Thursday, December 20, 2007

AFCC eNEWS - December 2007

Please click the following link for the website version: http://afccnet.org/members/eNewsletter/2007dec_eNEWS.html

Seasons Greetings from AFCC
by Peter Salem, AFCC Executive Director
As the end of 2007 nears we can look back on another exciting and successful year for AFCC. Membership has eclipsed 3,300 and continues to grow every month. We experienced the first conference sell-out in AFCC history, with more than 900 attendees at the Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. And at our Fall Regional Conference in Columbus, Ohio, we were honored to be invited to join Chief Justice Thomas Moyer at the Supreme Court of Ohio. AFCC Chapters continue to thrive, and this year we have received letters of intent from AFCC colleagues in Louisiana and Ontario indicating that more new Chapters are on the way.As we celebrate our successes, we also reflect on the AFCC mission: To improve the lives of children and families through the resolution of family conflict. We are proud that AFCC members provide leadership in improving practices, processes and systems to support children and families. And we are grateful to all AFCC members for your contributions in support of this effort.Happy holidays, and best wishes for a healthy, happy and peaceful 2008.

AFCC 45th Annual Conference
Conference Program and Hotel Reservations Online
The conference program for AFCC's 45th Annual Conference, Fitting the Forum to the Family: Emerging Challenges for Family Courts, May 28-31, 2008 in Vancouver, BC is now available online. The program features 80 conference sessions, new three-hour advanced workshops, pre-conference institutes and four plenary sessions. Nearly 200 presenters, including Janet R. Johnston, Ph.D., Hayne Wai, M.A., Jennifer McIntosh, Ph.D., Peter G. Jaffe, Ph.D., Julie Macfarlane, Ph.D., LL.M., Woody Mosten, J.D., and Joan B. Kelly, Ph.D. will address the latest topics that impact children and families. The conference will take place at the Weston Bayshore, adjacent to 1,000 acre Stanley Park and a short walk to downtown Vancouver. Hotel rooms have sold out in recent years for annual conferences, so please make your reservations early. The conference program, online registration and hotel reservations can be accessed by clicking the link below. Make plans to join AFCC in Vancouver today!
Conference program and more information...
Photos of the Westin Bayshore...

Passport Reminder
All U.S. citizens traveling to and from Canada are now required to have a valid passport. If you are considering attending the conference, please plan ahead. Information on applying for or renewing passports can be found at the U.S. Department of State Web site by clicking the link below.
More information...

AFCC Annual Appeal
Conference Scholarship Application Available in January
Thanks to the outstanding support of AFCC member donations, AFCC will establish an outreach program to support the initiatives of the Domestic Violence and Family Courts Project. Since 2001, AFCC's Resource Development Fund has granted nearly 70 professionals and graduate students a scholarship to attend an AFCC conference. AFCC is awarding a record breaking 25 scholarships to its 45th Annual Conference, May 28-31, 2008 in Vancouver, BC. A limited number of scholarships will be designated to Court Services professionals, international participants, AFCC chapter members, graduate students and professionals in the conference host community. Look for the scholarship application on the AFCC Web site in January. An update on funded projects from AFCC's Resource Development Fund, can be accessed by following the link below.
Resource Development Fund Update (PDF)...

Have you donated yet?
To date, 55 of AFCC's 3,300 members have contributed to this year's campaign. Our goal is to double this number by the end of the year! Your support will make it possible for AFCC to offer more scholarships in future years.
Donate online...

Ontario Chapter of AFCC Forging Forward
Join Ontario Colleagues at the University of Toronto in January
by Justice Emile R. Kruzick, Orangeville, ON
Planning for an Ontario Chapter of AFCC continues to be enthusiastic and vibrant following a meeting and discussions at AFCC's 44th Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. earlier this year. Two meetings have been held in Ontario since the conference with a third to be scheduled in January 2008 regarding the formation of the Chapter. The launch of the AFCC Ontario Chapter is now set for the evening of January 24, 2008 at the University of Toronto's Law School located in the heart of the City of Toronto.
Read more...

2008 Family Law Writing Competition
AFCC and Hofstra University School of Law are sponsoring the annual Family Law Writing Competition. The competition is run in cooperation with the editorial staff of Family Court Review, the academic and research journal of AFCC. The subject of entries may be within any area of family law. Topics which focus on international or interdisciplinary subjects of family law are especially encouraged. Articles should concentrate on a current legal issue and must have a strong foundation in legal research. Submissions must be received by March 14, 2008. For all the details on the 2008 Family Law Writing Competition, please click the link below.
More information (PDF)...

