
Hope is a transformative force to be cultivated, embraced, and shared. Research shows that hope predicts well-being and influences all aspects of our lives, from personal growth to public policy. Our collective embodiment of hope fuels our effort to actualize a system that embraces empathy, recognizes the importance of equity, and holds us accountable to protect and empower New Mexico’s children and families. Let us be inspired by the power of hope as our guiding light for the 31st Children’s Law Institute. Join us for an energizing and thought-provoking conference where we will learn from experts, engage in meaningful discussions, and connect with our peers to celebrate the work of stakeholders committed to creating an empathetic, equitable, and accountable System of Care. Illuminated by the conversations and insights shared in community, and wielding hope throughout a year of review and reform, together we will forge a path toward a brighter future.
Conference Agenda
CEU and CLE info coming soon
Register for CLI
Scroll down for details and fees
Be a CLI Sponsor
Scroll down for details
Child Welfare & Juvenile Justice Excellence Awards Nomination
Virtual Pre-Conference
Tuesday, January 9, 2024
8:30AM-5:00PM | Multiple workshops throughout the day with breaks and lunch in between |
In-Person Conference January 10-12, 2024
Wednesday
January 10, 2024
8:00AM | Registration Opens |
9:00-11:30AM | Pre-Conference (pending) |
1:00-2:45PM | Opening Keynote |
3:30-5:00PM | Workshops |
Thursday
January 11, 2024
8:30-9:45AM | Day 2 Keynote |
10:30AM-5:00PM | Workshops |
Friday
January 12, 2024
8:30-10:30AM | Workshops |
10:30AM-12:30PM | Closing Remarks/Excellence Awards/Children’s Art Contest, and Closing Keynote Address |
Meet Our Keynote Speakers

Frank Picone, LCSW
Frank joined the Center for Great Expectations with over 30 years of experience creating trauma-attuned environments in residential treatment programs, schools, and juvenile justive programs throughout New Jersey and the country. Mr. Picone earned his master’s of social work from the School of Social Work at Rutgers University; he is a licensed clinical social worker, advanced trainer in the Nurtured Heart Approach, and a certified school social worker. Over the past 30 years, Mr. Picone has served as a therapist, clinical supervisor, chief operating officer, and executive director in two large residential treatment settings for at-risk youth. He also served as director of the Placement Services Unit in New Jersey’s Children’s System of Care (CSOC), where he was responsible for managing the care of high-needs youth in residential treatment. Mr. Picone worked as a senior training and consultation specialist at Rutgers, providing coaching and training to residential providers as part of a four-year SAMHSA grant to transform New Jersey’s CSOC to be trauma-informed and reduce the need for seclusion and restraint. For the past 20 years, as founder and director of “Positive Culture Change”, Mr. Picone has provided transformational training and consultation in the areas of leadership, workforce development, creating positive and motivating work cultures and trauma-attuned approaches for residential treatment programs and school systems throughout the country.

Hasan Davis
For more than 25 years, Hasan has held to the belief that each child can and will succeed as long as adults in their world create hope. Starting as a counselor and a teaching artist, and through his years as a youth development specialist, Hasan has transformed the attitudes and strategies of school and facility staff, parents, and members of the community to help hundreds of children graduate from high school and go on to earn degrees from colleges and universities.
In addition to his work at schools, Hasan has been Commissioner of Juvenile Justice for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Vice Chair of the Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice, and an organizational consultant. With this experience, he has transformed organizations and public systems to ensure they have the capacity to not only meet the needs of the children and families they serve, but also are transparent and set metrics and methods of accountability. He brings to the process a powerful combination of passion, caring, and leadership to craft a refreshing, common-sense roadmap to help all youth achieve their dreams, no matter the odds.

