Attorney conference calls provide up-to-date information on topics related to legal advocacy. These trainings are conducted by both Program staff and experts from outside the Florida Guardian ad Litem Program. Each hour long presentation has been approved for CLE credit (CLE Credit is good for 18 months from the Conference Date). Below you will find audio files of these conference calls as well as practice aids and materials provided by the lecturer. If you are an attorney and would like to receive CLE credit for listening to the audio file below, please visit the Florida Bar website and submit the course number provided to receive CLE credit.

We have also included Video Trainings which are also available for CLE credit.  CLE is available 18 months from the presentation date.

Conference Title: Medicaid, Nancy Wright, Attorney, Law Office of Nancy E. Wright.  In practice since 1980,  Nancy Wright’s legal practice is focused on rights of individuals receiving Medicaid and Medicaid Waiver services, with emphasis on clients with developmental disabilities or  complex medical conditions.  In this training Nancy Wright explains the benefits available to children with disabilities.  From waivers and services; transitioning youth to permanency;  to challenging Medicaid denials, Attorney Wright explains them all.  

Conference Date: September 25, 2015
CLE Course Number: 1507813N (3.5 Advanced);  Certification Credits:  Juvenile (3.5);  Marital and Family (3.5)

Videos:  Applied Behavioral Analysis for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Medicaid Behavioral Services for Children Challenging Medicaid Denials Medicaid EPSDT for Children: What services can they get? Medicaid Managed Care for Children Medicaid or Medicaid Waiver? Benefits for Children with Developmental Disabilities Transition to Permanency Documents: Medicaid Resources Medicaid Managed Care for Children Outline Medicaid or Medicaid Waiver Outline Medicaid EPSDT Outline Medicaid Behavioral Services for Children Outline Medicaid & Permanency Outline Children with DD Benefits Outline Challenging Medicaid Denials Outline Applied Behavioral Services for Children Outline

Conference Title: Playing with a Full Deck: Motion to Compel

Conference Date: October 16, 2015
CLE Course Number:

Audio: Playing with a Full Deck:  Motions to Compel (2 minute download for Cable/DSL) Documents: Appellate Protocol (2015) Playing with a Full Deck – Motions to Compel PPT

Conference Title: Bridging the Gap for Transitioning Youth with Developmental Disabilities: From Foster Care to Adulthood, Presented by Bethanie Barber, Esq., Program Director, Edward Dimayuga, Esq., Public Benefits Attorney, and Ericka Garcia, Esq., Developmental Disabilities Attorney  Legal Aid Society of the O.C.B.A., Inc.  In this training you will learn about Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment program (EPSDT) versus Waiver; Securing Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) Services for Transitioning Youth;  Social Security Administration and Master Trust Accounts (MTAs); and Effective Transition Planning (Court, Medical, and Educational).
Conference Date: April 13th, 2015
CLE Course Number: 1502536N (6.0 Hours Available 4.30.2015 – 10.30.2016)

Videos:    Introduction   Public Benefits   Master Trust Accounts   Bridging the Gap for Transitioning Questions and Answers: Who is the contact at our local APD office if there is an issue related to a developmentally delayed youth no longer in foster care? How do I find out who the WSC or the General Revenue Case Manager is for my youth? If the youth needs to find a place to live, do I look for a place myself? How long does it take for a youth to move into a new placement through APD? What if the youth will not sign a release of information or is unable to sign a release of information? When do I find out what services the youth is entitled to receive through APD? When are the APD cost plans created? The WSC assigned to assist the youth does not return calls. What can I do? How long until I hear from the new WSC? What if I believe the youth is being abused or neglected in the group home? Documents: Guardianship or Guardian Advocate Training Manual 4.28.15 Bridging the Gap for Transitioning DD Youths Manual 04.30.15

Conference Title: Medicaid Issues for Dependent Children (Medicaid Waiver), Paolo Annino J.D., PhD, Glass Professor of Public Interest Law, Florida State University College of Law.    Medicaid waivers are an integral part of keeping people with disabilities in community settings rather than in institutions or nursing homes; these waivers also allow families of any income level to access a broad range of Medicaid benefits. With shrinking state budgets, Medicaid has emerged as an important funding source for residential services in the disability community. Through the Florida Developmental Disability Medicaid Waiver training, learn about developmental disabilities (DD) waivers, how to become eligible for the waiver, how to get off the 20,000-plus-person wait list, and how to receive DD waiver services.

Conference Date: September 25, 2015
CLE Course Number:   1607515N     Certification Credits: 3.0 Hours (Available until March 25, 2017)  3.0 General; 3.0 Health; 3.0 Juvenile

Videos: What is a Medicaid Developmental Disability Waiver? How does a Child or Adult become Eligible for the DD Waiver? How does a Child or Adult get off the 20,000-Plus-Person Wait List? How does a Child or Adult receive DD Waiver Services? Q&A Documents and Links: Medicaid Waiver Outline

Conference Title: Special Education, Paolo Annino J.D., PhD, Glass Professor of` Public Interest Law, Florida State University College of Law.   Do you want to better understand the rights of students with special needs to improve your representation? Special Education Law, presented by Prof. Paolo Annino, will strengthen your knowledge. Special Education Law is specially designed instruction that addresses the unique needs that result from a child with a disability. Learn about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Individual Education Programs (IEP), disciplinary procedures for children in special education programs, and the appeal process for state and federal laws applying to children with special needs.

