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 (4.25), 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 (5.5) CME* (1.5), DN AAL (5.5), CASA Training (5.25), Ethics

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 Supporting Families with Substance Challenges- Paul Bowen, All Rise* (repeated for DR attorneys and 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 Trial Strategies and Skills
Ethics hour
5:30 Welcome Reception in Atrium for Attorneys and Judges
Thu
May 8th

Hours: CLE (6.5), CME* (5.0), DN AAL (6.5), DR AAL (6.5), Ethics Denoted

Time

DN

DR

8:00 – 9:00 Registration
9:00 – 10:15 Defining problematic sexual behavior plenary - Dr. Benjamin Sigel, UAMS
10:15 – 10:30 Break
10:30 – 12:00 Juvenile Appellate Update* Supporting Families with Substance Challenges- Paul Bowen, All Rise*
12:00 – 1:00 LUNCH (Provided)
1:00 – 2:15 From Advocacy to the Bench: Insights from Juvenile Judges with Attorney ad litem and Parent Counsel Experience
Ethics hour Domestic Relations AAL Panel Discussion
2:15 – 2:30 Break
2:30 – 3:45 Improving Outcomes for Families Who Have Experienced Trauma - Dr. Sufna John or Dr. Allison Smith, UAMS*
3:45 – 4:00 Break
4:00 – 5:15 Juvenile Legislative Update, Brooke Steen and Kurt Meredith* Lessons Learned, presented by Domestic Relations Judges*
Ethics hour
5:15 Reception in Atrium- Attorneys and Judges
Fri
May 9th

Hours: CLE (5.5), CME (5.5), DN AAL (1), DR AAL (5.5), Ethics Denoted

Time

Domestic Relations day

(DN credit for 9:00 session only)
8:00 – 9:00 Registration
9:00 – 10:00 Navigating the Uniform Child Custody and Jurisdiction Enforcement Act
10:00 – 10:15 Break
10:15 – 11:45 Domestic Relations and Probate Appellate Update
11:45 – 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 – 3:45 Child Support Update, Lori Howard
3:45 – 4:30 Domestic Relations and Probate Legislative Update, Laura Calhoun
4:30 ADJOURN