Social Worker Meetup: Advocating when Cognitive Deficits Exist

During this social worker meetup we will discuss ways that, as mitigation specialists and social workers (not psychologists), we identify reading and learning comprehension deficits in clients and use that knowledge in mitigation development and advocacy, whether related to comprehension of Miranda, probation conditions, or other terms and conditions of court involvement. What questions do you ask during the client meeting that may shed light on leaning deficits, and what experts do you consult with to discuss comprehension of Miranda or probation terms? These and other aspects will be discussed.

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.