Third Branch eNews

Judges and Commissioners from around Wisconsin participated in a training on child welfare practices in Madison from April 10-12, 2024. The Child Welfare Law Orientation is an annual conference organized by the Children's Court Improvement Program (CCIP) to educate judges and commissioners about child welfare law and prepare them to hear such cases from the bench. It is required once per term under Supreme Court Rule 32.04.

The conference faculty included Commissioner Kevin Costello of Waukesha County, Retired Judge Christopher Foley of Milwaukee County Circuit Court, Commissioner Anton Jamieson of Dane County, Judge Wendy Klicko of Sauk County Circuit Court, Judge Jason Rossell of Kenosha County Circuit Court, and Judge Todd Ziegler of Monroe County Circuit Court.

The attendees ranged from newly elected judges, retired judges, and judicial officers with no child welfare experience to those with more than 20 years of experience presiding over juvenile cases. The program offered something for everyone. "The presentation took you through the entire system," explained one participant.

The program offered comprehensive training, starting with Temporary Physical Custody (TPC) hearings and ending with presentations on case closure orders, termination of parental rights (TPR), and adoptions. The syllabus followed the full trajectory of a child welfare case.

The faculty also covered specialty topics such as the Wisconsin Indian Child Welfare Act, a Permanency Hearing role play, how to tailor dispositional orders, minor guardianships, working with youth, confidentiality, and case management. One highlight was a dynamic panel presentation from parents and caregivers who shared personal and sometimes unflattering information. One participant said, "Watching the panel present sincerely helped me understand how our power impacts those who appear before us."

Next year's Child Welfare Law Orientation will be held in northeast Wisconsin from April 9 to 11, 2025. The Wisconsin Children's Court Improvement Program will provide additional information.