October 23-25, 2023. There will be a pre-conference training on the opening day of the conference, followed by the full conference. Registration is now open and is limited to judges who handle civil child welfare cases.

The pre-conference training, entitled “Assessing and Addressing Children’s Well-being, From Infants to Young Adults,” will start at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, October 23. Presentations will focus on child development, resources, and issues such as education, mental health, building protective factors against trafficking, and normalcy. Judges interested in attending the pre-conference, may add the pre-conference option when registering.

The full conference opens at noon and starts with lunch on Monday, October 23, and will end at noon on Wednesday, October 25. There is no registration fee to attend. The conference curriculum will provide 16.5 CJE and 15.5 FV hours. Please register on TCJ’s website at the following link:

Register

Please note that users will need to be signed in to the TCJ website to view the webpage.

Child Protection Courts, also known as CPCs, were created to specialize in managing child abuse and neglect dockets. Like the child support court associate judges, these associate judges are appointed by their regional presiding judges and are OCA employees. CPC judges hear child welfare cases exclusively. The goal for CPC dockets is to help children and families achieve safety, permanency, and well-being in a timely manner. The Children’s Commission provides funding for the Child Protection Court Management System (CPCMS), as well as training and other support for CPC judges and court coordinators to conduct hearings and manage cases. There are currently 30 CPCs and these courts hear child welfare cases in 148 Texas counties.  

The biennial Child Protection Court Convening was held on July 27-28, 2023.