160 social workers, parents, and community partners attended the 2012 Family

Reunification Week Symposium.

From L to R: Alex Iglesias (Los Angeles Defense Lawyers, Inc.), Ryan Bennett and Reco

Varnado (Parents in Partnership), and Al Reyes (L.A. County Child Support Services)

Los Angeles County 3rd District Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky addresses the audience.

Michael Nash, Presiding Judge of the Los Angeles Juvenile Court welcomes

attendees.

DCFS Director Philip L. Browning discusses the importance of reunification.

From L to R: Judge Michael Nash, L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, and DCFS

Director Philip L. Browning

Guest speaker Don Parkinson and Rachel Ewing (Los Angeles Dependency Lawyers, Inc.).

Panel speakers (L to R): DCFS Deputy Director Rhelda Shabazz, CSW Anthony Cervantes, Assistant County Counsel James M. Owens, Danielle Vappie (Los Angeles Dependency Lawyers, Inc), Leslie Starr Heimov (Children’s Law Center), youth speaker

Miranda Sheffield, and caregiver Don Parkinson.

From L to R: Assistant County Counsel James M. Owens, Danielle Vappie (Los Angeles Dependency Lawyers, Inc), Leslie Starr Heimov (Children’s Law

Center).

Symposium emcee Neil Zanville (DCFS Public Affairs)

Reco Varnado (Parents in Partnership)

From L to R:   Judge Michael Nash, DCFS Deputy Director Rhelda Shebazz, Judy Freeman (PIP),  Nina Powell-McCall (PIP), Jennifer Olague (PIP holding Award), Andrea Miles (PIP), Helen Contreras (PIP holding Award), Reco Varnado (PIP), Ryan Bennett (PIP holding Award), Maritza Rosales (PIP), Derrick Perez-Johnson (PIP), Pat McQueen (PIP), and Tania Benacerraf (Pico Union Family Preservation)

Lunch is served!