Alburquerque Selected for 2008 Child Custody Evaluation and Parent Education Conferences
Mark your calendar for AFCC's Eighth Symposium on Child Custody Evaluations, September 25-27, 2008 and AFCC's Eighth Congress on Parent Education and Access Programs, September 26-27, 2008. For the first time, AFCC will hold both conferences simultaneously. The conferences will take place at the Albuquerque Marriott, overlooking the magnificent Sandia Mountains. AFCC has secured the special room rate of $122 per night. Be on the look out for the Call for Presenters in the next issue of the AFCC eNEWS.
Alburquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau...

Advanced Issues in Parenting Coordination and Abuse and Alienation Trainings in Texas
Register today for two outstanding trainings in collaboration with AFCC's Texas Chapter this February in Dallas/Irving, Texas. Advanced Issues in Parenting Coordination: Functional Co-parenting for High Conflict Families will be presented by Matthew J. Sullivan, Ph.D., February 18-19, 2008 and The Battle Between Abuse and Alienation: Assessment, Diagnosis and Interventions will be presented by Leslie M. Drozd, Ph.D., February 20-21, 2008. Each training is eligible for 13 hours of continuing education for psychologists, LPCs, MFTs and Social Workers; approval of CLE credits is pending. The training brochure, hotel information and more is available by clicking the link below.
More information...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Think Globally in Vancouver

"Where else can one attend so many workshops presented by internationally recognized experts on family court issues?" -Cherie Simmers, Bartow, Florida (AFCC's 44th Annual Conference)
AFCC's 45th Annual Conference, May 28-31, 2008 in Vancouver, BC, will convene 190 presenters from Australia, Canada, Ethiopia, Israel, New Zealand, South Africa, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States. Conference participants regularly travel from more than twenty countries around the globe. Nowhere else will you be able to interact with such a wide range of international and interdisciplinary family court professionals all under one roof. Nearly 40% of the presenters are from abroad and 60% of the conference sessions feature a presenter from outside the United States. For more information on the presenters and each workshop, please view the conference program by clicking the link below.
View conference program (PDF)...

RESEARCH UPDATE
Single Mothers Limit Contact with Former In-laws

Courtesy of J.M. Craig Press, Inc.
When parents divorce, family support can be very important when a parent rears children by him/herself, and grandparents can play a vital role. This study examined the nature of relationships between single parents and their own parents and former in-laws.
Read more...

FEATURED ARTICLES
Communicating Collaboratively in Cyberspace: What Couples Counselors Can Teach Dispute Resolvers About Email

by David A. Hoffman, courtesy of Mediate.com
Mediators and Collaborative Practice (CP) professionals receive training in communication skills, but that training typically involves in-person communications. In a world where email is beginning to replace much of our face-to-face and telephonic communication, there is a need for training that addresses email communications. The purpose of this article is to begin to fill that void in training by examining some of the ways in which e-mail communication differs from other types of communication. In addition, the article will explore the lessons we can learn from mental health professionals about how to communicate more effectively using electronic media.
Read more...

For the Records: Restoring a Right to Adult Adoptees
by Madelyn Freundlich, courtesy of the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute
This publication, released in November for National Adoption Awareness month, represents the most comprehensive examination to date of one of the most controversial, emotional issues in the modern adoption world: whether adopted people, once they become adults, should have access to their original birth information. This report suggests that all states change their laws so that the answer is "yes."
Read more...

AFCC AWARD NOMINATIONS
AFCC is seeking nominees for the following awards to be presented at AFCC's 45th Annual Conference in Vancouver, BC, May 28-31, 2008.

John E. VanDuzer Distinguished Service Award: Recognizes outstanding contributions and/or achievements by members of AFCC.

Stanley Cohen Research Award: Recognizes outstanding research and/or research achievements in the field of family and divorce.

Irwin Cantor Innovative Program Award: Recognizes innovation in court-connected or court-related programs. Nominations for this award should be for programs, not individuals. The nomination deadline is March 15, 2008. For further information on award criteria and nominating instructions, please visit the "Awards Committee" page on the AFCC Web site by following the link below.
More information...

MARK YOUR CALENDAR
AFCC 45th Annual Conference

May 28-31, 2008
Westin Bayshore Resort
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Conference Program (PDF)

AFCC Trainings
Advanced Issues in Parenting Coordination: Functional Co-parenting for High Conflict Families
Matthew J. Sullivan, Ph.D.
February 18-19, 2008Wyndham DFW Airport NorthDallas/Irving, Texas
www.afccnet.org

The Battle Between Abuse and Alienation: Assessment, Diagnosis and Interventions
Leslie M. Drozd, Ph.D.
February 20-21, 2008Wyndham DFW Airport NorthDallas/Irving, Texas
www.afccnet.org

ABOUT AFCC eNEWS
AFCC eNEWS is a bi-monthly e-newsletter published by the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC). AFCC eNEWS provides professionals with time sensitive and up-to-date topics including case law updates, research innovations and international news.
AFCC eNEWS archive...

