Probate Court hosting child welfare law conference

VICTORY TWP. — The Mason County Probate Court is hosting a child welfare law conference and training at West Shore Community College on Friday August 1, 2014, starting at 8:30 a.m.  Participants will include judges, attorneys, prosecutors, court staff, Department of Human Services workers and supervisors, private agency workers and CASA volunteers.  The program will discuss child protective law and hearing procedures, DHS child welfare policy, federal funding issues, petition and report drafting and strategies for court testimony.

The training is a joint effort between Mason County Probate/Family Court Judge Jeffrey C. Nellis and the State Court Administrative Office, Child Welfare Services Division.  At last count, more than 90 individuals have registered for this event.

The conference target audience is jurists, parent attorneys, prosecutors and other professionals who work in child welfare in Benzie, Clare, Lake, Mason, Manistee, Mecosta, Newaygo, Oceana and Osceola counties.