HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. — Hofstra Law School is proud to host “Youth at Risk: Legal & Community Responses” on Friday, November 2, 2007. The conference will encourage improvements and coordination in the ways that legal, educational and social services systems respond to the problems of youth at risk. It will also promote awareness and better treatment of LGBT youth, who are a major percentage of the total at-risk population. The conference is being presented in conjunction with the American Bar Association’s Youth at Risk Commission, Family & Children’s Association, Jaspan Schlesinger Hoffman LLP, Pride for Youth, NYS Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children and the Opening Doors Project.
The conference will begin with a welcome address by New York State Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye entitled “Seizing the Opportunity to Make Good on Our Promises to At-Risk Youth.” Following her address will be two panels who will explore current responses to status offenses or persons in need of supervision (PINS) and discuss ways to improve the treatment of LGBT youth in foster care. Panelists include Kathleen R. DeCataldo, James J. Harnett, the Honorable Paula J. Hepner, Stephanie Hubelbank, Miriam Krinsky, Mimi Laver, the Honorable Richard S. Lawrence, Anya Mukarji-Connolly and Andy Peters.
In an effort to make youth themselves part of the discussion surrounding best practices and policy, Hofstra Law has invited youth to participate in the conference. During the luncheon there will be a panel of youth speaking about their experience with the PINS and / or foster care systems.
Confirmed conference participants include lawyers, mediators, social workers, judges, social service providers, teachers, and twenty students from Hempstead High School.
For more information, visit
law.hofstra.edu/YouthAtRisk.