Web Site Version:
If you are having trouble viewing this email correctly, please view the Web site version by clicking here.

Friday, November 2, 2007

AFCC eNEWS - October 2007

Please click the following link for the website version: http://afccnet.org/members/eNewsletter/2007oct_eNEWS.html

AFCC and NCJFCJ Domestic Violence and Family Courts Project Update
Outcomes from the AFCC and National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) cosponsored Think Tank on Domestic Violence and Family Courts, February 15-17, 2007 at the Johnson Foundation's Wingspread Conference Center are beginning to unfold. A special issue of Family Court Review, with articles co-authored by writers from the domestic violence advocacy and family courts community, will be published next spring to address topics including terminology; differentiated approaches to parenting plans; screening; cultural issues; and dispute resolution interventions. AFCC is planning conference sessions at its 45th Annual Conference, in Vancouver, British Columbia, May 28-31, 2008. In September, the AFCC and NCJFCJ Regional Training Conference featured a plenary session, Domestic Violence, Family Courts and Differentiation: A Look at the Future?, by the project's co-reporters Clare Dalton, LL.M. and Nancy Ver Steegh, J.D., M.S.W. AFCC members can access the audio from this session by logging onto the AFCC Member Center and clicking the link below.
More information...

Columbus Regional Training Conference Audio Online
Conference audio from the AFCC and NCJFCJ Regional Training Conference, Applications for High Conflict Families, Domestic Violence and Alienation, September 27-29, 2007 in Columbus, Ohio, is available online. All sessions can be purchased in CD, CD ROM or MP3 format through Digital Conference Providers, Inc. at https://www.dcporder.com/afcc/. AFCC eNEWS subscribers are invited to listen to free online audio samples of all conference sessions in MP3 format by clicking the link below.
NEW! Preview conference audio in MP3 format...

AFCC 45th Annual Conference in Vancouver
Featuring: New Three-Hour Advanced Workshops; New Programs to Build your Practice Skills;Breathtaking Coastline and Mountainside Views; and much more!
Start planning now for AFCC's 45th Annual Conference, Fitting the Forum to the Family: Emerging Challenges for Family Courts, May 28-31, 2008 in Vancouver, British Columbia. The conference takes place at the Westin Bayshore Resort, located along historic 1,000 acre Stanley Park and steps from downtown Vancouver. Conference attendees will receive the special room rate of CAD $178/single or CAD $199/double. In 2005, Vancouver was named the best city to live in the world, in 2010 it will host the winter Olympic Games-don't miss AFCC's return to Canada in 2008! The next issue of AFCC eNEWS will feature a top ten list of Vancouver's best activities and attractions. If you have any questions on AFCC's 45th Annual Conference, please contact AFCC at afcc@afccnet.org or (608) 664-3750.
Vancouver: Officially the Best City in the World (video)...

Don't Forget your Passport
All U.S. citizens traveling to and from Canada are now required to have a valid passport. If you are considering attending the conference, please plan ahead as passports can take up to six months to be processed. Information on applying for or renewing passports can be found at the U.S. Department of State Web site by clicking the link below.
More information...

AFCC Hosts Think Tank on Child Welfare Decision Making
by Bernie Mayer, Ph.D. and Joan Kathol, M.A., (Candidate), Werner Institute for Negotiation and Dispute Resolution, Creighton University
When the use of mediation and related dispute resolution procedures in child welfare decision making was first introduced 25 years ago, it seemed to many a rather outlandish idea. How could mediation, facilitated decision making or other consensus building processes be used for such complicated problems with seriously disrupted families and troubled parents in a system that was overburdened and underfinanced, and where the stakes were so high?
Read article...
Family Court Review Update
Special Issue in January 2008 on International Perspectives

The January 2008 issue of Family Court Review (FCR), features a special issue concerning the international perspectives on including children in family law proceedings. The Guest Editor is AFCC member Dr. Jennifer McIntosh of Victoria, Australia. Dr. McIntosh is a member of FCR's Editorial Board and the Director of Family Transitions in Australia. The issue also features an article by Alastair Nicholson, former AFCC President and former Chief Judge of the Family Court of Australia. AFCC members receive full print subscription and searchable electronic access, dating back to the first issue in 1963. Please click the link below to access FCR online.
Read FCR Online Archives (Member Login Non-member)...

