Maine Summit For Grandfamilies
The Law, Kinship and Children
September 26, 2008
Jewett Hall Auditorium
University of Maine in Augusta
This year’s event will mark the third Maine Summit for Grandfamilies since 2004.
Each Summit has demonstrated how Maine professionals and relative caregivers
benefit from coming together
to share their experiences and expertise while developing plans to improve family supports in Maine.
The goals of this year’s Summit are to increase our understanding of current legal options for grandfamilies;
their experiences in Maine’s Courts; and next steps for system improvements in Maine.
Key Note Address By Gerard Wallace, Esq.
The Family’s Right To Raise The Children
Gerard Wallace, Esq., will speak about the lack of legal foundation for a family’s right to care for their children and how this impacts changes in state policies and laws. Recognizing the family’s integral right to stability and well being, he provides a framework to assess in what ways a specific legal relationship meets the needs of grandfamilies.
Mr. Wallace currently serves as director of The Grandparent Support Project of the Government Law Center at Albany Law School and is also the coordinator of the New York State Kinship Navigator Program, which provides information and referrals directly to grandfamilies. In addition to his work educating attorneys about grandfamilies, he also serves as a consultant with the Office of Children and Family Services for multiple offices in New York State.
Registration Click here for grandfamily registration forms
Click here for professional registration forms
The Maine Summit For Grandfamilies is open to everyone. There is a $25 registration fee for lawyers, guardian ad litems, social workers, policy makers and other professionals. Relative caregivers can attend for free, and limited mileage reimbursement will be available. Employees of sponsoring organizations can attend the summit free of charge.
Certificates of Participation will be available for all participants. Attorneys can receive 3.75 CLE hours. Guardian ad litems can receive 5.0 CEC hours. Social Workers can receive 5.0 CEUs.
For more information contact: Janelle Wuoristo, Maine Kids-Kin at jwuoristo@mainekids-kin.org or 941-2347
Schedule of Events
8:15 - 8:45 am
Registration Time to browse Resource Information tables
8:45 - 9:00 am
Welcome
by Barbara Kates, Director of Maine Kids-Kin
and Jennifer Crittenden, University of Maine Center on Aging
Opening Address
by Steven Rowe, Attorney General of Maine
9:00 - 10:15 am
Legal Relationships: What are Maine’s Current Options
When a Relative Wants to Step in to Care For a Child?
With Attorneys William H. Childs, Amy Faircloth, and Lise Wagner
This panel will discuss the range of legal options and procedures for relatives to gain
custody of children, including due process issues, building a probate guardianship case,
and DHHS placement of children with relatives.
10:30 - 11:30 am
Grandfamily Panel: What is working well in Maine? What needs to change?
With Relative Caregivers: Bette Hoxie, Lucy Trudeau,
Annette Sweeney and Leslie Sullivan
This panel will discuss their own experiences in the court system pursuing custody of child relatives. Including what worked, what was confusing or seemingly unfair, and what other resources or support would have been helpful.
11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Keynote Address by Gerard Wallace, Esq.
The Family’s Right to Raise The Children
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch on your own
1:45 - 3:15 pm
Panel of Lawyers, Judges & Legislators:
What is working well in Maine? What needs to change? What is our next step?
With Representative Emily A. Cain, The Honorable Susan Longley, Attorney Sara Meerse, The Honorable Robert E. Mullen, and Senator Richard W. Rosen
This panel will discuss the issues from their respective roles,
including, judges, legislators, and a child advocate.
3:15 - 3:30 pm
Closing remarks with Gerard Wallace
Sponsored By
Co-Sponsors
Adoptive and Foster Families Of Maine
Maine FACES
Friends
Kennebec Valley Community Action Program
Southern Maine Agency on Aging
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