Thank You CLC Benefit Sponsors & Supporters
The 2013 Children's Law Center Annual Celebration & Benefit, held on September 12, was a great success. Everyone had a great time. Thank you to all attendees, donors, and sponsors whose support has ensured that we can continue our work on behalf of abused and neglected youth.
We were honored to present the following awards at the event:
The Rosalie E. Wahl Justice for Children Award
Throughout her legal and judicial career, Justice Wahl advanced justice for children and the downtrodden—those without a voice in the system. For her tireless work on behalf of children, CLC created the Justice for Children Award in her name and honored Justice Wahl as the first recipient in 2005. The 2013 award was given in memory of Nancy Sullivan and her passionate work promoting CLC as an organization, her dedication to her CLC clients, and her pro bono work beyond CLC. Her commitment to helping children was inspirational, and her work as a CLC board member went above and beyond. Nancy’s passion for helping children and CLC was contagious and often resulted in her motivating others at her firm to get involved with CLC.
The Hero for Children Award
The Hero for Children Award is given annually to an individual or group who has made a significant contribution to the well-being of Minnesota’s children. Sue Abderholden was selected this year for her commitment and dedication to improving the lives of Minnesota’s children by promoting the development of mental health programs and services. Sue’s work conducting systems advocacy by drafting legislation, educating legislators, working with legislative committees, and tirelessly building coalitions has enabled countless children in Minnesota to get the mental health services they need to succeed in life.
Distinguished Service Award
CLC annually identifies one law firm or corporation whose work on behalf of CLC’s clients exemplifies the commitment and dedication to pro bono representation that is the foundation of our mission. The 2013 award was given to Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. Scores of volunteer attorneys from Fredrikson & Byron have partnered with CLC to provide quality legal representation to children. Additionally, the firm’s ongoing information technology consulting for the past eight years has saved CLC thousands of dollars and has allowed CLC to stay highly functional.
Contribution and Dedication Award
A special award was presented to CLC’s former executive director Linda Foreman, for her leadership and passion for CLC in carrying out its mission and philosophy. Linda’s work developing and overseeing new programs has helped CLC increase its efficacy and impact. Under her vision, CLC expanded its representation to a more holistic approach and advocacy for clients on all matters. Linda took CLC to a whole new level and set a new standard for CLC to continue into the future.
Click HERE to view photos from the event
Special thanks to the firms, corporations and foundations who sponsored the event. If you weren’t able to attend, it’s not too late to support CLC.
Click HERE to see our sponsors
We rely on the financial support of the community to help ensure that every client has high quality representation and every volunteer attorney has support from CLC staff to provide that representation. Contributions ensure that child clients’ basic needs are met, that they have safe and stable homes, challenging educational opportunities, access to siblings through contact agreements, and quality mental and physical health care services.
Click HERE to give
|
Outstanding Service Advocacy Award Winner - Weida Allen!
 Our amazing staff social worker, Weida Allen, has won the 2013 Outstanding Service Advocacy Award from the Minnesota Justice Foundation, for her work with CLC’s clients. This award is presented to a non-attorney advocate who has demonstrated a commitment to providing pro bono legal representation to low-income and disadvantaged clients.
Weida has been a staff social worker with CLC since 2002 and served as a volunteer close to CLC’s inception in 1995. Weida has worked on over 2,000 CLC cases and has had a remarkable impact on the lives of many of our clients. Weida is committed to providing extensive support to the child clients we serve. She is often the first point of contact that CLC clients have with CLC and she treats them with the care and respect they deserve. The relationship-building Weida does with our clients early on gains their initial trust and builds a foundation for successful pro bono representation. It is not uncommon for child clients to hug Weida after a court hearing and state that Weida has known them and supported them for most of their lives.