New Family Court Review Submission Guidelines
Family Court Review (FCR) has updated its submission guidelines. The new guidelines include a detailed description of the journal and list different categories of articles that are suitable for publication. For more information, please contact FCR's Student Managing Editor Laura Daly at laurabdaly@gmail.com. Please click the link below to view FCR's submission guidelines.
FCR Submission Guidelines (PDF)...

AFCC Members Present at University of Missouri-Columbia Symposium
by John Lande, Director of the LL.M. Program in Dispute Resolution and Associate Professor, University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law
The University of Missouri-Columbia Center for the Study of Dispute Resolution held a symposium on October 12, 2007 entitled, Innovative Models of Lawyering: Collaborative Law and Other Processes. AFCC member David A. Hoffman, founder of the Boston Law Collaborative, gave the keynote address, Colliding Worlds of Dispute Resolution: Towards a Unified Field Theory of ADR. Comparing mediation, Collaborative and Cooperative family law cases in his firm, he found that “the most robust predictor of cost, time and contentiousness is not the choice of process but rather the intentions, skill, and flexibility of the parties and counsel.”
Read more...

Uniform Collaborative Law Act Drafting Committee Invites Comments
by Brittany Shrader, Hofstra University School of Law, Hempstead, NY
The National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws is currently drafting a proposed Uniform Collaborative Law Act (UCLA). AFCC member and Hofstra Law School Professor Andrew Schepard is the appointed Reporter for the UCLA drafting process. The goal of the drafting committee is to develop a statute that defines collaborative law and clarifies its role in modern legal advocacy. In addition, a few states have already independently implemented collaborative law statutes, so a uniform law could help bring consistency to the quality and nature of the process across the United States. Hofstra Law School hosts a Web site that includes a list of committee members; background research on collaborative law; current and past drafts of the UCLA; upcoming events; related links; and a section for comments. The Web site can be accessed by clicking the link below.
More information...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Drops from Down Under: New Research on Less Adversarial Trial and Child Responsive Program

by Hon. Graham Mullane, New South Wales, Australia
In July 2007, a report by Australia's Family Transitions was submitted to the Family Court of Australia, regarding the Child Responsive Program operating within the Less Adversarial Trial. Family Transitions is a clinical research and training center dedicated to the needs of children and parents experiencing family separation. The report, authored by AFCC member Dr. Jennifer McIntosh and Ms. Caroline Long, can be accessed on the Family Court of Australia Web site by clicking the link below.
More information...

Canadian Department of Justice Features New Resources for Children Section on Web Site
The Canadian Department of Justice released a new resource online to help children cope with separation or divorce. Resources for Children is a user friendly database, which lists over two hundred Canadian and international resources in the area of separation and divorce. The Web site is useful for parents and for professionals who work with children affected by separation or divorce. A brief description is provided for each resource which includes books, workbooks, videos, web sites and games. There is also the option to view all resources available for a particular age group. The Web site can be accessed by clicking the link below.
More information...

Austria Holds First Divorce Fair
Courtesy of the BBC NEWS
Austria is to host the world's first "divorce fair" this month, aimed at helping couples untie the knot as painlessly as possible. The event, taking place in Vienna, then Linz and Graz, will allow would-be divorcees to consult lawyers about their rights and seek advice. The divorce rate in Austria hit an all time high of 50% in 2006, with 66% of marriages in Vienna ending in divorce.
Read more...

RESEARCH UPDATE
Parents See Child Support and Visitation as Connected

Courtesy of J.M. Craig Press, Inc.
This study addressed the question of how parents viewed their responsibilities toward their children and former partners. The authors examined this question using the two concepts: Equity meant that "rewards/outcomes should be allocated in proportion to one's inputs" [p. 383]. For example, a father's right to see and make decisions about his child should be related to his financial contributions; and Equality suggested that, "rewards/outcomes and inputs should be independent of one another" [p. 383]. That is, fathers should have the right to see their children and be involved in decision making regardless of their financial contributions.
Read more...

CASE LAW UPDATE
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Finds Domestic Violence Police Response Case Admissible

by Barbara Glesner Fines, Ruby M. Hulen Professor of Law, University of Missouri-Kansas City
For the first time, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has declared that the United States is responsible under the American Declaration on the Rights and Duties of Man for protecting victims of domestic violence from private acts of violence. The Commission found the case of Jessica Lenahan's (Gonzales) admissible. In Castle Rock v. Gonzales, the United States Supreme Court held that Jessica did not have a property interest in prompt police response to enforce her domestic violence restraining order. Ms. Lenahan (Gonzales) has since then pursued this action before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
Read more...

