Continuing Legal Education

Defending the Family from CPS

 December 11, 2009

Camino Real

El Paso, Texas

6.0 MCLE Credit Hours

Texas Home School Coalition is an accredited sponsor, approved by the

State Bar of Texas Committee on MCLE.

Registration:

Responding to the urgent need for the legal defense and advocacy of families against false Child Protective Services (CPS) allegations, Texas Home School Coalition (THSC) has launched an effort to build a network of attorneys who are willing to help. THSC is therefore offering FREE registration in exchange for an agreement to handle one pro bono CPS case that is referred by THSC.

Printable Registration Form

Speakers:

Chris Branson is a solo-practice attorney who has fought Child Protective Services (CPS) in the trenches—and won. He has taken the experience gained in those battles and prepared a presentation designed to arm attorneys—and their clients—with the information they need to keep CPS away from their children.

Tim Lambert, president of Texas Home School Coalition, has headed the state support organization for home educators since 1990. He has testified on behalf of the family in court cases and before legislative committees numerous times. Mr. Lambert was appointed by Governor Perry to serve on the recently-formed Parental Advisory Committee, which advises Department of Family and Protective Services on policies affecting parents.

Johana Scot is co-founder and executive director of Parent Guidance Center (PGC) in Austin, Texas, an organization that helps parents with the child welfare system. After becoming a certified Court-Appointed Special Advocate, Scot realized that something was wrong with the system. During her first cases, she saw it was nearly impossible for parents to work their service plans. Parents were “forgotten stakeholders” and largely ignored. In 2004, Scot founded PGC to provide parents with education and resources.

Paul Stuckle, attorney at law, is a former Dallas police officer and former legal advisor and instructor for the Fort Worth Police Department. He was a municipal court judge for ten years and the assistant district attorney for Collin County for two years. Paul has now been in private practice for eighteen years and has dedicated a large part of his practice to the defense of families against false allegations, by CPS, of child sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse.

Agenda:

7:30 a.m.          Registration

8:00 a.m.          Welcome and Introduction

I. Legal Status of Home Schooling in Texas

Tim Lambert

President, Texas Home School Coalition

9:00 a.m.          II. How to Survive a CPS Investigation and Avoid Litigation

Chris Branson

Attorney at Law

10:00 a.m.         Break

10:15 a.m.        III. Fighting CPS When They Have the Children

Paul Stuckle

Attorney at Law

12:15 p.m.         Lunch on your own

1:30 p.m.          IV. Structure and Procedure of a CPS Case

Chris Branson

Attorney at Law

2:30 p.m.          V. Engaging Parents in Their Own CPS Cases

Johana Scot

Parent Guidance Center

3:30 p.m.          Adjourn

General Information:

Date:

Friday, December 11, 2009

Location:

Camino Real

101 South El Paso Street
El Paso, Texas 79901

Parking:

Parking is available for $2 as space lasts. After that, parking is $6.

For Additional Information:

Texas Home School Coalition

Phone: (806) 774-4441 • Fax: (806) 744-4446

eventplanner@thsc.org