38th National Child Welfare Law Conference

August 25–27, 2015 in Monterey, CA

Opening Plenary: 100 Years/100 Tips: Great Moments Giving Rise to Great Tips

Frank P. Cervone, Executive Director, Support Center for Child Advocates

Tony DeMarco, Founder, Children’s Law Center of Massachusetts, Lynn MA and Clinical Instructor, Boston College School of Law

Robert L. Listenbee, Administrator, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington DC and former Chief, Juvenile Unit, Defender Association of Philadelphia

Shari Shink, Founder, Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center

Annual Luncheon Featuring Keynote Speake Xavier McElrath-Bey

When Xavier was 13 years old he was arrested, charged and later convicted to serve 25 years in prison for his involvement in a gang-related first degree murder. After 13 years in prison he came out with a remorseful heart, a bachelor degree in Social Science from Roosevelt University and a mission to advocate for poor, disadvantaged and at-risk youth. Today, Xavier is a Youth Justice Advocate with the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth. He speaks nationwide to heads of organizations, government officials, legislators, juvenile justice practitioners and other stakeholders about the importance of age-appropriate and trauma-informed alternatives to the extreme sentencing of America’s youth. He is a co-founder of the Incarcerated Children’s Advocacy Network (ICAN), a national network of formerly incarcerated youth who are committed to creating a fairer and humane justice system for all children.

Closing Plenary: Systemic Child Advocacy Roundup

Kendall Marlowe, Executive Director, NACC

Ira Lustbader, Litigation Director, Children’s Rights

Lourdes Rosado, Associate Director, Juvenile Law Center

Casey Trupin, Coordinating Attorney, Children and Youth Project, Columbia Legal Services

Leecia Welch, Senior Attorney, National Center for Youth Law

View the program from this conference as a PDF.