CWC Support for Legal Counsel for Families or Children

The Corinne Wolfe Center for Child and Family Justice (CWC) provides resources, training, and support to New Mexico’s guardians ad litem, youth attorneys, and respondent attorneys in child welfare cases. If you have a contract with the Administrative Office of the Courts (or you are appointed or retained privately) to represent a child, parent, guardian, or custodian in a civil abuse or neglect case), we’re here to help you.

New Mexico Child Welfare Handbook

The Handbook is a comprehensive guide to New Mexico’s child and family welfare process that incorporates the requirements of the Children’s Code, the Children’s Court Rules, court cases, and federal laws. It describes the roles and responsibilities of certain key participants, explains the hearings and related proceedings, evidence, psychological considerations, and special provisions for Native American children. The Handbook, searchable by clicking Ctrl F, is available to download on our Publications page. Look for the updated and renamed New Mexico Child and Family Welfare Handbook the winter of 2025/2026.

Active Attorney Listservs

The CWC hosts two listservs, one focused on issues for counsel representing children and youth and another for counsel representing parents and families. These listservs:

  • connect you to other attorneys in the field,
  • allow you to ask your colleagues questions and share information and documents (like sample pleadings),
  • announce upcoming training opportunities, and
  • distribute legal updates (cases and case summaries, new statutes and rules) and other helpful resources (such as guides, articles, and checklists).

To join one or both listservs, contact the CWC.

One-on-One Technical Support for Attorneys

CWC’s experienced and knowledgeable attorneys are available for confidential consultations.If you have questions or need to run an idea or question by someone, feel free to call us for assistance or conley@law.unm.edu.

Available Forms

The CWC can provide access to an assortment of forms, pleadings, and documents developed and used by counsel for children, youth, and families throughout the state. Although we endeavor to keep the forms as current as possible, we do not guarantee that the forms are current or accurate. The forms are intended as samples and guidance only. It is your responsibility to refer to the applicable law (statutes, rules—including local rules—and cases) to determine the content and formatting required in particular cases. Documents are loosely organized by role, but some may be relevant for any of the three roles. If you are an attorney employed by or contracted with OFRA (or are appointed to represent parents or children in NM child and family welfare cases) and would like to access these forms, please contact Cristen Conley for information.

Click here to access the forms

Training

Attorneys representing children, youth, or parents in civil abuse or neglect cases are expected to participate in annual specialized training related to their work. Attorneys employed by or contracting with the Office of Family Representation and Advocacy are required to complete at least 14 hours of CLE annually, with at least 10 of those hours related to child and family welfare law. The CWC supports some but not all of this training. Besides OFRA-specific and sponsored training, attorneys can meet this requirement by attending:

  • the annual NM Children’s Law Institute (held in April), and
  • the CWC’s annual Core Information for Practicing and Presiding in Child Welfare Cases – designed for attorneys with less than three years of experience with the NM Children’s Code (held the first full week in August each year). Attorneys with more experience will be considered for inclusion on a case-by-case basis.

Core Information for Practicing and Presiding in Child Welfare Cases

An essential curriculum for judicial officers and lawyers

CWC provides 3 days of training that introduce the central legal concepts and practices unique to civil child abuse and neglect cases in New Mexico. The training is perfect for newer judicial officers and attorneys (less than 3 years’ experience). People who have previously attended or who have more experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis. This "core curriculum" provides a comprehensive overview of the child welfare system, from investigation to appeal, emphasizing constitutional and statutory requirements that apply to in-court proceedings and out-of-court events. The training covers:

  • Key Principles of Child and Family Welfare Law
  • The Indian Child Welfare and Indian Family Protection Acts in
  • Collaboration with the Tribes, Nations, and Pueblos – different peoples different stories
  • How a Family Enters the System
  • Medical Manifestations of Child Abuse and Neglect (1.5 general CLE credits)
  • CART and the UNM Section on Child Safety and Well-being including SUD Impact on Children
  • The Professional Role and Ethics of the Court and the Parties
  • Ethical, Professional, and Zealous Representation and Advocacy in a Collaborative System
  • Professionalism, Ethics, and the Role of the Judge in Child and Family Welfare Cases
  • Phases of the Case
  • Lived Expertise: the humans our work affects "

Please see our Programs Calendar for the next available training dates.