In the few moments she has away from work, Kathy likes to walk or bike, read and spend time with her cats and dog – but only when there is absolutely no chance to play golf.
Education
B.A. University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Psychology
J.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Law
Post-Doctoral Fellowship, UN-L Law-Psychology Program
M.A. University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Psychology
Areas of Interest
Juvenile, family and elder law
Legal advocacy for children and Guardian ad litem representation
Child protection policy
Child support
Judicial education on child welfare issues
Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
Youth Peer Courts
Domestic violence
Juvenile justice
Adoption and guardianship
Professional Activities & Community Service
Member, Nebraska State Bar Association and Lincoln Bar Association
Chairperson (2002), District One Committee on Inquiry (Nebraska Supreme Court appointment)
Nebraska Legal Services, Board of Directors
Nebraska Lawyers Trust Account Foundation (IOLTA), Board of Directors
Nebraska Permanency Planning Task Force
CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocate) of Lancaster County, Board of Directors
Nebraska Health and Human Services System Steering Committee on Fatherhood Issues
Nebraska Child and Family Services Review, Advisory Team
Lincoln-Lancaster County, Nebraska Community Services Implementation Project, Consultant
Cather Circle, University of Nebraska Alumni Association, Charter Membe
Nebraska P.E.O. Home, Board of Trustees (Secretary)
Private legal practitioner since 1983 specializing in juvenile and family law
CCFL Projects
Child Protection and Safety Training Academy: Administration of the Center's activities under contract with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services to provide competency-based training to its child protection and safety workers and juvenile services officers. Develop and conduct specialized training on juvenile law and child welfare issues, particularly related to the Adoption and Safe Families Act and Title IV-E regulations.
Nebraska Juvenile Law Digest: Faculty advisor for an annual publication for lawyers, judges, social service workers and other professionals that provides a quick reference to recent appellate decisions in Nebraska on areas pertinent to juvenile law, including child maltreatment, termination of parental rights, adoption, and juvenile justice.
Selected Projects/Publications
Tomkins, A.J. & Olson, K.A. (2002). Some initial ideas about implementation of a child-centered, neighborhood-based child protection system: Impressions from focus groups in Nebraska. In Melton, G.B., Thompson, R.A. & Small, M.A. (Eds.), Toward a child-centered,
neighborhood-based child protection system. Westport, Connecticut: Praeger.
Small, M.A., Melton, G.B., Olson, K.A., & Tomkins, A.J. (2002). Creating caring communities: The need for structural change. In Melton, G.B., Thompson, R.A. & Small, M.A. (Eds.), Toward a child-centered, neighborhood-based child protection system. Westport, Connecticut: Praeger.
Paper presentation. Olson, K.A., McKinlay, A., & Melton, G.B., "Peer-networking as a method of dissemination of information to judges on child sexual abuse." Meeting of the American Psychology-Law Society, Santa Fe, New Mexico, March, 1994.
Olson, K.A., (1993). Legal actions. In Bulkley, J. (Ed.), Child sexual abuse training manual: A curriculum for judges. American Bar Association, Center on Children and the Law: Washington, D.C.
Olson, K.A., (1993). Role of the guardian ad litem. In Stick, R.S., & Brooks, C.M. (Eds.), Nebraska juvenile court manual. Nebraska Continuing Legal Education, Inc.: Lincoln, Nebraska.
