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• 2025 Solutions Summit

  • When
    09/08/2025
  •  
    8:00 AM - 3:30 PM
  • Location
    Four Points by Sheraton Convention Center, 2301 N MacArthur Dr, Alexandria, LA 71303
  • Spaces left
    58

  Register

  

  Statewide Collaborative Initiative!

  Full Agenda Listed Below!

  Registration Deadline: Friday, August 29th

  Monday, September 8, 2025 in Alexandria, LA

  Four Points by Sheraton Convention Center

  2301 N MacArthur Dr, Alexandria, LA 71303
  

  
  

  Approved 5.5 hours CLE and SW CEU (general)

  
  

  To combat escalating rates of Louisiana students being absent from the classroom, we will be inviting educators, judges, social workers, and community members to join our efforts. The goal is to collaborate on effective strategies that address root causes and enhance student engagement. 

  
  

  Identified stakeholders will receive an emailed invitation to register. Receiving the invitation does not register you - please complete the full registration at this time. Space is limited and we anticipate filling up the available spots quickly.

  
  

  Join key state leaders, educators, child welfare professionals, justice system stakeholders, school resource officers and community advocates for a collaborative summit focused on addressing and reducing truancy in Louisiana. 

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Hosted by:

  Louisiana Supreme Court (LASC) - FINS AP

  Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE)

  Louisiana Children's Cabinet (LCC)

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Opportunities for Sponsors and Exhibitors:

  Contact Susan Shaffette at susan@teamdyn.com for additional information.

  
  

  Registration questions? Contact Team Dynamics for assistance at 985-624-3514

  
  

  OVERNIGHT STAY?  Book at the group rate

  You will find the information for your online reservation link below. If you have questions or need help with the link, please do not hesitate to ask. We appreciate your business and look forward to a successful event.

  Solutions Summit (Truancy Conference)  The conference is one day only. Additional days are for if travelers need them only.

  • Room block rates start: Sunday, September 07, 2025
  • Room block rates end : Tuesday, September 09, 2025

  Hotel(s) offering your special group rate:

  • Four Points by Sheraton Alexandria for 112.00 USD per night - Last Day to Book : Sunday, August 24, 2025 Book your group rate for Supreme Court - Truancy Conference
  • Holiday Inn Downtown Alexandria - $107 USD per night. Last date to book: August 31, 2025. Book your room for the Summit using this link or call 318-541-8333 and providing the block code: FIN.

  Additional hotel links will be added as received.

  
  

  EXHIBITOR INFORMATION

  
  

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• CIP Cafe' - September 18, 2025

  • When
    09/18/2025
  •  
    12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
  • Location
    Online
  • Spaces left
    308
  • Registered
    142 registrants

  Register

      

  GATHER. LEARN. COLLABORATE.

  ^____       Hosted by the Court Improvement Program of the Louisiana Supreme Court       ^____

  THE CHILD IN A CHILD IN NEED OF CARE (CINC) CASE: A PARTY TO THE RIGHT TO BE SAFE

  Thursday, September 18 | 12:00pm-1:30pm

  Approved 1.5 HOUR CEU - Approved CLE 1.5 HOURS

  Download a flyer for sharing!

  Children are parties in Louisiana Child in Need of Care (CINC) cases and have a right to be safe. They shall be present at hearings unless an exception applies. If the child is 12 years of age or older, the Louisiana Children’s Code requires that they be present in court unless their presence is waived by the court upon motion of the child’s attorney. If the child is below the age of 12 years, the Code requires them to be in court upon request of the child’s attorney or the court.

  Court is intimidating for most individuals, and the stakes could not be higher for parents and children in CINC cases. Many children come into court with a history of trauma. Regardless of the trajectory of the case, children may benefit from having their voice heard. It is critical for the judge to consider information provided by children and convey to them that their testimony is being given due consideration in the court’s ruling. Positive engagement is critical to successful outcomes in each case.

  In 2024, the legislature created an “Advice of Rights for Children” in the Louisiana Children’s Code. Set forth in Article 625.1, the Advice of Rights requires judges to advise children who are ten years of age and older that they are a party to the proceedings and of their rights, such as the right to have notice of and attend all hearings.

  With an eye towards supporting children going to court and their attorneys being prepared, two Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) forms have recently been created: The Instanter Affidavit Cover Sheet will be provided in advance of the Continued Custody and Continued Safety Plan Hearings to try to ensure that children’s attorneys receive contact information for their clients so that they may adequately prepare. The Foster Care Notification Form will be sent to the court, attorneys, and CASA when the child is first placed in a care setting other than their home or there is a care setting change, trial home placement, or the child will be traveling out of the state or country.

  Our speakers this month include a former foster youth, a child’s attorney, and a judge. Ja’Nika Stanley will speak about her experiences as a youth in court. Kirby Casciato will unpack Louisiana law about the rights of children to be in court. Judge Gail Grover will discuss how to engage children in court.

