Date: November 19, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Host: PDS
Credits: 1 General Credit and 1 CPE Credit
Cost: Free
Location: Zoom
Registration: [Register here]
Summary: During this one-hour session, we’ll introduce CPS 101, a parent-led informational session designed to help parents better understand Maine’s child welfare system. We’ll share what parents learn, the purpose and goals of the session, and what is outside our role. CPS 101 is parent-informed and is not intended to represent or advocate for the Department. We’ll also share how CPS 101 was informed by Washington’s Parents for Parents model, which has a substantial evaluation history. We’ll leave time for your questions, concerns, and discussion.
Faculty Biography: Michelle Westbrook is a Family Engagement Specialist at the University of Southern Maine’s Catherine Cutler Institute, where she brings lived experience and a parent perspective to child welfare system improvement. Her work focuses on strengthening meaningful family engagement and helping ensure that parents’ voices are included in conversations, programs, and decisions that affect families involved with the child welfare system.
Jamie Brooks is a Policy Associate with the Catherine Cutler Institute at the University of Southern Maine, where her work focuses on family engagement in child welfare. She brings both professional expertise and lived experience as a parent who was involved with Maine’s child welfare system and successfully reunified with her children.
Jamie’s work centers on elevating parent voice, strengthening family engagement, and helping families better understand and navigate the child welfare system. She has been involved in the development and implementation of CPS 101, a parent-informed informational session designed to provide parents with clear, practical information about Maine’s child welfare process.
Halley Phillips is a Policy Associate II with Family and Child Welfare Education, Training & System Support (FACETS) at the Catherine Cutler Institute, University of Southern Maine, where she leads the Family Engagement Team. Halley's work focuses on the coaching, professional development, and restorative practice structures that sustain that partnership. Before joining the Catherine Cutler Institute, she served as Co-Executive Director of the Restorative Justice Institute of Maine. She holds an MA in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and is currently a graduate student in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at USM. She lives in Portland, Maine.
Admission Restrictions: Unless otherwise approved by PDS, to attend this training, you must be eligible to accept PDS case assignments or be a current student at Maine Law. Time spent attending trainings sponsored by PDS may be compensable pursuant to Chapter 7-C. That Chapter establishes attendance and eligibility requirements that govern whether Counsel may seek and receive payment for the time they spend attending PDS sponsored trainings. Please review the rules carefully before registering.