Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc will be offering the 2024 VOCA Grantee Mandatory Training virtually this year, during the week of May 6, 2024.  Ten webinars will be offered during the week of training, two per day. This will satisfy the 10-hour mandatory training that PCCD requires of VOCA grantees in Pennsylvania.

The intended audience for these trainings is legal services programs, domestic violence programs and sexual assault programs who have VOCA grants. Others in these communities without VOCA grants are also welcome to attend. These webinars will also offer CLE credit for participation.  Sessions will vary between 60 and 90 minutes.

YOU MUST REGISTER FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL SESSION TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE.  You will receive a confirmation email after you register for each session.  Please keep these emails as it will give you the information you will need to join the sessions.

Certificates of Participation for your personnel files will be sent out after all of the sessions have been completed.  

PERSONS WORKING UNDER A VOCA GRANT MUST COMPLETE THE TRAINING HOURS AND HAVE THE DOCUMENTATION IN THEIR PERSONNEL FILES.

2024 VOCA Grantee Training Schedule

Monday, May 6, 2024

Introduction to Trauma-Informed Advocacy 
   10:00 AM – 11:30 AM 

Presenter: Richard Prebil, Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania

PA CLE Credit: 1.0 substantive & 0.5 Ethics CLE credit

A trauma-informed approach to services acknowledges the prevalence and impact of trauma, while attempting to create safety for all participants. Through trauma-informed, client-centered advocacy we have the ability to help an individual be empowered to make their own choice, collaboratively with an advocate they trust. Furthermore, advocates can be aware of its impact on our own lives so that we can mitigate the effects of vicarious trauma and burnout.

Registration Link

Language Access in the PA Justice System and Beyond 
   1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Presenters:
Lerae Kroon, Justice at Work PA 
DeJonna Bates, Community Justice Project, 
Pretty Martinez, Justice At Work

PA CLE Credit:  1.0 substantive CLE credit

In this session, we will discuss how to protect your limited English proficient clients’ rights to language access when interacting with police departments, courts, DA offices, and other state, local and federal agencies.

Registration Link
 

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Crime Victim’s Compensation
   10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Presenter: Michael Reich, Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency

PA CLE Credit:  1.0 substantive CLE credit

In this training you will be provided with a basic overview of the Program (including eligibility criteria and available expenses), and information you need to assist someone in filing a claim.

Registration Link

A Change is Gonna Come! SB 55, Preventing Abuse in Child Custody Proceedings – Kayden’s Law
   1:00 PM –2:30 PM 

Presenter: Susan Pearlstein, Philadelphia Legal Assistance

PA CLE Credit:  1.5 substantive CLE credit

Kayden’s Law has passed and will soon be in effect. This session will analyze and dissect the changes to PA’s Custody Law, including the 16 factors, enumerated crimes, types of supervised partial physical custody, the ongoing risk of harm standard, the presumption  for supervised physical custody if risk of harm is found and other changes to the custody statute. Attend and be prepared for custody litigation in the near future!

Registration Link
 

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Impacts of Criminal Convictions and Pending Charges on Family Law Matters
   10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Presenter: Mary  Anne Batiz, Philadelphia Legal Assistance

PA CLE Credit:  1.0 substantive and 0.5 Ethics CLE Credit

This 90-minute training will detail the possible ramifications of both pending and final criminal convictions on Family Law cases. The specific family law subject areas covered will be Custody, Divorce, and Protection from Abuse cases. Additionally, the training will cover the proper way to withdraw your appearance in the different family law areas.

Registration Link

Representing Older Adults in Matters of Domestic and Sexual Violence
   1:00 PM – 2:30 PM

Presenter: Victoria Beard, MidPenn Legal Services

PA CLE Credit:  1.5 substantive CLE Credit

The presentation will cover the Protection From Abuse Act - 23 PaC.S. §6101 et seq as well as the Protection of Victims of Sexual Violence or Intimidation Act 42 Pa.C.S. §62A and how to best advocate for Older Adult Victims of Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence.  Domestic and Sexual Violence knows no age, especially for Older Adults.  Advocating and representing the Older Adult in matters of Domestic and Sexual Violence,  includes understanding the individual as a whole, the dynamics between the abuser and the Older Adult victim, and resources available for the Older Adult so that they can thrive away from abuse.  

This training will cover who are abusers, the special and unique needs of Older Adult victims, potential resources available unique to Older Adults, best practices when there are capacity and decision making ability concerns of the Older Adult - as well as the abuser, unique duties to the court and the client, and overall social networking and resources for the Older Adult Victim so that the legal action we assist with can help the victim to break free from what may have been a lifetime of abuse. 

Registration Link
 

Thursday, May 9, 2024

Victims’ Rights and Legal Standing-Understanding Act 77 of 2022
   10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Presenter: Danni Beinschoroth, Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence

PA CLE Credit:  1.0 substantive CLE credit

With passage of Act 77 of 2022, crime victims in Pennsylvania now have legal standing to enforce their rights in criminal court. Presenters will provide an overview of the legal rights that are available to a victim in criminal proceedings and how lawyers can seek to protect and enforce those rights. 

The training will discuss what to look for during the criminal justice process and basic trauma informed legal strategies when providing advice, representation, and/or referrals to victims.  The session will explore victims’ rights assertion though a holistic lens which seeks to avoid retraumatizing survivors of violence while ensuring that their rights are protected.

Registration Link

Addressing the Utility Needs of Survivors of Domestic Violence
   1:00 PM – 2:00 PM 

Presenters: 
Ria Pereira, Pennsylvania Utility Law Project and 
Giovanna Brackbill, Pennsylvania Utility Law Project

PA CLE Credit:  1.0 substantive CLE Credit

In this interactive session, participants will be provided information and tools to address a pervasive economic issue for survivors: utility debt. Participants will engage in a discussion about the unique difficulties survivors face in establishing and maintaining utility services. The discussion will then turn towards how participants can assist survivors to resolve utility issues and best practices for utility advocacy. 

Topics for discussion will include: recognizing the unique obstacles to survivors establishing and maintaining utility services; available legal protections and assistance programs to address utility affordability; how to understand and navigate the utility termination and reconnection processes; and special protections available to survivors and other vulnerable consumer who are facing utility unaffordability or termination of services.

Registration Link
 

Friday, May 10, 2024

Keeping the Jam in the Jar: Preserving your Client’s Issues
   10:00 AM – 11:00 AM  

Presenter: Laurie Baughman, MidPenn Legal Services

PA CLE Credit:  1.0 ethics CLE credit

Regardless of if you think your case will be appealed, every lawyer has an ethical obligation to ensure that all appropriate issues are raised and preserved for the client. Let’s explore best practices in family law cases using objections, offers of proof and other tools and what the Rules of Professional Conduct say about it all.

Registration Link

The Impact of Child Protection Investigations on Survivors and the Impact of Investigations on Custody Matters
   1:00 PM – 2:00 PM 

Presenters: 

Marissa Schwartz, Philadelphia Legal Assistance
Elizabeth Larin, Community Legal Services

PA CLE Credit:  1.0 substantive CLE Credit

Survivors are often pulled into child protection investigations, either due to reports of violence at home, or because the child protection system has been weaponized against them by their abusers. This session will review legal considerations to support your client through an investigation, including recent 4th amendment law, the impact of CYS-created safety plans, and how to bring information about the CPS case to custody court.

Registration Link