Rethinking Professionalism: Disrupting Norms that Silence, Exclude, and Maintain the Status Quo

Professionalism training is everywhere in child welfare law—but what are we actually training people to do? Too often, we train them to stay quiet when harm occurs, to maintain a polite tone when confronting injustice, and to defer to systems rather than challenge them. These norms don’t protect children or families; they protect power.

In this session, we argue that “professionalism” as currently defined often serves as a tool of oppression—one that filters out voices with lived experience, disciplines dissent, and conditions legal practitioners to avoid discomfort. But discomfort is necessary for change. We will lead a facilitated conversation that calls out these dynamics and invites participants to redefine professionalism as a practice rooted in courage, relationship, and equity. We’ll share real-world examples, invite honest reflection, and leave space for new visions to emerge. Because if we’re serious about transforming child welfare, we have to start with how we show up in the work—and who gets to speak.

Presenters:

Shannon Felder, JD, CWLS – Training Director, National Association of Counsel for Children

Shannon Felder joined NACC as Training Director in February 2024, helping to ensure legal professionals have the resources they need to provide high-quality representation of children, parents, and agencies. Shannon originally became involved in the child welfare legal system serving as a volunteer GAL for CASA while in law school. After a judicial clerkship, she entered private practice as a civil litigator focusing on personal injury, including nursing home abuse and neglect. While in private practice, she served as a contract attorney for the GAL program in South Carolina. After 14 years in litigation, she joined the South Carolina Department of Social Services where she was a Managing Attorney for 10 years before coming to NACC. She earned her JD from the University of South Carolina School of Law where she was a Carolina Legal Scholar, member of the South Carolina Law Review, and President of the Black Law Students Association. She is certified by NACC as a Child Welfare Law Specialist. She is licensed to practice law in South Carolina and is a member of the SC Bar Children’s Law Committee and the SC Black Lawyer’s Association.

Josephine Vanderhorst, JD, CWLS – Senior Staff Attorney, National Association of Counsel for Children

Josephine C. Vanderhorst, MFP, JD, CWLS, joined NACC in 2024, bringing eight years of dedicated experience in child welfare. A graduate of Tulane University Law School, Josephine contributes invaluable legal insights to her role. Holding a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Tuskegee University and a master’s degree in forensic psychology from Argosy University, she approaches advocacy with a holistic perspective. This multidisciplinary foundation enhances her ability to understand and address the complex needs of children and families within the child welfare system. Josephine’s journey began in 2015 at Southeast Louisiana Legal Services, where she started as one of the unit’s first Lutz Fellows. In 2020, Josephine became the Managing Attorney. During her tenure, she not only doubled the unit’s size but also created a transformative multidisciplinary program, hiring the first peer advocate at a children’s representation program in Louisiana and a social worker to provide comprehensive support.