Child welfare proceedings present attorneys with a set of challenges and concerns that differ from those seen in other more familiar areas of the law. However, the Louisiana Rules of Professional Conduct and other standards still apply.
Thailund Porter-Green and Rodney Hastings are seasoned attorneys who have served in a variety of positions in the child welfare practice. Join them for an engaging discussion around a few unique challenges they’ve navigated, with authority from the Louisiana Rules of Professional Conduct. In short, you and fellow attendees will be asked “What Would You Do?”
Speakers:
Rodney B. Hastings is a dedicated attorney with the Mental Health Advocacy Service, Child Advocacy Program, where he represents foster children in East Baton Rouge Parish’s Child-in-Need-of-Care proceedings. Since 2011, Rodney has focused on child welfare, serving foster children across multiple jurisdictions and previously supervising attorneys for the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services. Holding degrees from Southeastern Louisiana University and Loyola University College of Law – New Orleans, he has been a certified Child Welfare Law Specialist since 2015. Before this, Rodney spent twelve years with the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board. He also shares his expertise as a trainer for the Pelican Center for Children and Families and as a speaker on child welfare, ethics, professionalism, and computer forensics throughout Louisiana.
Thailund Porter-Green, Esq., a Los Angeles native, has dedicated the past 25 years to public service in Louisiana with the Mental Health Advocacy Service – Child Advocacy Program. A graduate of Southern University and A & M College and Southern University Law Center, Ms. Porter-Green’s extensive career includes representing Children in Need of Care, serving as a Public Defender, and working as an Assistant District Attorney prosecuting various cases, including those involving child abuse and neglect. She has also contributed to the Pelican Center for Children and Families and the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services. Holding certifications in areas such as poverty reduction and coaching, and trained in “Dare to Lead,” she is currently advancing her knowledge in Lean Six Sigma and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Beyond her professional achievements, Ms. Porter-Green proudly celebrates over 30 years of marriage and raising her family.
Objectives:
- Identify common concerns and challenges to ethical representation in child welfare proceedings.
- Discover best practices to address concerns and challenges to ethical representation in child welfare proceedings.
- Develop practice strategies to help remediate these common concerns and challenges to ethical representation in child welfare proceedings.
