Testifying in Court for Non-Lawyers. M. Anthony Flores, Professor, Thomas M. Cooley Law School

Thursday, May 24 at 9:00 AM EDT – Register

The morning portion of this full-day training will feature tips on creative case planning and how to tailor services to address deficits identified in the federal CFSR. The afternoon portion will help caseworkers develop and expand their courtroom presentations and ability to testify. It will focus on the roles and responsibilities of adoption, foster care, and protective services workers as they relate to court proceedings. The training will cover the importance of being prepared, as well as how preparedness improves courtroom performance. Attendees will learn about the various court hearings that occur during the life of a child welfare case. Finally, the presenter will discuss in specific detail the do’s and don’ts of testifying in court– from courtroom demeanor to the more substantive elements of effective testimony. The session also will include mock trial practice opportunities.

Target Audience: Child Protective Services and Foster Care caseworkers for the Michigan Department of Human Services, tribes, and private agencies.