Veronica Krupnick
Veronica Krupnick is a Youth & Tribal Advocate and Leader within the local, state, and national child welfare community. After serving for 4 years as the Mentorship, Advocacy and Peer Support Program Coordinator at CASA First, Veronica now serves as the Vice President of the organization’s Board of Directors. In the Fall of 2022, Veronica began her venture into the New Mexico Legislature and now serves as the Leadership Analyst for the New Mexico House of Representatives Majority Office.
After graduating from Fort Lewis College in 2017, Veronica returned home to New Mexico to follow her passion for supporting and working alongside young people involved and impacted by the child welfare system. Having been through the child welfare system herself, Veronica is passionate about preventative services, lived experience voice, and advocating for the holistic well-being of children, youth, and families. Her current child welfare advocacy includes service as a senior member of the National Foster Youth and Alumni Policy Council, a member of the National Child Welfare and Racial Equity Collaborative, and as Co-Chair of the Training Committee for the New Mexico Partners.
REGISTRATION
You will be redirected to the registration form where you can select your specific registration type. Early Bird Registration Fees End December 17th!
Virtual Conference Meeting: Tuesday, January 9th
Choose from eight unique workshops offered over four 90-minute sessions. Includes access to a live stream of the In-Person Keynotes happening on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. CEUs and CLEs pending.
Early Bird Fee: $55.00 |
Regular Fee: $75.00 |
In-Person Conference: Wednesday, January 10th – Friday, January 12th
The in-person CLI that you know and love, taking place at Hotel Albuquerque. Includes access to the Virtual Meeting on Tuesday. CEUs and CLEs pending.
Registration Type |
Early Bird Fee until Dec. 17th |
Regular Fee |
Volunteer/Parent/Resource Parent |
$77.00 |
$110.00 |
Professional |
$99.00 |
$132.00 |
Attorney |
$138.00 |
$171.00 |
CLI Exhibitor: Wednesday, January 10th – Friday, January 12th
Register for an exhibitor table at the in-person conference event.
Exhibitor Table |
$375.00 |
CLI Scholarship Application
Limited scholarships are available to cover registration costs for New Mexico community members who request support. We encourage New Mexico parents and other caregivers, resource parents, peer support workers, college and university students as any other working or advocating in the field of child welfare, juvenile justice or community mental health to apply if financial support is needed to attend the conference. Deadline is December 8th!
SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES
Be a CLI Sponsor! View sponsorship packages and register below.
Yucca Sponsor (Snack Sponsor & Exhibitor)
The limit for this sponsorship has been reached. Please consider selecting one of our other sponsorship packages!
Roadrunner Sponsor (Scholarship Sponsor & Exhibitor)
Price: $500.00
Includes:
- Exhibitor table
- Contribution to the CLI Scholarship Fund that supports youth, parents, and peers to attend CLI
- Listed in conference program
Green Chile Sponsor (Breakfast Sponsor & Exhibitor)
The limit for this sponsorship has been reached. Please consider selecting one of our other sponsorship packages!
Turquoise Sponsor (Keynote Sponsor & Exhibitor)
Price: $900.00
Includes:
- Exhibitor table
- Poster board sign and presentation slide with your logo during keynote
- Mentioned in conference app throughout conference
- Preferential table placement
Limit 3
Other Sponsorship Amount
Any amount contributed to the CLI sponsorship fund will aid in helping young people, parents, and others attend CLI who may not be able to otherwise. Any and all support is appreciated!
Questions? Contact us at: [email protected]
CLI Continuing Education Credits:
For access to CEU records please contact us at: [email protected]
For access to CLE and CJE records please contact Cristen Conley at: [email protected]
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS









THANK YOU TO OUR PLANNING PARTNERS






Health & Safe Practices
Children’s Law Institute is excited to gather together again in-person! Please remember to use all resources available to keep you, your family, and your community safe. Hand sanatizer will be available at various locations. Masks and social distancing is encouraged. Click here for full guidelines in New Mexico.
Conference Location
January 10-12, 2024
Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town
800 Rio Grande Boulevard NW
Albuquerque, NM 87104
Visit hotel website here
About the Children’s Law Institute
Children’s Law Institute (CLI) is a statewide, multi-disciplinary conference addressing issues of importance in child welfare and juvenile justice. Over almost 30 years, it has grown from a small gathering of lawyers to an event attracting over 1,000 educators, child welfare workers, judges, lawyers, juvenile justice personnel, advocates, resource families, young people, lawmakers, and others. The CLI has a well-earned reputation for providing New Mexico with the most up-to-date information on the law, best practices and changing trends locally and nationally, as well as vital opportunities to network and share information.
The CLI is organized in a multi-agency collaboration led by the Children’s Court Improvement Commission of the New Mexico Supreme Court and is sponsored by the Center of Innovation at New Mexico State University, the NM Children Youth and Families Department (CYFD) Protective Service and Juvenile Justice Divisions, the UNM Corinne Wolfe Center for Child and Family Justice, the Rozier E. Sanchez Judicial Education Center, NM CASA and a number of community organizations.
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31ST ANNUAL CHILDREN'S LAW INSTITUTE
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