20 Hours / 20 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Mental Disability Issues in Juvenile and Family Law is presented by Michael L. Perlin, JD, and Heather Ellis Cucolo, JD, in partnership with Mental Disability Law and Policy Associates (MDLPA). This badge-earning program can be shared digitally on platforms like LinkedIn or your resume and counts towards a certificate. Enroll in this program to earn credit towards Mental Disability Law Certificate and share your new digital credentials with prospective employers and colleagues.

This program focuses on four critical topics. First, learning why these issues are so essential for mental health professionals, advocates, lawyers and mediators whose work touches on any aspect of the family law system; Second, considering the full range of issues related to custody (including issues specifically related to children with special needs), adoption, marriage dissolution, foster care, and domestic abuse and guardianships as they relate to persons with mental disabilities, including the unique issues related to the role and scope of expert testimony; Third, considering the full range of special topics related to juvenile commitments to psychiatric institutions, matters related to the criminal trials of juveniles with mental disabilities (including, but not limited to questions of competency and waiver), correctional facilities in which juveniles are housed, the role of problem-solving courts, and the application of international human rights principles to this area of the law; and Forth, understand why it is vital to consider the role of sanism and pretextuality in all aspects of this system, and the application of therapeutic jurisprudence to all questions.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

  • 1 Describe issues related to juvenile commitments to psychiatric institutions
  • 2 Describe issues related to the criminal trials of juveniles with mental disabilities
  • 3 Describe issues related to questions of competency and waiver in juveniles with mental disabilities
  • 4 Describe the role of problem-solving courts
  • 5 Describe the application of international human rights principles to this area of the law
  • 6 Describe why mental disability issues are so critical to mental health professionals, advocates, lawyers and mediators whose work touches on any aspect of the family law system
  • 7 Describe issues related to custody in adoption, marriage dissolution, foster care, and domestic abuse and guardianships as they relate to persons with mental disabilities
  • 8 Describe why it is important to consider the role of sanism and pretextuality in all aspects of this system
  • 9 Describe the application of therapeutic jurisprudence to all questions
  • 10 Describe special issues related to the role and scope of expert testimony

  • Intended Audience

    This training is designed for clinicians and forensic mental health professionals who work with legal cases involving families, juveniles, and individuals with mental disabilities. Participants may be involved in forensic evaluations, providing expert testimony, or delivering mental health services in matters such as custody, adoption, foster care, guardianship, marital dissolution, child abuse, psychiatric commitment, and juvenile justice proceedings. The program is also relevant for those participating in hearings or proceedings related to family law or juvenile justice.

    • Mental Health Professional
    • Clinician
    • Forensic Mental Health Professional
    • Forensic Evaluator
    • Expert Witness
    • Mediator

  • Experience Level

    This training is designed for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals at all experience levels who seek to deepen their understanding of mental disability issues in juvenile and family law.

    Beginner:
    New to the intersection of mental health and family law; seeking foundational knowledge of key legal and clinical concepts, including custody, adoption, foster care, and the impact of mental disabilities.

    Intermediate:
    Some experience with family law or forensic mental health; looking to expand skills in areas such as expert testimony, juvenile commitments, competency, waiver, and the application of therapeutic jurisprudence.

    Advanced:
    Extensive experience in mental health and legal systems; interested in advanced topics such as sanism, pretextuality, international human rights principles, and complex guardianship or juvenile justice cases.

  • Practice Setting

    Professionals who complete this training typically work in environments where mental health and legal systems intersect. These settings often involve collaboration with courts, legal professionals, child welfare agencies, and correctional or psychiatric institutions. The work may take place in public or private sectors, including government agencies, hospitals, clinics, private practices, or community organizations. These environments require navigating complex legal, ethical, and clinical issues related to families, juveniles, and individuals with mental disabilities, often under the scrutiny of legal proceedings or court mandates.

    • Family or juvenile courts (providing evaluations, expert testimony, or consultation)
    • Child protective services or foster care agencies
    • Psychiatric hospitals or residential treatment centers
    • Correctional facilities or juvenile detention centers
    • Private forensic mental health practices
    • Community mental health centers
    • Law offices or mediation centers specializing in family or juvenile law
    • Nonprofit organizations focused on advocacy for children, families, or individuals with mental disabilities

Presented By

Michael L. Perlin, JD, Professor of Law Emeritus at New York Law School (NYLS)

Michael L. Perlin is Professor of Law Emeritus at New York Law School (NYLS), founding director of NYLS’s Online Mental Disability Law Program, and founding director of NYLS’s International Mental Disability Law Reform Project in its Justice Action Center. He is also the co-founder of Mental Disability Law and Policy Associates. He has written 31 books and nearly 300 articles on all aspects of mental disability law, many of which deal with the overlap between mental disability law and criminal law and procedure.

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Michael L. Perlin, JD

Presented By

Heather Ellis Cucolo, JD, Prof. Distinguished Adj., NYLS; Owner, MDLPA; Prof. Adj., Emory University School of Law; Bd. Dir. Collier School

Heather Ellis Cucolo is Distinguished Adjunct professor of law and the facilitator of the joint JD/MA program with John Jay College of Criminal Justice, at New York Law School (NYLS). She is also an adjunct professor in the JM Program at Emory University School of Law, and a Fellowship faculty member at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. In addition to those roles, Professor Cucolo is co-owner of Mental Disability Law and Policy Associates, a legal education and professional training company, and was elected to the board of trustees for the International Society of Therapeutic Jurisprudence, a non-profit organization. Formerly, in her full-time legal practice, Professor Cucolo dedicated her career to representing individuals at trial facing civil commitment under both the New Jersey Mental Hygiene Law and New Jersey’s Sexually Violent Predators Act. She authored and argued appeals before the New Jersey Appellate Division with over 27 reported decisions. She has published four textbooks and over 21 law review articles with mentions in an Eastern District of New York court decision and an Iowa appellate decision. She was honored to receive the Otto L. Walter Distinguished Writing Award for two consecutive years in 2018 and 2019. Professor Cucolo’s international work has included: expert testimony on extradition from the United Kingdom to the United States for persons convicted of a sex offense; pro bono advocacy for LawAid International; speaking at the United Nations on the rights of persons with disabilities in the Asia-Pacific region; and the creation of an instructional course on disability legislation for attorneys in Japan.

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Heather Ellis Cucolo, JD

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Special issues related to juvenile commitments to psychiatric institutions

  • Criminal trials of juveniles with mental disabilities

  • Competency

  • Role of sanism and pretextuality

  • Application of therapeutic jurisprudence

  • Forensic and clinical mental health professionals

  • Guardianship cases

  • Psychiatric commitment of Juveniles.

Earning a Certificate

This is a badge-earning program, which means it will help you earn a certificate that can be showcased on digital platforms like LinkedIn.
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We are proud to partner with

Mental Disability Law and Policy Associates (MDLPA)

Mental Disability Law and Policy Associates (MDLPA)

We are proud to partner with Mental Disability Law and Policy Associates, LLC for this training. MDLPA is a boutique educational training company that offers specialized mental disability law consulting, the creation or enhancement of distance learning programs, in-house or online courses, and day or weekend training seminars to reputable organizations, educational institutions, professional groups, and advocacy groups focused on providing advanced knowledge and skills to persons working with marginalized populations.

Learn More About Our Partner

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here. 

  1. American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.

  2. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.

  3. Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

  4. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).



Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356 and the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6811. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CONCEPT Professional Training, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. CONCEPT Professional Training maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits.