The Role of Foster/Resource Parents in Dependency Hearings

Licensed non-relative family placements are crucial for the well-being of children in dependency cases and are integral to achieving permanency for families. In this webinar, we will delve into:

• Assessment of foster parent support for established case permanency goals;
• Effective strategies for court presentation and consideration of foster parent involvement in achieving permanency; and
• Advocacy surrounding the varying levels of foster parent involvement in dependency proceedings.

Presenter

Shannon Felder, JD, CWLS, NACC Training Director

Shannon Felder joined NACC in February of 2024. Shannon works to ensure legal professionals have the resources they need to provide high-quality representation of children, parents, and agencies, and manages NACC’s training department. Shannon previously served as a Managing Attorney for the South Carolina Department of Social Services for ten years. In this role Shannon collaborated with child welfare stakeholders, ensured high-quality legal presentations in abuse and neglect actions, provided case consultations to social work team members in complex cases, provided timely, frequent, and responsive training and supervised over 40 legal professionals. Shannon is also a member of the South Carolina Bar Children’s Law Committee and the South Carolina Black Lawyer’s Association.

Shannon became involved in the child welfare legal system serving as a volunteer Guardian ad Litem for CASA while in law school. After a judicial clerkship, Shannon 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 Guardian ad Litem program in South Carolina. After fourteen years in litigation, Shannon joined the South Carolina Department of Social Services.

Shannon earned her law degree 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. Shannon is certified by NACC as a Child Welfare Law Specialist. She is currently licensed to practice law in South Carolina.