Conference Date: September 25, 2015
CLE Course Number: 1507736N (Advanced);  Certification Credits:  Education Law 3.5; State and Federal Government and Administrative Practice (3.5)

Videos:  What is the Goal of the Individuals with Disabilities Act? Why do you Need Evaluations? What is an Individual Education Program? (IEP) How do you Advocate at an IEP Meeting? What are the Disciplinary Rules for Children in a Special Education Program? What is the Appeal Process for IDEA? What is Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973? What is a McKay Scholarship? Q&A Documents and Links: P. Annino Training on Special Education Outline (2)

Conference Title: Psychotropic Medications and our Foster Youth, Christine Meyer, Supervising Attorney, Guardian ad Litem Program.   “You can’t patch a wounded soul with a Band-Aid.” As advocates for children, the Guardian ad Litem Program is not looking for a temporary fix for a child’s emotional needs. Foster Care children are prescribed psychotropic medications at rates significantly higher than their same-aged peers. This training will provide attendees with an understanding and workable knowledge of the laws and policies that exist to protect and monitor the children and youth who are taking these powerful medications. 　

Conference Date: June 10, 2015
CLE Course Number: 1505316N (2.5 CLE – Intermediate);  Certification Credits:  Health Law (2.5)

Video:  Psychotropic Medications and our Foster Youth Documents and Links: Psychotropic Medications and our Foster Youth PPT Making Healthy Choices Psychotropic Medications Information Sheet

Conference Title: 2015 Florida Guardian ad Litem Disabilities Training Conference – Imagining the Future.  This year over 450 attorneys, judges and child welfare professionals attended the Second Annual Florida Guardian ad Litem Program Disabilities Training Conference.  The keynote speakers were inspiring, thought provoking and gave child welfare professionals in attendance tools to use in helping the children they work with every day.  The workshops were wide ranging with presenters sharing their expertise in areas such as guardianships, psychotropic medications, master trusts and educational advocacy.  Click here to link to over 30 videos (45 CLE credits) of the workshops and keynote speakers from this years conference. Along with the videos you will find PowerPoint presentations and helpful resources and practice aids.

Conference Date: May 21-22, 2015

Conference Title: Attorney Training on Legal Issues Involving Children with Disabilities: Guardianship or Guardian Advocate? Determining and Securing the Appropriate Support for Developmentally Disabled Youth.  Presented by The Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar.   Training topics include Securing a Developmental Disability Diagnosis and Successfully filing a Petition for Appointment of a both Guardian Advocates and Guardians.　

Conference Date: April 28, 2015
CLE Course Number: 1502452N (6.0 Hours)

Videos:  Introduction, Bethanie Barber, Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Regis Little Act – House Bill 437, Dennis Moore, General Counsel, Florida Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office Developmental Disabilities, Ericka Garcia, Developmental Disabilities Attorney, Legal Aid Society of the OCBA, Inc. Guardianship, David Yergey, Jr., Yergeu & Yergey, PA. Guardian Advocate, Ericka Garcia, Developmental Disabilities Attorney, Legal Aid Society of the OCBA, Inc. Communication Challenges, Legal Aid Society of the OCBA

Conference Title: Guardianship and Guardian Advocate Training for Attorneys,  Dade County Legal Aid and the Disabilities Independence Group present Guardianship and Guardian Advocate Training. Featuring a distinguished panel including the Honorable Maria M. Korvick.  The presentation includes identifying developmental disabilities, everything you need to know about plenary guardianship and guardian advocates, and how to interview children with disabilities.
Conference Date: May 6, 2015
CLE Course Number: 1502636N (3.0 Hours Available 5.6.2015 – 11.6.2016)

Video:  Guardianship and Guardian Advocate Training for Attorneys   Questions and Answers: 1.     Do I really NEED a guardianship for my child? 2.     Well, if my child needs a guardian or guardian advocate, I can wait until he or she turns 21, right? 3.     Does one always need to take the guardianship education course in order to become a guardian or guardian advocate? 4.     Does one need an attorney to file the paperwork with the court so one can become the guardian? 5.     What is the difference between a guardianship and a guardian advocate? 6.     Why does my child even need a Guardian Advocate? The child will still have a separate Guardian ad Litem guardian, right? 7.     Can one become the Guardian Advocate for a person with solely a mental health issue? 8.     Can one become a Guardian Advocate even if one lives out-of-state? 9.     Can a parent who had a child removed become the Guardian Advocate? 10.   Can one become the guardian advocate without an attorney?

Conference Title: Ethics
Conference Date: Wednesday, April 29, 2015
CLE Course Number: 1504148N

Audio: Ethics (2 minute download for Cable/DSL)

 <BACK