FEATURED ARTICLES
FAQs About Mediation To Stay Married

by Laurie Israel, courtesy of Mediate.com
What is Mediation to Stay Married? Mediation to Stay Married (also known as Marital Mediation) is a method of helping couples who are experiencing marital problems and who would prefer to stay together rather than get divorced.
Read more...

Balkan heartbreak a hit in Berlin: A travelling exhibition devoted to the theme of failed relationships is proving a hit in Berlin.
Courtesy of the BBC NEWS
The Museum of Broken Relationships asks people in the cities it visits to donate mementos of everything from short flings to painful divorces. Originating in Croatia, the show has visited Bosnia-Herzegovina and Slovenia and has amassed more than 300 exhibits. Berliners have donated more than 30 objects, including a wedding dress and an axe used to break an ex's furniture.
Read more...

MARK YOUR CALENDAR
AFCC 45th Annual Conference
May 28-31, 2008Westin Bayshore ResortVancouver, BC, Canada
Save the Date (PDF)

AFCC Trainings

Parenting Coordination: Helping High Conflict Parents Resolve Disputes
Joan B. Kelly, Ph.D.
December 3-4, 2007
University of Baltimore Student Business Center
Baltimore, Maryland
www.afccnet.org

The Battle Between Abuse and Alienation: Assessment, Diagnosis and Interventions
Leslie M. Drozd, Ph.D.
December 5-6, 2007
University of Baltimore Student Business Center
Baltimore, Maryland
www.afccnet.org

Advanced Issues in Parenting Coordination: Functional Co-parenting for High Conflict Families
Matthew J. Sullivan, Ph.D.
February 18-19, 2008
Wyndham DFW Airport North
Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas
www.afccnet.org

The Battle Between Abuse and Alienation: Assessment, Diagnosis and Interventions
Leslie M. Drozd, Ph.D.
February 20-21, 2008
Wyndham DFW Airport North
Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas
www.afccnet.org

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ABOUT AFCC eNEWS
AFCC eNEWS is a bi-monthly e-newsletter published by the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC). AFCC eNEWS provides professionals with time sensitive and up-to-date topics including case law updates, research innovations and international news.
AFCC eNEWS archive...

Web Site Version:
If you are having trouble viewing this email correctly, please view the Web site version by clicking here.

Editor:
David Vigliotta

AFCC welcomes your comments, questions or feedback. Please email the editor by clicking here.

Friday, August 24, 2007

AFCC eNEWS - August 2007

Please click the following link for the website version: http://afccnet.org/members/eNewsletter/2007aug_eNEWS.html

Columbus Early Bird Registration and Hotel Deadline September 4
AFCC and NCJFCJ Regional Training Conference

Columbus conference registration and hotel rates will increase after September 4, 2007. Register now and take advantage of the lowest rates offered for the AFCC and NCJFCJ Regional Training Conference, Applications for High Conflict Families, Domestic Violence and Alienation, September 27-29, 2007 in Columbus, Ohio. The Hyatt Regency Columbus special room rate of $131 will increase to $159 after September 4, 2007, if rooms are still available. Conference participants can look forward to many networking opportunities, including a private reception hosted by the Supreme Court of Ohio on Friday evening. The program brochure, online registration, online hotel reservations and more can be found by clicking the link below.
More information...

Introducing Parenting Coordination to Unified Family Court Cases
by Hon. Sandy Karlan and Linda Fieldstone, M.Ed., 11th Judicial Circuit, Miami-Dade County, Florida

Two parents were involved in a high conflict custody case, mediation was unsuccessful, they each went through multiple attorneys and the judge designated a parenting coordinator to concentrate on the non-legal child-related issues of the case. This typical scenario is replicated in jurisdictions across the United States and Canada with great success-the parents' collaboration improves and they begin to concentrate more on their children than their litigation process.
Read article...

45th Annual Conference Call for Presenters
The Call for Presenters for AFCC's 45th Annual Conference, Fitting the Forum to the Family: Emerging Challenges for Family Courts, May 28-31, 2008 in Vancouver, BC, Canada is available online. If you are interested in participating as a presenter, please submit a proposal before October 5, 2007. The conference will take place at the Westin Bayshore resort, nestled on the coast and steps from downtown Vancouver.
View Call for Presenters (PDF)...

Passport Reminder for Vancouver
All U.S. citizens traveling to and from Canada are now required to have a valid passport. If you are considering attending the conference, please plan ahead as passports can take up to six months to be processed. Information on applying for or renewing passports can be found at the U.S. Department of State Web site by clicking the link below.
More information...

