FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 22, 2005

CONTACT: Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119, lisa.lacher@drake.edu

DRAKE LAW SCHOOL TO HOST CONFERENCE ON CHILD WELFARE

Drake University will host a day-long conference on "Interdisciplinary Topics in Child Welfare: What Lawyers, Educators and Social Workers Should Know" on Wednesday, March 2, at the Neal and Bea Smith Law Center, 2400 University Ave. Continuing legal education (CLE) credit has been applied for.

"Lawyers, educators and social workers are key providers of services to children involved in the juvenile justice and child welfare systems," said Karnale Manuel, director of the Middleton Center for Children's Rights Clinic. "Members of each profession will share their expertise and provide practical information that can be applied to the attendees' work with children."

Topics to be covered include "The Effect of Public Policy on Education Policy and Juvenile Justice" and "Medication, Children's Behaviors and Diagnosis Needs."

Among the speakers will be W. Dean Eastman, a high school teacher who was named the 2004 Massachusetts History Teacher of the Year; Paul Cahill, administrative consultant for the Iowa Department of Education; Robert Hunter, professor of law at Drake Law School; Kathy Fejes, professor of education at Drake; Eric Johnson, assistant professor of education at Drake; and Lynda O'Meara, the Des Monies Public School liaison for the Iowa Department of Human Services.

The conference is sponsored by the Joan and Lyle Middleton Center for Children's Rights at the Drake Legal Clinic and co-sponsored by the Drake School of Education and the Iowa Department of Human Services. The Middleton center is a Fostering Results/Pew Charitable Trust partner.
The registration fee is $125. For registration and more information, visit www.middleton.drake.edu or contact Sara Bering at (515) 271-3851 or sara.bering@drake.edu.

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