CILA’s legal and social work teams are excited to share an updated version of the resource, A Toolkit for Navigating Difficult Conversations with Child Clients: Guidance and Examples. This interdisciplinary resource includes ethical considerations, helpful context for conversations, practical tips for supporting clients, and self-care strategies. The resource also includes example scripts in English and Spanish, covering topics advocates and/or clients may struggle discussing openly.
CILA initially created this resource in 2023 in conjunction with holding a workshop on this topic. CILA updated the resource in 2024 adding content and more role plays based on the need in the field for a resource such as this. Notably, the 2024 version includes new sections on building rapport, boundaries and personal safety, as well as information on support through collective or community care. This year, we also added several new role plays on important issues such as consent, pregnancy, and grief.
We hope this resource will serve as a tool for advocates, whether attorneys, legal staff, social services staff, or pro bono attorneys. This resource can help advocates prepare in advance, to have the tools necessary to navigate difficult conversations, and can also serve as a guide to aid advocates in the moment—when a client is looking for support. Additionally, the toolkit can be used as a helpful cross-training tool for organizations with interdisciplinary programs. Internally, we learned so much across disciplines in creating it.
CILA is thankful to colleagues in the field who reviewed the 2023 version and provided the CILA team with invaluable feedback on this resource both from a legal and social services perspective. Thank you to Lauren Fisher Flores, ProBAR Legal Director, Keighly Rector, Volunteers of Legal Service Immigration Project Director, and Jonaki Sanyal, LCSW-C, CGP of the Acacia Center for Justice. We appreciate your thoughtful feedback, suggestions, and additional tips.
We all develop expertise with each new conversation we have, and the CILA team welcomes the opportunity to learn from you. If you have comments regarding this toolkit or if you would like to add to a future version by sharing helpful tips, scripts, or resources, we invite you to do so by writing to us at cila@abacila.org. We would love to hear from you.