Parenting Coordination and Alienation Trainings at the University of Baltimore in December
Mark your calendars for two outstanding training programs in December at the University of Baltimore Student Business Center in Baltimore, Maryland. Joan B. Kelly, Ph.D., will present Parenting Coordination: Helping High Conflict Parents Resolve Disputes, December 3-4, 2007 and Leslie M. Drozd, Ph.D. will present The Battle Between Abuse and Alienation: Assessment, Diagnosis and Interventions, December 5-6, 2007. The training brochure, including registration and hotel information, will be available on the Training page of the AFCC Web site soon.
More information...

AFCC Cosponsors NITA Program in Boston
AFCC Members Receive 5% Registration Discount

The National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA) is hosting, Modern Divorce Advocacy: In Parenting, Custody, and Business Valuation Disputes, October 25-27, 2007 at Suffolk University Law School in Boston, MA. The training program is in collaboration with AFCC and Suffolk University Law School. Please click the link below for the program brochure.
View program brochure (PDF)...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Drops from Down Under
by Hon. Graham Mullane, New South Wales, Australia

This issue of Drops from Down Under features recent changes for family dispute resolution practitioners introduced by the Shared Parenting Act. Additional topics include recommendations of the Victorian Law Reform Commission's final report on Assisted Reproductive Technologies and Adoption, and anti-discrimination laws with Australia's first gay couple to adopt a child.
Read more...

RESEARCH UPDATE
Adults Are Not Good at Determining When Children Lie
Courtesy of J.M. Craig Press, Inc.

Unless children tell obvious lies, we are inclined to believe them. This may be especially true when the stakes are high, such as in cases of child sexual abuse allegations and other forms of abuse. Performing child custody evaluations requires interviewing a large number of people in addition to the parties and their children. A custody evaluator may be in the position of having to determine if a child is lying or not, and how well collaterals may be able to discern the truth of a child's report. This article addresses the question of just how good adults are at determining the veracity of children's reports.
Read more...

CASE LAW UPDATE
Florida Expands Rights of Unmarried Biological Fathers

by Barbara Glesner Fines, Ruby M. Hulen Professor of Law, University of Missouri-Kansas City
The Florida Supreme Court has held that an unmarried father's parental rights may not be terminated based solely on failure to register in the putative father registry. Rather, the adoption agency must serve the potential father with notice of the registry and his rights may be terminated only if he fails to comply with the requirements of that subsection within the thirty-day period. The court noted that registration alone is insufficient to prevent termination of parental rights of unmarried fathers. Heart of Adoptions v. J.A., Florida Supreme Court (July 12, 2007). View opinion (PDF)...
For more daily case law and other legal developments, visit the Family Law Prof Blog.

FEATURED ARTICLE
The Octave Of Primary Emotions
by Charles B. Parselle, courtesy of Mediate.com

Emotion is not something to be concerned about. Indeed, in this sense of the word, concern is itself an emotion; it is a low intensity expression of fear. Mediators are sometimes taught that emotion is preferably avoided in mediation, or at best to be 'handled' prior to getting to the job at hand; in this respect, mediation has come to mirror the legal system, which goes to considerable lengths to keep emotional expression out of court rooms and law offices. Many of the popular books on the subject barely discuss the emotions at all; instead, they focus on methods to 'deal with' emotions should they intrude.
Read more...

NEWS FROM COLLABORATING ORGANIZATIONS
National Quality Improvement Center on Non-Resident Fathers and the Child Welfare System (QIC NRF)
Courtesy of ABA Center on Children and Family Law

The QIC NRF is a new collaborative project between the American Humane Association, the American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law, and National Fatherhood Initiative and is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau. The focus of this project is a result of the federal Child and Family Services Reviews and the federally funded "What About the Dads?" report, which indicated that there is little meaningful engagement occurring between the child welfare system and fathers. The QIC NRF promotes the importance of gaining more knowledge regarding the engagement of non-resident fathers and their children who are involved in the child welfare system.
Read more...

Save the Date! Conflict Resolution Day
Courtesy of Association for Conflict Resolution

Conflict Resolution Day is an international celebration held annually on the third Thursday in October. The date for Conflict Resolution Day 2007 is October 18. Join in and promote conflict resolution in your community!
More information...

Words Work: Helping Kids Communicate Effectively
Courtesy of ABA Section of Dispute Resolution
Words Work was created by the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution to teach youth leadership, relationship, and communication skills. With these skills, youth will have the tools to become leaders and productive citizens of the future. The premise of the program is that the communication skills associated with conflict resolution processes such as mediation and facilitation are necessary life skills, not simply skills to call upon when conflict emerges.
Read more...

