2025 Children in the Courts Conference

Children in the Courts 2025

Empowering Families, Uniting Courts: Collaborative Paths to Justice

Little Rock Embassy Suites
Complete your registration for the 2025 Children in the Courts Conference. Be sure to put your name and title as you want it to appear on your name badge.
Please note the conference format change which was adjusted to allow us to accommodate additional stakeholders and attorneys.
Tue
May 6th

Hours: CASA Training (4.00), CME* (1.25)

Time

CASA Staff

CASA Volunteers

12:00 – 1:00 Registration
1:00 – 2:15 Improving Outcomes for Families Who Have Experienced Trauma
Dr. Sufna John and Dr. Allison Smith, UAMS*
2:15 – 2:30 Break
2:30 – 3:30 Innovative Family Finding- CASA of the 5th Judicial Circuit Conversations with Child Welfare Leadership
Brooke Steen (AOC), Janet Bledsoe (AAL), Brian Welch (PC), Daniel Brightwell (OCC), DCFS Leadership
3:30 – 3:45 Break
3:45 – 4:45 Nonprofit 101
Jennie Stewart, Kutak Rock Voices of Impact
Elizabeth Alexander
4:45 – 5:30 Arkansas CASA Workgroups Volunteer Roundtable
5:30 CASA Reception in Atrium
Wed
May 7th

Hours: CLE (5.25) CME* (1.5), DN AAL (5.5), CASA Training (5.25), Ethics Denoted

Time

CASA

DN

8:00 – 9:00 Registration for CASA N/A
9:00 – 10:15 Defining Problematic Sexual Behavior
Dr. Benjamin Sigel, UAMS (will be repeated for attorneys and judges on 5/8) Registration for DN Attorneys and Judges
10:15 – 10:30 Break
10:30 – 12:00 Building Recovery Capital in Dependency Courts
Wendy Schiller, MPM, Project Director, All Rise (Ethics) (repeated for DR attorneys and DR judges on 5/8)
12:00 – 1:00 LUNCH (Provided)
1:00 – 2:15 Navigating Mental Health Services and Evaluations
Dr. Sufna John/Dr. Allison Smith, UAMS
2:15 – 2:30 Break
2:30 – 3:45 Indian Child Welfare Act
Sheldon Spotted Elk, Casey Foundation
3:45 – 4:00 Break
CASA Adjourns
4:00 – 5:30 From Advocacy to the Bench: Insights from Juvenile Judges with Attorney ad litem and Parent Counsel Experience
(Ethics)
5:30 Welcome Reception in Atrium for Attorneys and Judges
Thu
May 8th

Hours: CLE (6.75), CME* (__), DN AAL (6.75), DR AAL (6.75), Ethics Denoted

Time

DN

DR

8:00 – 9:00 Registration
9:00 – 10:15 Defining problematic sexual behavior plenary
Dr. Benjamin Sigel and Dr. Melissa Wright, UAMS
10:15 – 10:30 Break
10:30 – 12:00 DN Appellate Update
Leah Lanford, Janet Lawrence and Demarcus Tave Building Recovery Capital in Dependency Courts
Wendy Schiller, MPM, Project Director, All Rise (Ethics)
12:00 – 1:00 LUNCH (Provided)
1:00 – 2:30 Emerging Domestic Terrorism Threats: ONA and 764
FBI Special Agent Ashley Boxwell, FBI Special Agent Derek Copley and Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Crews
2:30 – 2:45 Break
2:45 – 4:00 Improving Outcomes for Families Who Have Experienced Trauma
Dr. Sufna John or Dr. Allison Smith, UAMS*
4:00 – 4:15 Break
4:15 – 4:45 Legislative Update
Brooke Steen, Laura Calhoun, and Kurt Meredith
4:45 – 5:30 UCCJEA- Nuances, Pitfalls, Distinctions and Mock Hearing
Judge Shannon Blatt, Brooke Steen, Laura Calhoun, Kurt Meredith
5:30 Reception in Atrium - Attorneys and Judges
Fri
May 9th

Hours: CLE (5.5), CME (__), DR AAL (5.5), Ethics Denoted

Time

Domestic Relations day

(DN credit for 9:00 session only)
8:00 – 9:00 Registration
9:00 – 10:15 Attorney Panel: Domestic Relations Updates and Perspectives
Lori Howard, Brooks Wiggins, Aimee Lockwood, Tiffany Nut
10:15 – 10:30 Break
10:30 – 12:00 From Advocacy to the Bench:
Insights from Judges with Domestic Relations Practical Experience
Ethics Hour
12:00 – 1:15 LUNCH (On your own)
1:15 – 2:30 Managing High Conflict Divorces with Children
Carrie Nickles, LPC
2:30 – 2:45 Break
2:45 – 4:15 Domestic Relations Appellate Update
Angela Mann, Mann and Kemp, PLLC
4:15 ADJOURN