  *Note that this Café will be for 1.5 hours instead of 1 hour.

  Speakers:

  • Kirby Casciato, JD, CWLS*, Southeast Louisiana Legal Services
  • Judge Gail Grover, East Baton Rouge Juvenile Court
  • Ja’Nika Stanley, Extended Foster Care Youth (Current)

  Agenda:

  12:00 – 12:25pm        Experiences of a former foster youth

  12:25 – 12:50pm        Children’s right to be in court

  12:50 – 1:15pm          Engaging children in court

  1:15 – 1:30pm            Questions and discussion

  Objectives:

  • Hear from a former foster youth about her experience in court.
  • Understand that children are parties and, thus, have a right to be in court.
  • Recognize that the child’s input is an added value to the process and decisions.

  This training is free and is designed for all who want to learn more about the child welfare systems and processes.

  
  

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• VOA SE La Taking Action Against Abuse: Healthy Relationships Workshop

  • When
    10/10/2025
  •  
    10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    OLOL Community Impact Center 2041 Silverside Drive Baton Rouge LA
  • Spaces left
    2
  • Registered
    18 registrants

  Register

  VOA SE Louisiana

  Taking Action Against Abuse:

  Healthy Relationships Workshop

  10 am to 12 pm at

  OLOL Community Impact Center

  2041 Silverside Drive

  Baton Rouge LA

  Healthy vs Unhealthy Relationships:

  What's the difference?

  
  

  Team Dynamics, LLC is collaborating with the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council to offer the Taking Action Against Abuse in an interactive workshop. This workshop is designed to equip individuals with IDD, caregivers, families, and community partners with the knowledge and skills to recognize, prevent, and respond to abuse and neglect.

  Healthy and Unhealthy Relationships—What’s the Difference?

  Many people with disabilities struggle with discussing the topic of relationships, intimacy, sexuality, and safety. Healthy Relationships Matter for everyone and if you a person with an intellectual or developmental disability you need information about keeping yourself safe and having safe, healthy relationships. This information will help you make decisions about relationships and about what to do if you think your relationship is not healthy. 

  Learn whether you have healthy relationships.

  Understand the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships.

  Learn what to do if your relationship is not healthy.

  Join us to be part of the solution—because awareness leads to action, and action leads to change.

  
  

  About the speakers:

  Sharon Delvisco, DSW, has over 30 years of experience supporting, educating, and providing technical assistance to people with disabilities to live and work in the community, their families, their service providers.  She has received the Mentorship Award, the Humanitarian Award, and the Education Award from the American Association of Intellectual Disabilities Louisiana Chapter.  She also received the Professional Advocate Award from the Advocacy Center in Louisiana. She has served on FPHSA Regional Advisory Committee and State OCDD Advisory Committee.  Sharon is the parent of a young man that has IDD. She has lived experience as a person with long-term, persistent, chronic mental illness. Sharon is also a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.

  Dr. Rebecca Mandal-Blasio is the Clinical Director in Louisiana for Autism Spectrum Therapies and is a BCBA-D. She leads a team of BCBA Supervisors and Behavior Interventionists serving families in and around the New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and the Florida Parishes areas. A Louisiana native, Dr. Mandal-Blasio received her Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi and completed her pre-doctoral internship at the Kennedy Krieger Institute of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine as part of the Neurobehavioral Outpatient Unit and Pervasive Developmental Disorders Clinic. She also completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill's Center for Development and Learning where she studied mental health issues in people with developmental disabilities across the lifespan.

  Download Flyer to share!

  
  

  This workshop is an in-person training event. It is not virtual. 

  There is no cost to attend.

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• Transition to Adulthood DD Council Workshops - Preparing for Work & Waivers

  • When
    10/17/2025
  •  
    10:00 AM - 2:30 PM
  • Location
    SOAR - 21 Industrial Pkwy, Building A Ponchatoula, LA 70454
  • Spaces left
    35

  Registration is closed

  Transition to Adulthood DD Council Workshops - Preparing for Work & Waivers
  

  
  

  Download the flyer here.

  You can choose to attend one or both sessions! Both sessions  are in-person training events. It is not virtual. When you register, check off the session(s) you wish to attend.

  There is no cost to attend.

  Questions? Email sharon@teamdyn.com 

  Show details
• Together We Can Conference

  • Start
    10/27/2025
  • End
    10/29/2025
  • Location
    Cajundome, Lafayette, Louisiana

  
  

  REGISTER NOW!!! Early Bird Rates Through August 15th

  Register Now Click HERE
  

  
  

  More information: www.latwc.org

  Coordinated by Team Dynamics.

  Questions? 985-624-3514

  Show details
• 2025 Child in Need of Care Trial Skills Building Training

  • Start
    12/05/2025
  •  
  • End
    12/08/2025
  •  
  • Schedule
    2 sessions
  • Location
    Baton Rouge, Louisiana
  • Spaces left
    22
  • Registered
    13 registrants

  Register

  CINC TRIAL SKILLS BUILDING TRAINING

  FOR LOUISIANA ATTORNEYS

  SIGN UP NOW - LIMITED TO 40 PARTICIPANTS!

