About Me

Relevant Employment History

January, 2024 - Present
Affiliate, Instructor                                                                                                                                                               Metropolitan State University (Denver) Graduate School of Social Work                                                             *Advanced Policy and Advocacy                                                                                                                                         *Equity,Justice and the Law

December, 2023 - Present
Associate, Chief Operating Officer                                                                                                                                                       Mannina & Associates Ltd.  

• Mediator, Family Law, Dependency and Neglect, Small Claims, County Civil
  • Contractor, Office of Dispute Resolution
  • Member, Mediation Association of Colorado
  • Broomfield County DHS - June 2024, October, 2024
  • Chaffee County, May - July, 2024 
• Consultant/Case Coverage/Attorney Training
  • Elbert County Attorney's Office - January 2024 to present
  • Jefferson County Attorney's Office - March-June, 2024
  • Boulder County Attorney's Office - April-June, 2024
  • Pueblo County Attorney's Office - March, 2024 to present
  • Chaffee County Attorney's Office - June to August, 2024 
• Title IX Coordinator, Compass Montessori Schools, Golden, CO
  • Maintenance of Policies and Procedures, Web Site
  • Coordinator, Investigator, Decisionmaker                                                                                                                          

October, 2022 - December, 2023
Julie Thomerson, JD/MSW (Sole Proprietor)

• Statewide Trainer, Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) – Adoption Assistance Worksheet: Curriculum Design and Planning in collaboration with CDHS. Over 30 hours of statewide, in-person or virtual training for county department of human services (DHS) staff and stakeholders, November 2022 to April 2023 and September 2023.
• Mediator, Family Law, Dependency and Neglect, Small Claims, County Civil
  • Broomfield County DHS - December 2022
  • Boulder County DHS - February 2023
  • Contractor, Office of Dispute Resolution - commencing August 2023
• Contributing Author/Editor, Guided Reference in Dependency (GRID), Office of the Child’s Representative, March 2023 to July, 2023.
• Special Assistant County Attorney, Human Services, Elbert, CO - April-October, 2023 
• Guest Speaker, Race, Equity and Justice, Metro State School of Social Work, Masters Program, April 2023.
• Consultant/Case Coverage/Attorney Training
  • Douglas County Attorney’s Office - February-October, 2023
  • Elbert County Attorney's Office - April-December, 2023 
  • Chaffee County Attorney’s Office - June through August, 2023
  • Speaker, “Current Perspectives on Permanency,” CO County Attorney’s Association Conference June, 2023.
• Title IX Coordinator, Compass Montessori Schools, Golden, CO, commencing September 2023 
  • Development of Policies and Procedures and Web Site
  • Coordination, Investigation, Informal Decision-making

March, 2002-June, 2022
Senior Assistant County Attorney
Adams County Attorney’s Office, Adams County, Colorado

Representation of County interests in District Court Human Services court cases, including dependency and neglect, juvenile delinquency, child support, adult protection, mental health and administrative appeals;

Docket and court procedures management, including coordination and communication with judicial officers and staff;

Ongoing litigation, including court trials, jury trials and administrative hearings in child welfare and human services cases;

Trial strategy and witness preparation;

Collaboration and mediation with opposing counsel, parties, service providers and Department of Human Services personnel to achieve desired case outcomes, including adoption subsidy negotiations;

Appellate briefs and oral argument;

Case management and strategic planning in conjunction with social services staff;

Foster parent and caseworker training, including development and presentation of all new worker training;

Representation of county interests in numerous policy work groups, stakeholder meetings and meetings with elected officials;

Meeting with Commissioners to brief regarding specific pieces of legislation, as requested;

Communication and training with Department staff and other attorneys regarding pending and successful legislation and any requisite change in practice;

As authorized, testimony in legislative committees to convey county position or subject matter expertise regarding pending human services legislation;

Review and strategic planning with statewide coalitions of county attorneys and county departments of human services (DHS) personnel to safeguard county interests in human services legislation, policy changes and contractual negotiations;

Consultation with Colorado County Incorporated (CCI) and other county and state personnel regarding pending or changing legislation;

Presentations at statewide Colorado County Attorney Association (CCAA) conferences;

Outside consultation upon request including regular participation in Kempe Center START, guest speaker at University of Denver Schools of Social Work and Law;

Ongoing legal and subject matter education regarding child welfare and human services issues.

August, 1999 – February, 2002
Policy Specialist, School Violence Project
National Conference of State Legislatures, Denver, Colorado

Overall management of consultation and technical assistance to state legislatures regarding school violence prevention in the wake of Columbine and other school shootings;

Research and writing for articles in NCSL magazine and other publications (see below);

Presentations and testimony to state legislatures regarding school violence issues;

Media spokesperson regarding school violence issues;

School Violence Project conference planning and facilitation;

Grant application and management, including coordination with federal funding agency personnel;

Supervision and training of research associate;

Coordination between Child Welfare and Education programs;

Collaboration with other NCSL program areas, including and Juvenile Justice and Health;

Dedicated liaison to Massachusetts Legislature. 

