Hosted by the Court Improvement Program of the Louisiana Supreme Court

Act 409 (Senate Bill 41) represents a significant shift in Louisiana’s child welfare legislation, with direct implications for how agencies, courts, and stakeholders engage with children and families. This session will provide an in-depth overview of the changes introduced by the act, including investigating incidents of abuse/neglect in schools and early learning centers, addressing child-on-child sexual abuse, and clarifying mandatory reporter duties. Our speakers will explain updated definitions, procedural modifications, and new expectations for collaboration and documentation. They will break down the practical implications for frontline professionals and offer guidance on aligning practice with the new legal framework. Whether you are a judge, attorney, caseworker, CASA, or service provider, this session will help you navigate the evolving landscape of child welfare with confidence and clarity.

Our speakers are Bret Hanemann, who was appointed Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Assistant Secretary for Child Welfare in June 2025, and Lacy Simms, LCSW, BACS, a DCFS Child Welfare Manager II, overseeing CPS, Clearance, and PSRT.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

• Describe the key provisions and intent of Act 409 (SB 41) and how they revise
  existing child welfare statutes and practices in Louisiana.
• Analyze how Act 409 impacts case planning, stakeholder roles, and court
  expectations across the child welfare continuum.
• Apply strategies to ensure compliance and effective collaboration with
  stakeholders under the new legislative framework.

Want to learn more? View the event flyer.

Register here.