Not only is Weida extraordinarily skilled at working with children and youth who have experienced trauma, but she is essential in working with CLC’s volunteer attorneys to provide them with the support they need to represent their clients’ express wishes. Weida listens to children to understand their wishes and helps attorneys counsel their clients about how to reach their client’s goals. Weida helps volunteer attorneys comprehend where their clients are emotionally and developmentally. She also advises them on the best ways to communicate with their clients. Weida’s wealth of knowledge about children in foster care ensures that our attorneys address the individual needs of our clients. Weida models a youth-centered approach and teaches a holistic approach to ensure each child is represented in all areas of their lives that are critical to their well-being. For Weida, this means always addressing the trauma a child has endured, which she believes is crucial for foster children who are often unfairly labelled in ways that negatively impact their lives.
Weida is always in high demand for consultation by our volunteer attorneys, our staff and our child clients. Weida is a creative, compassionate and multi-talented professional dedicated to working with children and improving the systems that serve children. Weida is truly a hero for children in foster care and for at-risk youth in Minnesota.
CLC staff congratulates Weida for receiving this well-deserved award.
Congratulations to our Foster Youth
2013 High School Graduates
|
Name: |
Opened/Representation |
Attorney |
|
F.Y. |
2012 - 1 Year, Continued Representation |
Gregory Luce |
|
T.MC. |
2010 - 3 Years, Continued Representation |
Bridget Sabo |
|
M.L. |
2011 - 2 Years, Continued Representation |
Mamie Falk |
|
M.T. |
2012 - 1 Year, Closed |
Sonny Miller |
|
A.W. |
2009 - 4 Years, Continued Representation |
Elizabeth Schmiesing |
|
E.H. |
2006 - 7 Years, Continued Representation |
James Dorsey |
|
J.C. |
2001 - 12 Years, Closed |
Anne Byrne |
|
K.C. |
2011 - 2 Years, Continued Representation |
Lindsey Hemly |
|
R.S. |
2007 - 6 Years, Continued Representation |
James Proman |
|
A.B. |
2008 - 5 Years, Continued Representation |
Suzanne Kvas |
|
T.S. |
2006 - 7 Years, Continued Representation |
Gregory Ansems |
|
M.W. |
2009 - 4 Years, Continued Representation |
Lindsey Davis |
|
D.J. |
2007 - 6 Years, Continued Representation |
Samuel Lockner |
If we missed anyone who graduated from high school in 2013, please send us their names and we will post them in the next newsletter.
Volunteer Corner
Practice Point: A Practical Guide to the Indian Child Welfare Act
According to the Minnesota Department of Human Services 2012 Report on Child Welfare, American Indian children were placed in out-of-home care more than any other ethnic group, and at a rate 14 times that of white children.[1] Because American Indian youth are dramatically overrepresented in the foster care system it is important for CLC volunteer attorneys to understand the basics of the Indian Child Welfare Act (hereinafter “ICWA”).[2] Armed with basic knowledge of ICWA and the assistance of CLC, volunteer attorneys ensure that their clients with Indian heritage are assessed for ICWA eligibility and potential tribal enrollment and that procedures are followed and rights are upheld when ICWA applies.
ICWA provides procedures that state courts must follow if an Indian child comes before them in a foster care, parental termination, or adoption proceeding. ICWA increases opportunities for tribal involvement, and requires the court and local social service agency to consider social and cultural issues relevant to the case. The Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act (hereinafter “MIFPA”)[3] and its amendments strengthen and expand ICWA and the 2007 Amended Minnesota Tribal State Agreement (hereinafter “Tribal State Agreement”) represents the development of a comprehensive working relationship between all eleven Minnesota tribes and the Minnesota Department of Human Services for the delivery of child welfare services.[4]
This practice point will trace the basic protections ICWA provides through the stages of a child protection matter. These protections include: notice, jurisdiction provisions, transfers to tribal court, qualified expert witnesses, and active efforts. This information will provide CLC volunteers with background knowledge about ICWA and a place to start if assigned an ICWA case.[5] Read MORE
Data Tracking Requirements
The state of Minnesota’s Legal Services Advisory Committee, which is a major funder for CLC, has developed new grantee outcome measures. All grantees will be required to collect specific data as of January 1, 2014. This means that we will need all volunteer attorneys to complete short case closing forms on a regular basis, not only to comply with the LSAC requirements, but also to track information accurately so that we can grasp and communicate the stories of the kids we work with, and ultimately allow us to serve more youth.
