160 social workers, parents, and community partners attended the 2012 Family
Reunification Week Symposium.
From L to R: Alex Iglesias (Los Angeles Defense Lawyers, Inc.), Ryan Bennett and Reco
Varnado (Parents in Partnership), and Al Reyes (L.A. County Child Support Services)
Los Angeles County 3rd District Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky addresses the audience.
Michael Nash, Presiding Judge of the Los Angeles Juvenile Court welcomes
attendees.
DCFS Director Philip L. Browning discusses the importance of reunification.
From L to R: Judge Michael Nash, L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, and DCFS
Director Philip L. Browning
Guest speaker Don Parkinson and Rachel Ewing (Los Angeles Dependency
Lawyers, Inc.).
Panel speakers (L to R): DCFS Deputy Director Rhelda Shabazz, CSW Anthony
Cervantes, Assistant County Counsel James M. Owens, Danielle Vappie (Los Angeles
Dependency Lawyers, Inc), Leslie Starr Heimov (Children’s Law Center), youth speaker
Miranda Sheffield, and caregiver Don Parkinson.
From L to R: Assistant County Counsel James M. Owens, Danielle Vappie (Los
Angeles Dependency Lawyers, Inc), Leslie Starr Heimov (Children’s Law
Center).
Symposium emcee Neil Zanville (DCFS Public Affairs)
Reco Varnado (Parents in Partnership)
From L to R: Judge Michael Nash, DCFS Deputy Director Rhelda Shebazz, Judy Freeman
(PIP), Nina Powell-McCall (PIP), Jennifer Olague (PIP holding Award), Andrea Miles (PIP),
Helen Contreras (PIP holding Award), Reco Varnado (PIP), Ryan Bennett (PIP holding Award), Maritza
Rosales (PIP), Derrick Perez-Johnson (PIP), Pat McQueen (PIP), and Tania Benacerraf (Pico Union
Family Preservation)
Lunch is served!