2011 Adoption Policy Conference

Friday, March 4, 2011
New York Law School
185 West Broadway in Tribeca
New York City

The Eighth Annual Adoption Law and Policy Conference

The Federal Government and Adoption: How International Law and Domestic Policies Are Transforming Adoption

Schedule of Events

8:30 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.
Check-in for pre-registered guests
Continental breakfast will be available in the 2nd Floor Event Center.

9:15 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Welcome

• Diane B. Kunz, Executive Director, The Center for Adoption Policy
• Keynote Speaker: Ambassador Susan S. Jacobs, Special Advisor for Children’s Issues, Bureau of Consular Affairs, U.S. Department of State

9:45 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
Panel I: Congressional Responses to Adoption Issues
Attendees at this panel are eligible for 1 CLE credit in professional practice

• Moderator: Dr. Cassie Statuto Bevan, Field Center for Children's Research, Practice and Policy, University of Pennsylvania
• Kathleen Strottman, Executive Director, The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute [PowerPoint]
• Marci McCoy-Roth, Senior Director of Public Policy and Communications, Child Trends [PowerPoint]

10:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
Panel II: International Child Welfare, the U.S. Government and Adoption
Attendees at this panel are eligible for 2 CLE credits in professional practice

• Moderator: Joan Heifetz Hollinger, Professor, University of California School of Law
• Alison E. Dilworth, Chief, Adoptions Division for Office of Children’s Issues, U.S. Department of State
• Susan L. Bissell, Associate Director, Programmes Division, Chief, Child Protection Section, UNICEF
• Irene A. Steffas, Senior Attorney, Steffas Law Group 

12:45 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Lunch and Keynote Speaker: “The Crisis in International Adoption”
Lunch will be available in the 2nd Floor Event Center

• Craig Juntunen, Founder, Both Ends Burning Campaign, Inc.

2:00 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Panel III: What Happens Adoptions Run Aground: Discussions and Representation
Attendees at this panel are eligible for 2 CLE credit in professional practice

• Moderator: Kathryn Bradley, Professor of the Practice of Law, Duke University School of Law
• J. Wally Bird, Deputy Chief, International Operations Division, Refugee, Asylum and International Operations Directorate, US Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security [PowerPoint]
• Karen S. Law, The Law Offices of Karen S. Law, PLC
• Kelly T. Ensslin, Attorney, Smith Moore Leatherwood; Adoptive Parent, Vietnam

3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Panel IV: Immigration and Adoption Law: the Haiti Crisis, SIJ and other Immigration Questions
Attendees at this panel are eligible for 1 CLE credit in professional practice

• Moderator: Lindsay Curcio, Adjunct Professor and Co-Director, Safe Passage Immigration Project, Justice Action Center at New York Law School
• Elaine M. Kelley, PhD., MSW, Associate Director for Child Welfare, Office of the Director, DHHS/ACF/Office of Refugee Resettlement [PowerPoint]
• Maria-Alana Recine, Court Attorney Referee, Westchester County Family Court

4:45 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.
Epilogue: The Haitian Children: Who Are They, How Are They?

• Heather Burke, Lead, Domestic Program, Immigrant, Refugee, and Migrant Health Branch, Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [PowerPoint]

5:15 p.m.-6:15p.m.
Audience Discussion

Reception to follow

Continuing Legal Education

This CLE program has been approved for both transitional and non-transitional attorneys for a maximum of 6 continuing legal education credits in professional practice.

New York Law School offers financial assistance to attorneys who wish to attend CLE courses but who find it difficult to attend due to cost considerations. For more information, please visit the Law School's continuing legal education tuition assistance page.

Click here to download a PDF of the conference supplement.