Whittier Law School Center for Children and Families

This week WLSAA is featuring its 2018 alumni awardees. Purchase your tickets at 2018wlsalumniawards.eventbrite.com. 2018 Professor of the Year: Jennifer Mertus... ('04) Prior to attending law school, Jennifer Mertus was a high school science teacher in North Carolina. After moving to California with her husband in 2000, she decided to attend law school and was fortunate to receive a full merit scholarship to attend Whittier Law School. During law school, Professor Mertus was a member and the Court Clerk of the Moot Court and a member and Research Editor for the Whittier Law School Law Review. As a student, and later as a volunteer attorney, she worked in Whittier’s Children’s Rights Clinic representing indigent and low-income clients in special education, guardianship, and adoption matters. Professor Mertus began her teaching career at Whittier after graduating summa cum laude in 2004. She became the Director of the China Study Abroad Program in 2009 and the Director of the Center for Children and Families (formerly the Center for Children’s Rights) in 2011. When not teaching or doing pro-bono work, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband of 18 years, Dave, and her children Kayley (14) and Cole (11). She is an avid fan of college football and basketball (especially her beloved Carolina Tar Heels).

Easter/Spring Candy Anyone??? Whittier Law School's Center for Children & Families (which I direct) is hosting a fundraiser to help with the cost of its upcoming trip to New Hope Orphanage in China. All funds raised will be used to purchase supplies for the orphanage and also to help offset the cost of travel for the group. The prices of the candy are the same as what you'd pay in the See's store, so if you were planning to purchase it anyway, please consider buying it from us! You can text or email me your orders ([email protected]). All candy will be available for pick up (or local delivery) on or about March 18.

"Just let it go and feel the rhythm."

"The county shelters in the nation’s largest foster care system are supposed to serve as a refuge for vulnerable children removed from unsafe homes. Instead, they have funneled hundreds of children, some as young as 8 years old, into the criminal justice system for relatively minor incidents."

Congratulations to Melinda Gomez (Class of 2009 CCF Fellow and adjunct professor in the China study abroad program) for being honored in the "Spirit of Volunteerism Awards" by Human Options, a local non-profit that aids victims of domestic violence.

The China program offers classes in child/family law, as well as business/IP law. We also offer externships in all those fields. It's also the only WLS study abroad program that allows you to do on-campus summer school AND a study abroad (the dates don't overlap). Come hear more about this program and how you can be a part of it in 2017!

Great story about a local family. Those of you in Prof. Mertus's Adoption Law and International Adoption Law classes will recognize Tacy...she finally got her little guy home!

Every child needs love. Every child needs to feel safe. Every child needs to feel wanted. Every child needs a family

Los Angeles man makes it his life mission to foster terminally ill children. He has cared for more than 40 kids, 10 of them dying right under his roof. "I know those kids need people like us." http://abcn.ws/2lYIRGs