1. 2015 Florida Guardian ad Litem Disabilities Conference
Survey Results

2. There were 436 people attending 31 workshops and keynote addresses over 2 days

3. “Best CLE program and speakers I have ever encountered in over 40 years. Each presentation was professional insightful and useful. No technical glitches. VERY professional, well planned and well executed. Kudos.”

4. Workshop Topic Selection

5. Topic Selection for 2015 Conference
To select our conference workshop topics we surveyed
Conference Advisors
Attendees of the 2014 Conference
Child Welfare Professionals from agencies across the state including Florida’s Children’s First – Training Consortium, Department of Children and Families, professors, independent attorneys and others involved in child welfare and disability law.

6. 2015 Florida GAL Disabilities Training Conference Survey Results

7. Survey - Overall Conference
The workshop topics presented were useful in my legal practice for dependent children with disabilities.
Agree %
Somewhat Agree %
Disagree %
N/A %
I was able to connect and network with peers from other agencies.
Agree %
Disagree %
N/A %

8. Survey - Overall Conference
I gained a better understanding of legal practice with regard to dependent children with disabilities.
Agree %
Somewhat Agree %
Disagree %
N/A %
I would recommend this conference to other child welfare professionals.
Agree %
Somewhat Agree %
Disagree %

9. Survey Results
Workshops - Comments

10. Survey Results: Workshop - Likes
I believe all the workshops that I attended were useful
I loved the interactive presentations
I loved the keynote speaker
I really enjoyed the session with the foster children which described their experiences. I think it was exceptional

11. Survey Results: Workshops – Likes
Small Groups
Wide Variety of Topics
Having Workshops Recorded and put on the GAL Website for CLE credits
The Mobile App – Online materials
Interactive Workshops - Brainstorming
Networking – knowing there were other attorneys in the state with the same struggles

12. Survey Results: Workshops
Room for Improvement
Action Item for 2016 Conference
Workshops should be open to all attendees
I would have more agency speakers
Indicate experience level
I personally prefer that no lecture be more than one hour without a break
I would like to have more intermediate or expert level workshops.
All workshops will be open to all attendees
GAL will reach out to ensure more Agencies are workshop presenters
GAL will ask that presenters submit experience level with their presentations
GAL will consider shorter “Ted-Talks” mixed into workshops
GAL will ask for intermediate and higher level workshop material

13. Survey Results
Facilities; Presentations; Organization; Other

14. Survey Results: Facilities; Presentations; Organization; Other
The location was excellent. Easy to get to.
The food was great. The venue was absolutely beautiful. I loved the portfolios and schedule in the lanyard.
The App was great Special thanks to Sean your Tech support at registration!
The hotel and food were great.
The set up of the conference was very organized, the food was excellent, I think it was a huge success.

15. Survey Results: Facilities
Room for Improvement
Action Item for 2016 Conference
I would change the timing of the conference. It is much better to start earlier on Thurs., or perhaps on Wed., and finish earlier on Fri. Also, it was a holiday weekend which made travel horrific.
Need better breakfast options.
Drink station at all sessions, not just at lunch breaks.
Conference in 2016 will be May 4-5 to avoid holiday will have Wednesday-Thursday conference days
GAL will review costs for breakfast options and drink stations for 2016 conference

16. Special Mention of Excellence
Presenters or Workshops that were singled out as excellent by those surveyed

17. Special Mention of Excellence
Supported Decision-Making: From Justice for Jenny to Justice for All
Jonathan Martinis – Keynote Speaker
Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!
David Lillesand – Keynote Speaker
Accessing Medicaid Services for Children with Disabilities: Who Offers What?
Nancy Wright, Attorney, Law Offices of Nancy E Wright
Mastering the Master Trust: Another Advocacy Tool in Your Toolbox
Jessica Rae, Attorney, Community Law Program
Advancing Self-Determination of Clients with Disabilities
Phoebe Ball, Legislative Affairs Specialist, National Council on Disability
Robyn Powell, Attorney Advisor, National Council on Disability
Psychotropic Medications: Prospective from Inside the System
Robert Latham- Supervising Attorney/Lecturer, University of Miami Children and Youth Law Clinic
Youth SHINE
Transition and Social Security Benefits for Students with Disabilities
Harold Bennett- Staff Attorney Disability Rights Florida
Felicia Jordan - Staff Attorney Disability Rights Florida
Pursuing Win-Win Outcomes in the School Setting: Educational Advocacy
Jonathan McIntire – Educational Consultant and Advocate
Kimberley Spire-Oh- Special Education Attorney, Law Office of Kimberley Spire-Oh, PA

18. Special Mention of Excellence
Educational Needs of Special Populations in Dependency
Melissa Duncan- Supervising Attorney, Educational Advocacy Project, Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach
Shahar Pasch- Supervising Attorney Educational Advocacy Project, Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach
Special Education Law for Students with Disabilities
Ann Siegel – Director of Advocacy, Education & Outreach, Disability Rights Florida
Qualifying a Witness as an Expert Using the Daubert Standard
Vanessa Cordero – Senior Child’s Best Interest Attorney, Statewide GAL Program, 20th Judicial Circuit
Laura Lawson – Appellate Counsel, Statewide Guardian ad Litem Program
Kids Rights/Lawyers Responsibilities
Jessica Rae – Attorney, community Law Program
Robin Rosenberg – Deputy Director, Florida’s Children First

19. “Sometimes the best information is just knowing who to call
“Sometimes the best information is just knowing who to call. Networking at this event is priceless.”

20. How will Attendees Apply Information
Survey Results

21. Survey Results: Applying Information
There are so many ideas and information that I will be able to use in all my cases.
I plan on making checklists from the information I learned
I will be more aware of the various decisions I make that impact children with disabilities.
I will contact some of the presenters for some more in-depth information that I can use for my practice.
I will know who to call

22. What Attendees Would like to See in the Future
Survey Results

23. Survey Results Future Conference
Special Needs Trusts
Observation of an expert interviewing a client and then help the client through their application for Social Security benefits, or through their IEP meeting.
Speakers who address other types of disabilities, such as blindness and hearing disabilities, and how their needs can be met within delinquency/foster care/schools
Guardianship, Education, Medicaid Managed Care, Medicaid Waiver and interacting with group homes, Social Security/Representative Payees/Transition, Special Education, Express v. Best Interest (a discussion about when each is appropriate and the differences between the two), and Vocational Rehabilitation/Transition.

24. 2016 Guardian ad Litem Disabilities Training Conference
Planning for 2016 Conference

25. Planning for 2016 Conference
Possible theme ADA 25 year anniversary
Timeframes – May 4-5, 2016 (Wednesday, Thursday)
Keep it small and intimate
Be sure to tell attendees if the workshop is beginner intermediate or advanced
Limit size of classes; perhaps think about shorter classes
Shorter - Ted Talks
Water and coffee available throughout the day. Water for presenters in rooms
Work on surveys for each workshop – more input equals better results. 25
Keep dedicated Mobile App/IT and Travel Desk
Topics
Survey of attendees; and set up separate survey of our attorneys, Training consortium, agencies, and approvals of workshops with regionals.
No specialized classes – everyone can attend all classes.
Keynote – ADA Attorney

26. Eagle Award 2012, Award Winner 2013, 2014, 2015
Prudential - Davis Productivity Awards
Public–Private Partnership Organization of the Year 2013
Miami Dade Minority Chamber
Angels in Adoption Award 2012
Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute