NYSBA

The ABCs of Adoption: What Family Law Pract. Need To Know

Friday, November 16, 2012

- Location -
State Bar Center
One Elk Street
Albany, NY 12207
(518) 463-3200

ABCs of Adoption brochure

9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

7.5 MCLE Credits: 6.5 Professional Practice; 1.0 Ethics

This program has been developed to provide Family Law practitioners with specific detailed information regarding particular aspects of law which impact both adoption and child welfare cases. The information will assist attorneys in better representing their clients, especially where such cases intersect.

This program is appropriate also for caseworkers and social workers who wish to learn more about adoption practices.

Program Agenda       

8:30 - 9:00 a.m. Registration                                                                        

9:00 – 10:15 a.m.    International Adoptions                                 

  1. General Requirements
  2. Processing BCIS approvals for Hague countries and Non-Hague countries
  3. Humanitarian parole issues
  4. Re-adoption in the U.S.
  5. Outgoing adoptions

10:15 – 10:40 a.m.  ICPC – Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children. The ICPC is a contract among member states and U.S. territories authorizing them to work together to ensure that children who are placed across state lines for foster care or adoption receive adequate protection and support services.

  1. What is ICPC?
  2. How does it apply to adoptions and foster care?
  3. Complying with ICPC – what is required in NY?
  4. Consequences for failure to comply

10:40 – 10:55 a.m.  Refreshment Break

10:55 – 11:20 a.m.  Home Study – Home studies are required for nearly all adoptions.

  1. Statutory requirements, issues considered
  2. Who can perform a home study?
  3. When and how is it completed?
  4. Preparing your client for a home study

11:20 a.m. -12:20 p.m.   ICWA – The Indian Child Welfare Act. The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), which was adopted by Congress in 1978, applies to child custody and adoption proceedings in state courts involving “Indian” children – children of Native American ancestry or Alaskan ancestry. In certain situations, the tribe may overrule parental preferences.

  1. Overview of ICWA
  2. When does it apply?
  3. Exceptions
  4. Recent case law developments

12:20 – 1:20 p.m.   Lunch (on your own)

1:20 – 2:10 p.m.     Post Adoption Contact Agreements/Open Adoptions – Many adoptions are “open”. Since 2005 the agreements between birth parents and adoptive parents may be enforceable.

  1. Statutory requirements
  2. Recent case law
  3. Negotiation
  4. Practical consideration

2:10 – 3:00 p.m.     Subsidies – Many adoptive children are eligible for State and Federally sponsored subsidies to encourage placement of children in permanent homes.

  1. Source of subsidies
  2. Types of subsidies
  3. Application and approval process
  4. Appeals for denials
  5. Impact of disruption of adoption

3:00 – 3:10 p.m.                            Refreshment Break

3:10 – 4:00               ARTS/Surrogacy – Assisted Reproductive Technologies. Legal representation includes working with traditional surrogates, gestational carriers, and intended parents, and drafting agreements to protect a client’s rights in this complex and developing area of practice.

  1. Current law
  2. Recent developments
  3. Medical issues
  4. Upcoming legislation

4:00 – 4:50                  Ethics – case studies of ethical dilemmas encountered in adoption cases

4:50 – 5:00      Questions

5:00 p.m.         Adjournment

Program Faculty

Program Chair:

Anne Reynolds Copps
       Law Office of Anne Reynolds Copps
       Albany, New York