NEW! Featured Links and Media
AFCC receives many outstanding e-newsletters from around the world. This section provides you with links to articles, video and/or other interactive media that we find interesting.

NPR: Gay Marriage Laws Interactive Map
From link below, click on a state to learn about legislation or court cases on gay marriage that are on the books or in the works.
View Gay Marriage Laws Interactive Map...

The Annie E. Casey Foundation: KIDS COUNT Data Book
In July 2007, the Annie E. Casey Foundation released its 18th annual KIDS COUNT Data Book, a national and state-by-state effort to track the status of children in the U.S.
KIDS COUNT Data Book...
Children in single-parent families, by State...
Children in single parent families by, Race...

Youth Today's Grants E-Blast
Youth Today sends a weekly email highlighting grants offered by organizations that support children and families. Grant topics include education, juvenile justice, parenting, substance abuse, youth development and more.
View grants (PDF)...

Good Morning America: Robin Roberts Covering Virtual Visitation
Click here to watch video...

Web Site Version:
If you are having trouble viewing this email correctly, please view the Web site version by clicking here.

AFCC welcomes your comments, questions or feedback. Please email the editor by clicking here.

Friday, June 22, 2007

AFCC eNEWS - June 2007

Please click the following link for the website version:
http://afccnet.org/members/eNewsletter/2007jun_eNEWS.html

AFCC and NCJFCJ Cosponsor Regional Training Conference in Columbus
Conference Brochure and Scholarship Application Online

The conference program and scholarship application for the AFCC and NCJFCJ Regional Training Conference, Applications for High Conflict Families, Domestic Violence and Alienation, September 27-29, 2007 in Columbus are now available online. The conference features three full days of program tracks designed for judges, mediators, custody evaluators, lawyers and parenting coordinators. Participants can sign up for a full track or mix and match the sessions that are of most interest. The conference takes place at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Columbus, which is offering the special rate of $131 per night for a single or double room. Please make your reservations online or by calling the hotel at (800) 233-1234 and identify yourself with AFCC to receive the special group rate. Make plans today to join AFCC and NCJFCJ for this first-time conference collaboration.
Conference Brochure (PDF)
Scholarship application...

AFCC's 44th Annual Conference Sells Out in Washington, D.C.
AFCC Thanks Conference Sponsors

More than 900 participants traveled from 18 countries to take part in AFCC's 44th Annual Conference, May 30-June 2, 2007 in Washington, D.C. The conference featured record-breaking attendance, nearly 70 sessions on the latest topics that impact children and families and more than 180 presenters from Canada, Taiwan, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, New Zealand and the United States. AFCC would like to thank its conference sponsors for their generous support in helping make this conference a success: Platinum Sponsor UpToParents.org, Networking Sponsor Complete Equity Markets, Inc. and Gold Sponsor the OurFamilyWizard website. Please click the link below for the attendee verification form and more information on AFCC's 44th Annual Conference.
AFCC Past Conferences Page...

Free Domestic Violence Workshop and Plenary Session Audio in MP3 Format
AFCC's 44th Annual Conference

AFCC's 44th Annual Conference audio provider, Digital Conference Providers, Inc., is offering free online access to audio for the workshop, Differential Assessment and Intervention in Domestic Violence Cases, presented by Hon Susan B. Carbon, Billie Lee Dunford-Jackson, J.D., Hon. William G. Jones (ret.) and Nancy Ver Steegh, J.D., M.S.W. AFCC eNEWS subscribers are invited to listen online by clicking the link below. AFCC members also have access to plenary sessions from the conference for free download by logging into the Member Center on the AFCC Web site.
Listen to Differential Assessment and Intervention in Domestic Violence Cases...
Plenary Session Audio in MP3 Format (Members Only)

RESEARCH UPDATE
Mothers with ADHD Have Children with More Problems
Courtesy of J.M. Craig Press, Inc.

We have known for some time that certain mental health problems, such as depression, serious mental illness, and substance abuse can impact child rearing when they are severe enough. This is the first study we have seen that examines the role of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in child rearing. The authors' major hypothesis was that ADHD mothers would monitor their children differently from other mothers.
Read more...

