The San Diego Superior Court will host a virtual town hall event on Thursday, April 13, 2023, the first in a series of Juvenile Court-focused public webinars. Juvenile Court proceedings have several confidentiality requirements, which can be perceived by members of the public as a lack of transparency about the court, its processes, and the role of partner agencies.

Juvenile dependency actions involve alleged abuse or neglect of a youth by a parent or caregiver while juvenile justice actions begin when a youth is charged with a crime. Juvenile collaborative courts focus on problem-solving with youth, their families and community partners.

The first town hall session seeks to answer some of the most common juvenile dependency/ child welfare questions, explain the goal of strengthening children and families with a focus on safety and stability, and provide clarity on how decisions are made within the guidelines of California law.

What is Juvenile Dependency Court?

Demystifying the Child Welfare Court Process

Thursday, April 13, 2023 - 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.

via Zoom

Juvenile Court Presiding Judge Ana Espana will moderate the panel and the virtual town hall will be facilitated by Juvenile Court Assistant Presiding Judge Tilisha Martin.

Panelists:

• Children’s Legal Services of San Diego, Inc.
  • Carolyn Griesemer, Executive Director
• Dependency Legal Services San Diego
  • Adam S. Reed, Managing Director
• San Diego County Health & Human Services Agency
  • Alfredo Guardado, Assistant Director of Child Welfare Services
  • Lisa Maldonado, Chief Deputy County Counsel
• San Diego Superior Court
  • Dependency Judge Marissa Bejarano
• Voices for Children, Inc.
  • Stephen Moore, Chief Program Officer

Members of the public are encouraged to submit questions anonymously prior to the town hall through an online survey. Questions received by April 6, 2023, will be addressed by the panel as much as possible. There will be an opportunity for town hall attendees to also submit questions during the event through the Q&A feature on Zoom.

Future town hall events will be scheduled later this year to include panelists with lived experiences in juvenile dependency court and discussion of changes to the child welfare system, particularly under the requirements of the Family First Prevention Services Act. In 2024, the court will host town halls focused on juvenile justice.

For more information on the San Diego Superior Court’s Juvenile Court, please visit sdcourt.ca.gov/Juvenile.