  You are required to attend both days of this training.

  Download flyer and share widely!

  

  

  The Louisiana Court Improvement Program and the Pelican Center for Children and Families, in collaboration with the American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law, are pleased to offer a specialized Trial Skills Building training for attorneys in Child in Need of Care cases. The training is designed to support and enhance trial skills for CINC attorneys. We welcome assistant district attorneys, Bureau of General Counsel, children’s attorneys, and parents’ attorneys of any experience level.

  The training delivers comprehensive information about the art of CINC courtroom advocacy. Topics include discovery, direct examination, cross-examination, expert witnesses, exhibits, objections, and closing argument. Participants will have the opportunity to practice direct and cross-examination skills and receive feedback from experienced Louisiana CINC attorney trainers.

  Earn up to 6 hours of in-person credits and 3 hours virtual.

  This course will satisfy the hours required to represent children in court!

  Sign up now to save your spot -

  limited to 45 legal professionals.

  
  

  Registration questions can be directed to:

  Team Dynamics at 985-624-3514.
  

  
  

  Show details
• TRAINERS 2025 Child in Need of Care Trial Skills Building Training

  • Start
    12/05/2025
  •  
  • End
    12/08/2025
  •  
  • Schedule
    2 sessions
  • Location
    Baton Rouge, Louisiana
  • Spaces left
    5
  • Registered
    14 registrants

  Register

  CINC TRIAL SKILLS BUILDING TRAINING

  FOR LOUISIANA ATTORNEYS

  THIS REGISTRATION PAGE IS FOR TRAINERS ONLY

  Download flyer and share widely!

  
  

  
  

  The Louisiana Court Improvement Program and the Pelican Center for Children and Families, in collaboration with the American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law, are pleased to offer a specialized Trial Skills Building training for attorneys in Child in Need of Care cases. The training is designed to support and enhance trial skills for CINC attorneys. We welcome assistant district attorneys, Bureau of General Counsel, children’s attorneys, and parents’ attorneys of any experience level.

  The training delivers comprehensive information about the art of CINC courtroom advocacy. Topics include discovery, direct examination, cross-examination, expert witnesses, exhibits, objections, and closing argument. Participants will have the opportunity to practice direct and cross-examination skills and receive feedback from experienced Louisiana CINC attorney trainers.

  Earn up to 6 hours of in-person credits and 3 hours virtual.

  This course will satisfy the hours required to represent children in court!

  Sign up now to save your spot -

  limited to 45 legal professionals.

  
  

  Registration questions can be directed to:

  Team Dynamics at 985-624-3514.
  

  
  

  Show details
• Closing the Year with Integrity - Ethics and Professionalim in Practice

  • When
    12/15/2025
  •  
    10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
  • Location
    Baton Rouge, Louisiana
  • Spaces left
    150

  Register

  CLOSING THE YEAR WITH INTEGRITY

  Professionalism and Ethics in Practice: Advocating for Clients with Diminished Capacity

  
  

  December 15, 2025 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

  In law school, you learned the principle of talem qualem—“take your victim as you find them.” Known as the “eggshell skull” rule, this doctrine holds defendants fully accountable for harm, even when the plaintiff has pre-existing vulnerabilities.

  But have you ever considered that, as an attorney, you also “take your clients as you find them”?

  The Rules of Professional Conduct make it clear: when representing a client with diminished capacity, you are ethically obligated—so far as reasonably possible—to maintain a standard attorney-client relationship. But what exactly constitutes diminished capacity? What professional and ethical responsibilities come into play when your client’s decision-making ability is impaired?

  This engaging seminar will explore the answers to these critical questions. Join our experienced presenter(s) a discussion designed for attorneys seeking to navigate these complex scenarios with confidence, the program offers practical guidance and a deeper understanding of the rules that govern your role. Strengthen your ethical foundation while enhancing your capacity to advocate with professionalism and integrity.

  Speaker:

  • Rodney Hastings, J.D., State of Louisiana Mental Health Advocacy Service – Child Advocacy Program

  Agenda:

  10am        Ethical Considerations in Representing Clients with Diminished

                     Capacity

  11:30am   Common Challenges and How to Address Them with

                      Professionalism

  Objectives:

  • Recognize concerns and challenges to ethical and professional representation when representing clients with diminished capacity.
  • Identify ways to ethically and professionally address concerns and challenges to representing clients with diminished capacity.  

  

  Earn up to 2 hours of in-person credits (presumptive approval).

  Sign up now to save your spot -

  
  

  Registration questions can be directed to:

  Team Dynamics at 985-624-3514.
  

  
  

  Show details
• Louisiana WIC Conference

  • Start
    01/12/2026
  • End
    01/14/2026
  • Location
    Harbor Center, Slidell, LA

  
  

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