New Mexico Family Advocacy Program
NMFAP ECHO Interactive Training Series
NMFAP ECHO® OVERVIEW
NMFAP ECHO is a knowledge-sharing platform for judges, court staff, parent and children’s attorneys, social workers, child welfare agencies, community service providers, educators, and parents and families.
The platform builds from the experience of the New Mexico Family Advocacy Program, which provides parents in child welfare cases an interdisciplinary team of lawyers, social workers, and parent mentors so that families are given the proper advocacy and support for reunification or other preferred outcomes.
The goal of NMFAP ECHO is to create a virtual community of child welfare system practitioners dedicated to improving the well-being of New Mexico’s children and families.
NMFAP ECHO sessions are typically held once per month on the second or third Tuesday from noon to 1:15 p.m. Sessions provide didactic presentations given by subject matter experts followed by Q&A and discussion. These are open to everyone. Continuing Legal Education (CLE) and Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credits are offered on some sessions and are indicated below in the training schedule.
Subscribe to our Listserv to receive up-to-date information and invitations to our 2021 trainings.
If you would like to offer a suggestion for a session topic or have an issue/case for discussion, please fill out this form and email it to: echonmfap@gmail.com.
All other questions or comments can also be sent to: echonmfap@gmail.com.
Supporting Complex Clients
2021 TRAINING SCHEDULE
Tuesday Sessions |
NMFAP ECHO PRESENTATION TITLES & PRESENTERS |
| #36 February 16 |
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) & Developmental Disabilities (DD) Waiver: Issues for Respondents Presenter: Peter Cubra, J.D., co-founder Advocacy, Inc. & John Bishop, Action Disability Representatives |
| #37 March 16 |
Mental Health Experts in Child Welfare Presenter: Susan Burns, LCSW, Clinical Social Work Consultant, NMFAP & John Duran, J.D. |
| #38 April 13 |
Use of Visitation Hosts & Alternatives to Supervised Visits Presenter: Cantrell Mosley, Sandoval County Office Manager, CYFD |
| #39 May 11 |
The State of Child Welfare in New Mexico: Legislative Updates Presenter: Representative Gail Chasey |
| #40 June 15 |
Accessing Housing Opportunities in Albuquerque Presenter: Brian Eagan, Attorney, City of Albuquerque Housing Authority |
| #41 July 13 |
Making the Most of the First 60 Days Presenters: Leslie Jones, JD, CWLS, Lead NMFAP Attorney and Jill Cohen, LCSW, Director of Programs for the Colorado Office of Respondent Parents’ Counsel |
| #42 August 10 |
Basic ICWA and Quality Representation Presenters: Brian Ray, ICWA Court Attorney (RA/GAL/YA), and Bette Fleishman, Director of Pegasus and ICWA Court Attorney (GAL/YA) |
| #43 September 14 |
From Foster Parents to Resource Parents Presenter: TBD |
| #44 October 12 |
Out of Court Advocacy for Building Individualized Treatment Plans Presenter: TBD |
| #45 November 9 |
Supporting Complex Clients Presenter: TBD |
| #46 December 14 |
NMFAP Year 2 Reflection and Celebration! |
| The schedule will continue to be updated as soon as future topics and presenters are confirmed. |
2020 TRAINING SCHEDULE
Tuesday Sessions |
NMFAP ECHO PRESENTATION TITLES & PRESENTERS |
| #16 Feb. 4 |
Group Case/Issue Processing: Advocacy for ‘Difficult’ Clients *Private Training only open to NMFAP Practitioners |
| #17 Feb. 18 |
Appropriate Language for Child Welfare Cases Presenter: Wendy Linebrink-Allison, MSW, MBA, NCPSS, Program Manager, New Mexico Crisis and Access Line |
| #18 March 3 |
Group Issue/Case Processing: Related Domestic Relations and Child Support Cases *Private Training only open to NMFAP Practitioners |
| #19 March 17 |
CYFD Program Improvement Plan (PIP) Updates Presenters: Angela Baca, CYFD Quality Assurance Manager & Sarah Meadows, CYFD Research, Assessment and Data Bureau Chief |
| #20 April 7 |
Group Case/Issue Processing: COVID-19 Response & Working Together *Private Training only open to NMFAP Practitioners |
| #21 April 21 |
In and Out of Court Advocacy for Less Restrictive Visitation from Day One Presenter: Esteli Juarez, Respondent/GaL/Youth and NMFAP Attorney in the 2nd & 13th JDCs |
| #22 May 5 |
Group Case/Issue Processing: Advocacy for Relative Foster Placement *Private training only open to NMFAP Practitioners |
| #23 May 19 |
Cultural Competency in Child Welfare Cases Presenter: Amy Whitfield, Special Projects Coordinator, CYFD |
| #24 June 2 |
Group Case/Issue Processing: Advocating for Permanent Guardianship *Private training only open to NMFAP Practitioners |
| #25 June 16 |
Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children: Application to Child Welfare and Beyond Presenter(s): Elizabeth Hamilton, LCSW, Deputy Director, Behavioral Health Services, CYFD & Diana P. Trujillo, LISW, LCSW, Behavioral Health Therapist, Albuquerque Girls Reintegration Center (AGRC) |
| #26 July 7 |
Group Case/Issue Processing: Assisting Non-Offending Parents *Private training only open to NMFAP Practitioners |
| #27 July 21 |
Understanding the Fostering Connections Act Presenter(s): Hilari Lipton, Director of Transition Aged Youth, Farra Fong, Office of Transition-Aged Youth & Kelly O’Neill, Supervising Appellate Attorney, CYFD |
| #28 Aug. 4 |
ICWA Courts and Cultural Competency Facilitated discussion with Special Master Catherine Begaye, 2nd Judicial District Court |
| #29 Aug. 18 |
Psychotropic Medications in Child Welfare Cases Presenter: Dr. George Davis, Supervising Child Psychiatrist, University of New Mexico Family Medicine Clinics |
| #30 Sept. 1 |
Group Case/Issue Processing: How are we doing? Semi-annual Program Assessment & Review *Private training only open to NMFAP Practitioners |
| #31 Sept. 15 |
Invoking the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in Child Welfare Cases Presenter: Laurel Nesbitt, Staff Attorney, Disability Rights New Mexico |
| #32 Oct. 6 |
Group Case/Issue Processing: The ABA’s Interdisciplinary Parent Representation Webinar Re-broadcast *Private training only open to NMFAP Practitioners |
| #33 Oct. 20 |
Introduction to CYFD’s Safety Assessment Tool Presenter: Ashley Williams, CYFD Albuquerque Metro Region Office #4, County Office Manager |
| #34 Nov. 17 |
Advocating for Medically Assisted Treatments for Substance Use Disorders Presenter(s): George Davis, M.D. & Andy Hsi, M.D. |
| #35 Dec. 8 |
Group Case/Issue Processing: NMFAP Practice Guide Review *Private training only open to NMFAP Practitioners |
