2015
Conference on Child Welfare and the Courts to examine effects of childhood trauma
Madison, Wisconsin - September 28, 2015
The conference will include participants from 58 counties, nine tribes, the Wisconsin Supreme Court, state legislature, and multiple state agencies.
"The Wisconsin court system is committed to achieving the best outcomes possible for children who come through our courts. Significant research has shown that understanding a child’s trauma history is invaluable in structuring court responses to events that bring children before our courts," said Supreme Court Chief Justice Patience Drake Roggensack.
"The conference provides an inter-disciplinary approach to healing injuries children suffer because of violence and/or neglect, and how healing is necessary if we are truly to assist children in the courts," Roggensack said.
This year’s conference focuses not only on the physical and psychological impacts of trauma, but also the cumulative effects that trauma may have on families and childhood development.
Presenters at the conference include judges who have begun to structure their responses to the children who come before them and experts who have studied the effects of neglect and abuse on life-long behaviors.
During the conference, participants will meet as part of a multi-disciplinary county or tribal team to develop action plans to respond to children and families involved in the child welfare and court systems.
The conference, which is filled to capacity, is organized by the Children's Court Improvement Program of the Director of State Courts Office and the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, with assistance from several partner organizations. Co-chairs of the conference include Judge Mary Triggiano, Milwaukee County Circuit Court, who presides over the county’s Children’s Court and Ron Rogers, Kenosha County Division of Children and Family Services director.
Bridget Bauman
Children's Court Improvement Program
(608) 267-1958