Fractured Justice— Navigating Child Welfare Cases in Illinois
Tracks
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| Saturday, November 2, 2024 |
| 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM |
| Redbird CD |
Overview
Michelle Weidner, Executive Director, Family Justice Resource Center and Tracey Harkins, Prusak and Harkins LLC
Details
Participants will engage in an in-depth exploration of strategies and best practices for family defense advocacy. This session will cover core principles of family defense work, foundational strategies, and insights into effective approaches tailored to public defenders. Attendees will also hear about the pioneering work of the Family Justice Resource Center in reuniting families and advancing fair practices within the system.
Speaker
Tracey Harkins
Prusak and Harkins LLC
Fractured Justice— Navigating Child Welfare Cases in Illinois
Biography
Tracey L. Harkins is the co-founder of Prusak and Harkins, LLC in Chicago. Tracey previously served as an attorney in the Family Defense Division with the Office of the Cook County Public Defender. Tracey practices criminal defense with an emphasis in major crimes litigation. Additionally, Tracey practices dependency law statewide and nationally with an emphasis in medically complex allegations and child welfare matters involving concurrent criminal investigations and charges. Tracey is the incoming president of the Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
Michelle Weidner
Executive Director
Family Justice Resource Center
Fractured Justice— Navigating Child Welfare Cases in Illinois
Biography
Michelle Weidner is a U.S. Air Force veteran and holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Northern Illinois University. In 2010, she and her husband faced a medically-based wrongful allegation of child abuse due to a radiological misinterpretation. This experience led her to co-found the Family Justice Resource Center, a nonprofit dedicated to assisting families and attorneys navigating medically-based wrongful allegations of child abuse. In 2022, she was recognized by the ABA Center on Children and the Law for her contributions to family reunification efforts.
