Social Worker Meet-Up: Social Work Meetup on Participatory Defense

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Have you heard of or used participatory defense? Check out this brief video overview by Raj Jayadev that explains the importance of participatory defense and how it can empower families and community members in court with their loved one. https://youtu.be/3o-2K0FuQEE?si=MYKrhhP0qwzV5SOX During our meetup we will talk about participatory defense, suggesting ways we might use this and how social biographies and inclusion of family and community members can be helpful for the mitigation process.

Stephanne Cline Thornton is a West Virginia native who has worked in and around criminal defense and mitigation for more than 20 years in Georgia, Colorado, and West Virginia. She is currently the Clinical Director for the West Virginia Judicial and Lawyer Assistance Program, and owner of Transform Legal, a consultancy focused on mitigation, training, and sustainability. As a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and Master Addiction Counselor, Stephanne focuses on proper assessment for and access to trauma and substance use disorder treatment to ensure the health and well-being of affected individuals. Stephanne is on the Trauma-Informed Care Network Speakers Bureau and uses that platform to call attention to the intersection of secondary traumatic stress and legal practice. She approaches her work with clients, lawyers, social workers, and mitigation specialists through a contextualized mitigation lens.