Local Panels

New York City

Jaron Ben-Shalom, Director of Adoptions, New York City Administration for Children’s Services, New York, New York * Laurie E. Braun, Principal, Laurie E. Braun Attorney At Law, New York, New York * Melissa B. Brisman, Principal, Melissa B. Brisman, Esq., LLC, Montvale, New Jersey * Kathy Brodsky, Director, Ametz Adoption Program, Jewish Child Care Association, New York, New York * Barry Chaffkin, CEO and Co-Founder, Fostering Change for Children, Rocky Point, New York * Gregory Franklin, Partner, Ashcraft Franklin Young & Peters, LLP, Rochester, New York * Laurie Goldheim, Principal, Law Offices of Laurie B. Goldheim, Nanuet, New York * Michael S. Goldstein, Principal, Law Office of Michael S. Goldstein, Rye Brook, New York * Ray Kimmelman, Director of Legal Compliance, City of New York, Administration for Children's Services (ACS), Division of Family Court Legal Services (FCLS), New York, New York * Rebecca Mendel, Partner, Rosin Steinhagen Mendel, New York, New York * Benjamin J. Rosin, Partner, Rosin Steinhagen Mendel, New York, New York * Denise Seidelman, Partner, Rumbold and Seidelman, Bronxville, New York * Dawn Smith-Pliner, Founder and Director, Friends in Adoption, Middletown Springs, Vermont.

Albany

Kate Kaufman Burns, Executive Director, Adoption Resources & Counseling Center, Inc., Clifton Park, New York * Anne Reynolds Copps, Principal, Law Office of Anne Reynolds Copps, Albany, New York * Kathleen "Casey" Copps DiPaola, Law Office of Anne Reynolds Copps, Albany, New York * Michael S. Goldstein, Principal, Law Office of Michael S. Goldstein, Rye Brook, New York * James J. Green, Attorney, Albany County Department of Children, Youth, and Families, Albany, New York * Brendan C. O’Shea, Partner, Gleason Dunn Walsh & O'Shea, Albany, New York * Laurie Coreno Reynolds, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Clifton Park, New York * Nina Rumbold, Partner, Rumbold and Seidelman, Bronxville, New York * John E. Stupp, Assistant Deputy Council, New York State Office of Children & Family Service, Rensselaer, New York.

New this Year: All program materials will be distributed exclusively online in searchable PDF format, allowing attendees more flexibility in storing this information and allowing you to copy and paste relevant portions of the materials for specific use in your practice.  A CLE NotePad © (paper) will be provided to all attendees at the live program site.  The CLE NotePad © includes lined pages for taking notes on each topic, as well as any PowerPoint presentations submitted prior to printing. Traditional printed course books can be ordered at the program site for the discounted price of $20.00 and will be shipped subsequent to the program date.

Directions

(FROM NORTH: 87 South to I-90 East (toward Boston), then 787 South to downtown Albany (Clinton Ave exit). Turn left at first light (Broadway), right at State Street and right at Lodge Street. Park at Crowne Plaza Hotel Parking Garage and walk up Pine Street. Turn right onto Eagle Street and continue to corner of Elk and Eagle Streets. State Bar Center is directly across the street.FROM SOUTH: NYS Exit 23 to 787. Exit Rt. 9 North and Rt 20 West, bear right. Turn left at light, right onto Broadway, left onto State Street and right at Lodge Street, where you may park at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Parking Garage. Follow walking directions above.FROM WEST: NYS Thruway Exit 24 to I-90 East (toward Boston). Take 787 South to downtown Albany (Clinton Avenue exit) and follow parking/walking directions above.FROM EAST: I-90 West to 787 South to downtown Albany (Clinton Avenue) and follow parking/walking directions above)

The last day to pre-register online was November 15, 2012.

Members, please login to get member discounts.

Pricing Information for Member
Seminar
0
ALB-Registration $165.00
Webcast Registration $165.00
 

Pricing Information for Non Member
Seminar
0
ALB-Registration $265.00
Webcast Registration $265.00
 

Pricing Information for Student Member
Seminar
0
ALB-Registration $60.00
Webcast Registration $60.00
 

Accommodations for Persons with Disabilities:
NYSBA welcomes participation by individuals with disabilities. NYSBA is committed to complying with all applicable laws that prohibit discrimination against individuals on the basis of disability in the full and equal enjoyment of its goods, services, programs, activities, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations. To request auxiliary aids or services or if you have any questions regarding accessibility, please contact Cindy O'Brien at 800-582-2452 or cobrien@nysba.org.