Family STAR Talks with the Expert

Join Family STAR for a conversation with Catherine Davey, founder of the Davey Law Group, about what families need to think about if they have a child with disabilities who is turning 18. There are many options available to support young adults. This presentation will provide information for families who have members with special needs and are considering guardianship, guardian advocacy, supported decision-making, or substituted decision-making for their child, either now or in the future.

For nearly thirty years, Catherine Davey has practiced law. She began practicing law near St. Petersburg, representing the State of Florida, Agency for Health Care Administration, during their fledgling efforts to recover from estates in Florida for Medicaid estate recovery liens. In 2001, she started her law firm, which focuses on probate, guardianship, guardian advocacy, estate planning, and the drafting and implementation of Special Needs Trusts for the physically, intellectually, and developmentally disabled.

Catherine received her Bachelor of Arts from George Washington University in Washington, DC (1988), her Juris Doctor from Stetson University’s College of Law in St. Petersburg, Florida (1993), and her Master of Laws in Transnational Business Practice from the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, California (1994).

Catherine, who is the founder of Davey Law Group, P.A., was recently honored as the recipient of the Jake Stone Award by the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association.

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Lisa Math BSc, CRPS-F is the Director of the Family STAR program (STAR stands for Support, Training, Assistance, and Resources) for Family Network on Disabilities. She is also a Certified Recovery Peer Specialist (CRPS-F) with an endorsement in working with Families, as well as a certified trainer for numerous programs.

In her role at FND, she supports families who have children with special healthcare needs, complex medical conditions, developmental disabilities and mental health challenges, and the professionals who serve them. She has created webinars, resource materials, curricula, and presentations that are given at conferences and meetings throughout the state, and at national conferences.

Her most important role is that as a parent of a 28-year-old young adult who has multiple medical conditions and mental health challenges. She educated herself and navigated multiple systems of care to advocate for her child’s needs and has used her lived experience to support others in their journey.

Email: lisam@fndfl.org
Website: www.fndusa.org
Phone: (800) 825-5736

Family STAR, a Family Network on Disabilities program (FND), supports families with children and youth from birth to age 26 throughout the state who have special healthcare needs, complex medical conditions, developmental disabilities, and mental health challenges, along with the professionals, providers, and educators who serve them. Our services include Support, Training and Education, Assistance, and Resources and are offered at no charge. Family STAR is Florida’s Family-to-Family Health Information Center (F2FHIC), a national network funded by the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services.