Volunteer Spotlight
Special Thanks to Erin Sindberg Porter
CLC is pleased to honor Erin Sindberg Porter from Greene Espel P.L.L.P. as CLC’s Volunteer Attorney of the Month for her outstanding commitment to her CLC clients.
Erin has volunteered with CLC since 2010 and in that time has represented four child clients. Erin is always available for her clients. For example, Erin represented two clients whose father’s parental rights were terminated and their mother’s custodial rights were transferred to a relative. Upon the transfer of custody to their relative, the court’s jurisdiction ended and the case closed. Erin had such a strong connection to her clients that a few years later when their placement with their relative fell apart and they were without housing, they immediately called Erin for help.
Despite a looming trial and pending dispositive motions, Erin took the time to meet with her clients, speak with all the relevant participants and prepare the necessary juvenile court pleadings to bring the matter back to court for a hearing to modify custody and return the clients to their mother’s care. Also during this time of uncertainty for her clients, Erin ensured that her clients’ education was not disrupted by a change in their schools. As a result of Erin’s motion on behalf of her clients, the court and parties agreed that her clients should return to their mother’s care.
In another case, Erin ensured that her client was fully informed of the court proceedings and permitted to participate either in-person or by phone. Erin also realized that, possibly due to the trauma her client had experienced, her client was easily angered and would then lash out at others during long rides to and from the client’s residential placement. To help her client remain calm during these rides, Erin would provide her with magazines to read and eventually was able to secure an Ipod for her client to use to tune out others. These items helped her client stay calm on the trips and demonstrated the high level of Erin's commitment to her client.
For all that she has done for her CLC clients, we are extremely grateful to have Erin as a CLC volunteer attorney. MANY THANKS ERIN!
Upcoming Training Session
Interested in becoming a volunteer attorney for CLC? Attend our Representing Youth in Foster Care training on December 11th at the offices of Merchant & Gould in Minneapolis. Click HERE to register, and HERE for the volunteer attorney application. Email Sara at info@clcmn.org for more information or to be notified of future training dates. Please forward this information to anyone who may be interested.
Welcome to our New Team Members
JENNIFER (JENNY) HARDING - DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Jenny comes from Excelsior Bay Group where she consulted with a variety of nonprofit clients on fund development and grantseeking strategies. She has extensive experience in grant writing, program development and cultivating donor relationships. She passionately supports CLC's mission and is particularly excited to gain a holistic understanding of CLC and ensure that funding goals are sustainable and strategic. During her free time, if she isn't baking cupcakes, she is most likely reading.
SARA LARISON - OFFICE MANAGER
Sara was the office services site lead at Barnes & Thornburg where she managed the operations and personnel of the Office Services department, and assisted the marketing coordinator with projects including event planning and coordination of marketing collateral. During her free time Sara enjoys spending time outdoors at her family's cabin.
MELISSA REMICK - PARALEGAL
Melissa come from the Minnesota Zoo Foundation where she was primarily responsible for Board Governance, AZUL - the Zoo's young professional board, and assisting the Foundation's Executive Director and Zoo's Director/CEO with various projects related to fund-raising and public awareness about world-wide conservation. She has extensive experience in both the family law and non-profit arenas. Melissa spends a lot of time with friends and family. Whenever possible, she and her family head out the her parents' farm in Ellsworth, Wisconsin. Melissa has a 5-year old son, Kolton, who keeps her very busy. Melissa and her family also provide foster care to dogs in need of shelter through the Wags and Whiskers Animal Rescue of Minnesota.
Please join us in welcoming Jenny, Sara and Melissa to CLC!
|
|
|
|
Get Involved! Learn how you can help HERE.
Whether you are an individual or part of a business or organization, you can help Children’s Law Center of Minnesota help foster children.
|
|
Give to the Max Day is Nov. 14th 2013!!
Mark your calendar for Give to the Max Day! Give to CLC on Nov. 14th and help us win the $1000, or $1000 Golden Ticket drawings!
|
|
|
|
|
