Some of the children I represent survive their trauma and abuse better than others.  A researcher at the University of Kansas received a $1.7 million grant to study why some children show exceptional resiliency.

Yo Jackson, associate professor of applied behavioral science and clinical child psychology, will share the five year grant with, among others, Jackson County Children’s Division of the Missouri Department of Social Services, the Midwest Foster Care and Adoption Association in Jackson County, and faculty at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

The Kansas Supreme Court ruled on Friday that Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) may be seized to pay child support.   In contrast, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) remains exempt from execution to pay child support.

Last night a group of mothers met with me at Advice & Aid Pregnancy Center.  For about an hour I responded to their legal questions regarding their struggles in raising their babies under challenging circumstances.

One mom told how her husband will be deported to Guatemala in the fall.  He will leave her with their toddler and an expected newborn.  Another recounted how she had been molested by a family member.  A young mom told how she had been raped at the age of 14.

We talked about restraining orders, child support, disability benefits, and custody.  The women impressed me with their courage, strength, and devotion to their children.  I felt privileged to serve them.

Kate’s Law would require health insurance to cover the diagnosis and treatment of Autism spectrum disorders.  Today, the Kansas House will vote on a motion to pull Kate’s law out of the House Insurance Committee and send it to the House floor for debate.

The motion needs 70 votes to pass.  If it passes, then a second motion will move the bill “above the line” where it can be debated and passed out of the House.

Learn how you can support this important legislation by checking the web site for the Kansas Coalition for Autism Legislation.

Students with ADHD who used medication improved their scores in both math and reading, according to a study published this week in Pediatrics.   The improvements were equivalent to about 0.19 grade levels in math and 0.29 grade levels in reading.

The report indicates that medication made less of a difference for students with an IEP (Individualized Education Program).  I wonder if this means that special education works, and may make medication less necessary.

Approximately 4.4 million (7.8%) children in the United States have been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and 56% of affected children take prescription medications to treat the disorder.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is strongly linked with low academic achievement.   This study suggests that children with ADHD may benefit academically from medication and special education.  You may request your school to conduct an educational evaluation to determine if your child qualifies for special education.

Today in Wyandotte County, Kansas, a juvenile judge will determine whether a 14 year old girl should be tried as an adult.  She was 13 when she allegedly tried to wrest control of a car from its 16 year old driver.  The driver was killed when his car veered out of control.

Trying children in adult court invites us to revisit why we have juvenile court in the first place.  Why shouldn’t all children be tried as adults?

Traditionally, juvenile courts have been justified by youths’ diminished moral culpability.  Adolescents have less experience than adults.  Recent science shows that their frontal lobes are not yet fully developed.  Frontal lobes are the part of the brain responsible for envisioning the future and making choices.

Most juvenile offenses are “growing up errors.”  Kids learn from their mistakes and move on.

In serious cases, diminished moral culpability seems less compelling.  I suggest that the true reason for juvenile court lies in the custody of the parents.  Children are not independent citizens.  They live in the custody of their parents.  If the act of a teen offender rises to a serious level, then the parents should lose custody.   Their child may then be tried– and punished– as an adult.

Foster children who participate in their court proceedings gain a sense of control and ownership.  They may  better understand the process.  The court gains valuable insight by engaging youth in solving their own problems.

Yesterday I attended a presentation in Lawrence, Kansas by the American Bar Association’s Center on Children and the Law .  Their Youth Empowerment Project tries to involve foster children more actively in their court proceedings.

Courts must consult with foster children according to the federal Child and Family Service Improvement Act of 2006.  In Kansas, foster children are recognized parties in their court proceedings.  Nonetheless, sometimes matters arise in court which could inappropriately disturb young children.

Children are required to attend their juvenile offender hearings.  In custody litigation, children usually do not attend their trials.  Instead, judges use other means to solicit the preferences of children, such as custody evaluations and CASA reports.  Some judges will interview children in private chambers with only the lawyers present.

Last Friday I rescued a child from foster care.  The child left the state with his grandparents.

The child’s mother was drunk when she tried to pick him up from his daycare.  The daycare refused to let her leave with her child.  Instead, they called the police.  The police arrested the mother and put the child into police protective custody.

Fortunately, I already had met the grandparents when they were visiting from their home on the West Coast.  As soon as we learned the child was lost to foster care, we started working furiously on a voluntary guardianship.  We had to act fast, before the state sought temporary custody.

I have to credit the prosecutor and the SRS social worker for working openly with me and trusting this family.  They agreed to release the child if I could obtain guardianship orders in less than a day.  I faced a stressful, rushed day, trying to obtain signatures from the mother in Kansas City, the grandmother on the West Coast and the grandfather on a business trip in Chicago.  I found a judge on Friday afternoon to sign temporary orders, and then delivered the orders to the prosecutor and the SRS all before 5 pm.

With a lot of hard work and cooperation from all participants, the plan worked.  By Friday evening, the grandfather picked up the child from foster care.  By Saturday morning, he left with his grandchild to return home.

The child was spared months in foster care.  He can live with his grandparents instead.  His mother now has the opportunity to work on her own rehabilitation while knowing that her child is safe and well cared for.   The state saved scarce resources to use for other children who really need foster care.  Everyone wins.

More families are calling me about bullying in schools.  The problem seems especially pertinent to children with special needs.

Last week I spoke with Randy Wiler, Director of the Kansas Bulllying Prevention Program.  Randy is a law enforcement officer and a national expert on bullying.  We are fortunate to benefit from his service to our children and community.

Any kid can tell you that recess is the best part of the day.  Now scientists agree.  A study in this month’s journal of Pediatrics found that providing young students with one or more recess of at least fifteen minutes in length was associated with better class behavior.

I have often represented children with attention deficit disorder.  Sometimes teachers “punish” children with ADD or ADHD by depriving their recess.

The new study would support an argument that fidgety children need even more recess, not less.  This research could be used by parents at IEP or 504 meetings.  For example, required recess could be written into a child’s behavior plan.