Child Welfare 101: A Course for New Social Services Attorneys

This three-day course will address the laws and procedures applicable to juvenile abuse, neglect, and dependency cases. The course will include a basic overview of an A/N/D case and provide individual sessions that address drafting and filing A/N/D petitions; pre-adjudication issues including jurisdiction, discovery, paternity, ICWA, and GALs; adjudication; evidence at adjudication; dispositional hearings including the different types of hearings, evidentiary standards, dispositional alternatives, visitation, and reunification efforts; reasonable efforts; permanency planning; and an ethics session on working with DSS social workers, parent attorneys, and attorney advocates.

 

The course is designed for attorneys representing a county child welfare department with three or fewer years of experience in this subject area of the law. Although attorneys with more experience in child welfare law may apply, preference will be given to those attorneys with less than three years of experience in this practice area.

 

  • Chapel Hill, NC
    October 27 - 29, 2025
    Knapp-Sanders
    400 South Rd.
    Chapel Hill, NC 27514
    View Cancellation Policy
    Course participants who cancel their registration on or before October 19, 2025 will receive a full refund. No refund will be made for cancellations on or after October 20, 2025, but you will receive a transferrable credit to be used within 12 months. Click here to view the School’s full cancellation and refund policy.
    $475.00
    Registration and payment for this course grants access for a single attendee. In order to register a group of attendees, please register each person individually. If you have questions, please contact our registration office at registration@sog.unc.edu or 919.966.4414.
There are no materials avaliable for this course at this time.
For all registration questions, resetting passwords, or login issues please contact:

Dale Zuckert

Assistant Registrar
919.966.4414
For questions regarding course details, including location, schedule, materials, and continuing education credits, please contact:

Claire Miller

Program Associate, Law and Finance
Professor of Public Law and Government