Children’s Legal Issues Practicum
Spring 2013
Instructor – Karen Ullman
Thursday –2:50pm -4:50pm

Unless otherwise indicated students are expected to complete 10 placement hours per week at
Public Counsel’s offices.

Students must complete a total of 120 placement hours by April 30, 2013.
o
1/17
Students may choose to work extra hours per week and complete placement hours by April
19, 2013.
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Introduction to class. Overview of Child Welfare System in California.

1/24
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No placement hours
Overview of Foster Care system and Dependency Court system in Los Angeles.
Overview of adoption process
Start of discussion of funding streams, Foster Care payments (AFDC-FC),
Adoption Assistance Program (AAP), KinGAP, SSI, SSA/Survivor’s benefits,
CalWORKS.

1/31
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No class (makeup class session TBA)

2/7
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5 placement hours
5 placement hours
Specialized Care Rates - Funding for children with special needs
California Foster Parents Association Litigation and AB 106.
Advocating for specialized care rates.
2/14
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Regional Center services for children with developmental disabilities.
Specialized Foster Care and AAP Rates for children served by Regional Center.
2/21
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Adoption Finalization training.
Assignment of adoption cases
2/28
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Services for special needs children. Mental Health, special education,
Independent Living Program (ILP), Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
3/7
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Dependency Court system . Issues in child representation.
3/14
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Contested Adoptions – Prospective Adoptive Parent Status, ethical issues.
Post Adoption Contact Agreements.
Permanent plans other than adoptions. Should we rank permanency options?
If so in what order?
3/18-3/22
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Spring Break – no class

3/28
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No required placement hours
Ways to effect systemic change. Direct representation, impact litigation,
administrative policy, legislation. State budget process.
SB 84 – Review law and regulatory implementation from introduction of bill to
finalized version passed including code section, regulations, All County Letters
and DCFS Policy.
4/4
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SB 84 - Continued
4/11
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Hot Topics in Child Welfare – AB 12 implementation, LA Times v. DCFS, public
dependency hearings, disproportionality.
4/18
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Mediation
Juvenile Delinquency System
4/19
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Adoption Day

4/25
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In their own voices. Open Discussion

Week of 4/29
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Adoption Day hours count toward placement hours
No placement hours if you have completed 120 placement hours.
No placement hours if you have completed 120 placement hours.