CHILD ABDUCTION PREVENTION INITIATIVE

HYLA hosted the first of two free trainings for 2008-2009 bar year for attorneys wanting to volunteer in their new Child Abduction Prevention Initiative [CAPI].  Sixteen attorneys took advantage of the first training on November 19 (held from 5-8 PM in University of Houston Law Center’s Heritage Room), coordinated with the assistance of the Center for Children, Law & Policy. 

The second training will be held in June/July of 2009 [exact date TBA] and will include a repeat of the initial 3-hour training topics, as well as one hour of follow-up training for our volunteers already completing the initial 3-hour segment (MCLE 3.75 hours pending). 

What is C.A.P.I.?

CAPI is a special legal-assistance program coordinated primarily between HYLA, Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program, and (administrator of Houston Regional Amber Alert) the Texas Center for the Missing. CAPI is a program recruiting volunteer attorneys to help in a specific, limited matter:  to assist a parent/guardian with limited or no income whose children have been abducted by a non-custodial parent/guardian to get the requisite court order that will allow law enforcement to help them bring their children home. 

By working together on this special program, the HVLP, HYLA, and TCFTM help fill a crucial legal need benefiting children in Texas.  By providing a method for quickly obtaining the needed court documents for a parent when another parent/guardian abducts a child, law enforcement becomes involved earlier -- significantly increasing the chances of bringing the abducted children home safely. CAPI volunteer attorneys initially will handle only cases involving an existing custody order, but HYLA does plan on expanding the program soon to also assist cases without an enforceable custody order already in place.

The 2008-2009 trainings are made possible thanks to a grant from the Texas Young Lawyers Association. No prior experience in Family Law is required to volunteer in this program [but experienced Family attorneys are certainly encouraged to join us in our efforts]. Attorneys and 3^rd-year law students learn all necessary tools to be a CAPI volunteer attorney at the trainings. All CAPI volunteer attorneys receive HVLP case liability coverage when handling CAPI cases. 

To attend the next training in Houston [as required to volunteer in this program], please send an interest email to wendymiller@comcast.net. 

NOTE:  As soon as the Summer 2009 training date is confirmed, all attorneys attending the November 19^th initial training will automatically be emailed the registration information for the follow-up hour segment to be offered as a part of the training.