Workshop Speakers

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Workshop 1 Speakers

Los Angeles Dependency Lawyers, Inc.
Legal Education Team

Los Angeles Dependency Lawyers (LADL) is a non-profit organization comprising five law firms that provide parents in Los Angeles County with consistent, long-term representation throughout juvenile dependency court proceedings. Led by Executive Director Dennis Smeal, LADL's 187 experienced attorneys are dedicated to keeping families together by advocating for clients to retain or regain custody of their children.

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Emily Berger (she/her)
Firm Director and Certified Child Law Specialist
bergere@ladlinc.org

Emily Berger is a law firm director at Los Angeles Dependency Lawyers, Inc., where she has worked since 2009. She was trial counsel in a number of published legal decisions including In re Rebecca C. and In re Joaquin C. She is a Certified Child Law Specialist and a former Equal Justice Works Fellow for The Alliance for Children’s Rights. She received both her J.D. and M.S.W. at Rutgers University in 2006. Her Note, "The Legal Rights of the Poor and Minority to Have Families: Judges as Family Planners, the Vilification of the Poor, and Destruction of the Black Family" was published in the Spring 2007 Rutgers Race and the Law Review.

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Regina Martinez (she/her)
Peer Advocate
martinezr@ladlinc.org

Regina Martinez serves as a Peer Advocate for Los Angeles Dependency Lawyers (LADL 2), where she provides vital support to clients working toward family reunification within the child welfare system. Regina first joined LADL in 2019, launching her tenure as an Administrative Assistant in the Executive Office. Recognizing her deep passion for direct client impact, she transitioned into her current role as a Peer Advocate five years ago. Regina brings an invaluable asset to her advocacy work: her own lived experience. As a resilient survivor of substance abuse, domestic violence, incarceration, homelessness, and the child welfare system, she connects with clients on a level of profound empathy and mutual understanding. Her journey serves as a powerful testament to recovery and resilience, allowing her to guide others through systemic barriers with practical insight and hope.

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Morgan Thompson
Staff Attorney
thompsonM@ladlinc.org

Morgan is a Staff Attorney with Los Angeles Dependency Lawyers, where she maintains a robust daily trial practice and serves on the front lines defending families impacted by government intervention. As a former dependent of the system herself, Morgan brings a deeply personal understanding of her clients’ experiences and prides herself on meeting families with empathy, dignity, and meaningful advocacy. She earned undergraduate degrees in Statistics, Psychology, and Sociology from Oregon State University and received her J.D. from UCLA School of Law. Morgan has previously worked with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking, and Advancement Project California, where she served as a racial justice policy advocate

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A smiling middle-aged woman with glasses, shoulder-length wavy reddish-blonde hair, wearing a gray blazer and white blouse, in an office setting with large windows in the background.

Workshop 2 Speaker

Maura A. Byron, MEd
Executive Director, Family Support Network
mbyron@fsn-oc.org

Maura Byron is Executive Director of Family Support Network, bringing more than 20 years of nonprofit leadership serving families of children with special needs. Maura has trained and presented for Orange County Social Services' Wraparound and Parent Mentor Services programs. As a mother of three adult children, including a daughter with cerebral palsy and significant medical and developmental needs, she combines professional expertise with lived experience. Maura also serves as the Vice Chair of the Cal Optima Health (MediCal) Board of Directors, representing more than 850,000 Orange County members.

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Workshop 3 Speaker

Ki Yan Ip, MA (she/her)
FAHS MFP–Youth Fellow and Project Lead, Navigating Reunification
Former Therapeutic Family Coach, Building Forever Families Initiative
kiyanip@vt.edu

Ki Yan Ip, MA, created Navigating Reunification after supporting children and caregivers as a Therapeutic Family Coach with Building Forever Families Initiative. Her work focuses on turning complex family-system information into practical, accessible guidance that helps caregivers prepare, communicate, and stay connected with their children.

Ready to get started?

One registration covers all three free workshops and follow-up materials.
August 6, 10, and 13 · 7:00–8:30 PM Pacific · Zoom

Register for the Workshops