2009 Adoption Policy Conference

International Adoption, the United States, and the Reality of the Hague System

presented by The Center for Adoption Policy ,
The Child Advocacy Program of Harvard Law School , and
The Justice Action Center at New York Law School

Friday, March 6, 2009
New York Law School Wellington Conference Center

This conference will address all aspects of international adoption to and from the United States, one year after the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption became effective in the United States.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

8:30 a.m.
Check-in for pre-registered guests
Continental breakfast will be available in the conference center.

9:00 a.m. - 9:10 a.m.
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Diane B. Kunz, Executive Director, Center for Adoption Policy
Elizabeth Bartholet, Morris Wasserstein Professor of Law, Harvard Law School; Faculty Director, Child Advocacy Program

9:10 - 10:50 a.m.
Panel I: The United States as a Hague Member: What Are We Doing, What Do We Need To Do?

Moderator: Joan Hollinger, Lecturer in Residence, University of California Berkeley School of Law
William J. Bistransky, Chief of the Adoption Unit, Office of Children's Issues, U.S. Department of State
Anna Mary Coburn, Attorney-Advisor, U.S. Department of State
Richard Klarberg, President and CEO, Council on Accreditation
Miki Stebbing, Accrediting Entity Liaison Hague Adoption Unit, Office of Children's Issues, U.S. Department of State

11:00 - 12:15 p.m.
Panel II: The Hague: Impact on and Implications for Sending Countries

Moderator: Kathryn Webb Bradley, Senior Lecturing Fellow, Duke University School of Law
Cheryl Appell, Canadian Fellow, American Academy of Adoption Attorneys
Paolo Barrozzo, Lecturer, Harvard University; Visiting Assistant Professor, Boston College Law School
Susan LoBosco, MSW, Clinical Social Work Supervisor, MAPS

12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Lunch and Keynote Speaker: Human Rights and International Adoption
Ambassador Jerome J. Shestack, Former President, American Bar Association; Director, American Bar Association Human Rights Center; Senior Partner, WolfBlock

1:35 p.m. - 2:50 p.m.
Panel III: Ensuring the Future: A New Way Forward for International Adoption

Moderator and Speaker: Elizabeth Bartholet, Morris Wasserstein Professor of Law, Harvard Law School; Faculty Director, Child Advocacy Program
Dr. Jane Aronson, Founder and CEO, Worldwide Orphans Foundation
Thomas DiFilipo, President and CEO, Joint Council on International Children's Services
Kathleen Strottman, Executive Director, Congressional Coalition for Adoption Institute (CCAI)

3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Panel IV: Bringing Children Home: The USCIS's Role in International Adoption

Moderator: Lindsay Curcio, Adjunct Professor, New York Law School; Codirector, Safe Passage Immigration Project, Justice Action Center
Robert Gottfried, Partner, Hodgson Russ LLP
Denise Noel, District Adjudications Officer, New York City District Office, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
Andrea J. Quarantillo, District Director, New York City District Office, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Audience Discussion

REGISTRATION

There is no conference registration fee for people who attend without earning CLE credit. Please click here to register.

CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION

This CLE program has been approved for both transitional and non-transitional attorneys for a maximum of 5 continuing legal education credits in professional practice. The price of attendance with CLE credit is $99. Individuals attending for CLE credit can pay by credit card when registering online.

New York Law School offers financial assistance to attorneys who wish to attend CLE courses but who find it difficult to attend due to cost considerations. For more information, please visit the law school's continuing legal education tuition assistance page .

If you have any questions, please send an email to jac@nyls.edu .