Children's Commission Conversations

Texas Children's Commission

The Conversations podcast features informal discussions with experts focused on key topics in child welfare. Each episode offers education and practice tips designed to inform and support judges, attorneys, and others who serve Texas children, youth, and families experiencing the child welfare system. While episodes are geared towards judicial and legal audiences, they are available to anyone who may be interested.

Episodes

  1. 10/24/2025

    S1E7: Bonus Episode: Role of the DFPS Clinical Coordinator

    What does a DFPS Clinical Coordinator do? Tune in to learn from Amy Clynes, Division Administrator for Wraparound Services for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. This conversation will cover “the why, the how, the what, and the where” of the Clinical Coordinator and their impact on a child welfare case.

    18 min

  2. 09/25/2025

    S1E6: Visitation Best Practices

    When planning for visitation in child welfare cases, what best practices can maximize this important family time? Please tune in for a conversation with Ali Vasquez of Serene Counseling and Wellness in Pearland for suggestions on how attorneys can prepare their clients for successful visitations and how visitation can facilitate reunification and positive permanency outcomes.

    31 min

  3. 09/25/2025

    S1E5: Mental Health First Aid in the Courtroom

    What is Mental Health First Aid and how can judges and attorneys use it to create a safer and supportive courtroom environment? This episode covers techniques, practice tips, and information about how to get additional training. Learn from Hon. Roxanne Nelson, Justice of the Peace – Precinct 1, Burnet County in this conversation about how to incorporate MHFA in ways that benefit all courtroom participants. *Please note, this episode contains a brief discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please call or text the National Suicide Hotline at 988.

    30 min

  4. 05/14/2025

    S1E3: Preserving Sibling Connections in Child Welfare Cases

    In this conversation, Professor Diane Sumoski discusses the positive impact of keeping siblings connected at all stages of a case and related best practices for Attorneys ad Litem.

    31 min

  5. 05/14/2025

    S1E2: Pre-Petition Advocacy in Child Welfare Cases

    Attorney Cindy Dyar joins us for a conversation about the impact of pre-petition advocacy on the parent client and on the family, and shares practice tips for parent attorneys taking pre-petition cases.

    33 min

  6. 05/14/2025

    S1E1: Introduction to the Children's Commission

    In this inaugural episode of Children's Commission Conversations, Executive Director Jamie Bernstein introduces the work of the Children's Commission and highlights available resources.

    9 min
  • 6 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

The Conversations podcast features informal discussions with experts focused on key topics in child welfare. Each episode offers education and practice tips designed to inform and support judges, attorneys, and others who serve Texas children, youth, and families experiencing the child welfare system. While episodes are geared towards judicial and legal audiences, they are available to anyone who may be interested.

Information