Education/Licensure

January, 2008 - 40 Hour Mediation Training 

         -2008 - 2010- Volunteer Mediator, Jefferson County Mediation Services (40.5 hours)

May, 2000 - Licensed Attorney at Law, State of Colorado #31721 

May, 1999 - Juris Doctorate, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado 

          - Public Policy Intern, Child Welfare League of America, Washington, D.C. - Policy analysis, active coalition work

          - Legal Intern, Holden & Parris, Guardians ad Litem, Denver, CO - Home Visits, Staffings, Legal Research.

          - Parenting Time Supervisor, Susan J. Dycus, Guardian ad Litem, Denver, Colorado.

          - Legal Intern, Denver Juvenile Court, Judge Orrelle Weeks, Denver, Colorado 

          - Staff Writer, Denver University Law Review

          - Co-Chair, Children’s Legal Advocacy Group

          - Vice President, Politics and Policy Society

          -  Active Member, Public Interest Law Group

          - Recipient, PEO (Philanthropic Education Organization) Scholar Award and Everett Public Interest Scholarship Award

May, 1999 - Master of Social Work, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado 

          - Intern, University of Denver Bridge Project, Denver, Colorado - Community organizing in public housing neighborhood. 

          - Intern, Violence Prevention Project, Karlis Family Center, Lakewood, CO. - Individual and group counseling

December, 1991 - Bachelor of Arts with Honors, English/Sociology, Michigan State University

         - State Singers 

         - Vice President (Programs) and active member, Alpha Phi Omega (Coed Service Fraternity).

         - Member, Golden Key and Phi Beta Kappa Honor Societies.

Publications

• Contributing author/editor, PRACTICE, Domestic Violence Handbook for Colorado Child Protection Caseworkers, 2012.

• “When Reunification Fails: Finding Permanence in the Real World,” Colorado Lawyer, October 2007.

• “Violent Acts of Sadness: The Tragedy of Youth Suicide,” State Legislatures magazine, May 2002. 

• School Violence: What Works to Keep Schools Safe, NCSL Publication, July, 2001.

• School Violence: Sharing Student Information, NCSL Publication, May, 2001.

• Children, Youth, and Family Issues: 2001 State Legislative Summary, School Safety chapter, March 2002.

• Children, Youth, and Family Issues: 2000 State Legislative Summary, School Safety chapter, March 2001.

• Funding School-Based Violence Prevention Programs, NCSL Legisbrief, March 2001.

• “Who’s Responsible for School Safety?” State Legislatures magazine, December 2000.

• School Violence: Ten Things Legislators Need to Know, NCSL Publication, February, 2000.

• “School Safety on the Forefront: State Legislative Approaches,” Colo. Family and Children’s Journal, Fall 1999.

• Drug Sentencing, Denver University Law Review Tenth Circuit Survey, 74 D.U.L.Rev. 435 (1997). • Municipal Election Calendar, Colorado Municipal League publication, February 1998.

• Open Meetings and Open Records Laws, Colorado Municipal League publication, February 1998. 

• HIV/AIDS: A Legal Perspective, Rocky Mountain Adoption Exchange publication (research and cite-checking) September 1996.

Community/Volunteer Activities

2023 - present -  Volunteer Mediator, Metro Volunteer Lawyers & Lakewood Mediation Services

2022 - present - Member, Colorado Women's Bar Association, Denver, CO.

     - Public Policy Committee

     - Volunteer, LIFT Mentorship Program

2018-2022 -Board Member, Compass Montessori Education Foundation (CMEF), Wheat Ridge, CO.

 2016-2018 - Committee Chair, Festa Fundraising Committee, CMEF, Wheat Ridge, CO. 

 2013-2015 - Volunteer policy advocate, Compass Montessori, Wheat Ridge, CO.

2012-2013 - Colorado Bar Association Board of Governors, Denver, CO.

 2008-2010 - Volunteer Mediator, Jefferson County Mediation Services, Denver, CO. 

2007-2008 - President, Adams Broomfield Bar Association, Brighton, CO.

2006-2007 - Member, 17th Judicial District Access to Justice Committee, Brighton, CO. 

 2005-2006 - Vice President, Adams Broomfield Bar Association, Brighton, CO. 

2004-2005  - Secretary, Adams Broomfield Bar Association, Brighton, CO.

2002-present - Member, Adams Broomfield Bar Association, Brighton, CO.

2002-present - Member, Colorado Bar Association, Denver, CO (Juvenile Section).

1999-2021 - Compass Montessori Parent Teacher Student Association, Wheat Ridge, CO. 

1999–2019  - Volunteer Judge, High School Mock Trial local regional competition

1999 - present - Lead Singer, various local bands, Denver, CO area: coordination and provision of live music for various community and nonprofit organization fundraisers.

1998–1999 - Hugh O’Brien Leadership Conference, Denver, CO.

 1994–1995 - Participant, All Families Deserve a Chance and Social Legislation Committees, Denver, CO.

 1993–1995 - Director of SaYes youth theater program, The Sanctuary, Royal Oak, MI. 

1992 - 1995 - Youth Counselor, Stephen Ministry, lay counseling program, Lake Orion, MI.

Summers, 1987-1991 -  Director, Program Manager, Mountain T.O.P., Altamont, TN.