CASE LAW UPDATE
Arbitration of Divorce Actions
by Barbara Glesner Fines, Ruby M. Hulen Professor of Law, University of Missouri-Kansas City

The Michigan Court of Appeals held that a divorce court erred in granting default judgment against the husband for failing to participation in arbitration in light of the court's own failure to comply with the requirements of the Domestic Relations Arbitration statute regarding written agreements to arbitrate and judicial disclosures regarding the process. The split opinion provides interesting reading as the judges debate the importance of the procedural protections in the arbitration statute against the importance of judicial contempt power.
Johnson v. Johnson, 2007 Mich. App. LEXIS 1480 (June 7, 2007) View opinion (PDF)For more daily case law and other legal developments, visit the Family Law Prof Blog.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Justice Canada's New Publication for Children
Courtesy of the Department of Justice Canada

The Department of Justice Canada has a new publication for children between the ages of nine and twelve. Entitled, What Happens Next? Information for kids about separation and divorce, this booklet is designed to help children learn about family law and give them an idea of the legal processes that parents may go through when they split up. It is also meant to help children realize it's normal for them to have an emotional response to their parents' separation and encourages them to talk with someone they trust. A PDF of the 64-page booklet is available in its entirety online by following the link below.
More information...

Drops from Down Under - Publication Gone Wrong
by Hon. Graham Mullane, New South Wales, Australia

Under section 121 of the Australian Family Law Act, it is an offence to publish names of the children, the parties or witnesses in proceedings in the Family Court or information identifying any of them. There is an exception where the publication is permitted by an order of the Court.
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News from Across the Pond
by Karen Mackay, Chief Executive, Resolution, Kent, England

Family law and the family law environment is in a state of constant flux in England and Wales (Scotland and Northern Ireland are separate jurisdictions). Part of Resolution's job, as the largest association of family lawyers in the UK, is to lobby for better family law and better procedures, so the family justice system works in the best interests of the users, the clients. Solicitors (attorneys), as repeat players in the family justice system, have a unique insight into the effect of the operation of the courts and family legislation on those people who find themselves often reluctantly, frequently fearfully and almost always at the most emotionally fraught times in their lives - caught up in the system.
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Judicial Training Program in Iran
by Dr. Willie McCarney, Past President, International Association of Youth and Family Judges, Past Chairman of the Northern Ireland Youth and Family Courts Association, Belfast, Ireland

In 2006, I was invited as one of two international experts to assist with a Judicial Training Program in Iran. As is usual in such circumstances, I began by doing a little homework.
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FEATURED ARTICLES
Negotiating Like a Woman - How Gender Impacts Communication between the Sexes
by Nina Meierding and Jan Frankel Schau, courtesy of Mediate.com

Anyone who has ever been married will admit that men and women argue differently. It should be no surprise to learn that women and men negotiate and communicate differently as well. After many years of practicing law and serving as mediators, the authors believe that there are certain ways than men communicate that are distinct from "a woman's voice." Mediators and representatives can utilize their knowledge of gender communication to foster better resolutions between parties.
Read more...

International Academy of Collaborative Professionals Responds to Colorado Bar Advisory Opinion
by Talia Katz, Executive Director, International Academy of Collaborative Professionals
Three state statutes have been enacted recognizing the legitimacy of collaborative law (Texas, North Carolina, and California) and ethics opinions regarding collaborative law have been rendered in six jurisdictions in the United States. Five of these opinions concluded that the practice of collaborative law is consistent with the code of legal ethics in that jurisdiction. The most recent opinion, from the state of Colorado in February 2007, concluded that a collaborative participation agreement that lawyers as well as clients execute violates rule 1.7 of the Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct. The IACP Task Force on Ethics has published a response to the Colorado opinion.
View CBA Ethics Opinion...
View IACP Ethics Task Force Response (PDF)

AFCC NEWS SPOTLIGHT
AFCC and NCJFCJ Cosponsor Wingspread Think Tank on Domestic Violence and Family Courts
by B. L. Dunford-Jackson, Co-Director, Family Violence Department, NCJFCJ and Peter Salem, Executive Director, AFCC

Family court judges, lawyers, domestic violence advocates, social science and legal scholars, court administrators and psychologists were among the nearly 40 participants who attended a Think Tank on Domestic Violence and Family Courts, cosponsored by AFCC and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) on February 15-17, 2007 at the Johnson Foundation's Wingspread Conference Center in Racine, Wisconsin.
Read article...

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Tuesday, May 8, 2007

AFCC Chicago Trainings in June

Join AFCC in June at the Loyola Law Center in downtown Chicago for two outstanding training programs featuring popular AFCC presenters Joan B. Kelly and Christie Coates.

Joan B. Kelly, Ph.D., will present Parenting Coordination: Helping High Conflict Parents Resolve Disputes, June 18-19, 2007 and Christine Coates, M.Ed., J.D. will present Advanced Issues for Family Mediators: Beyond the Forty-Hour Training, June 20-21, 2007.

Each training program is eligible for 12 CE hours for psychologists and both trainings are pending approval by the Illinois MCLE Board for 12 CLE credits. AFCC members receive a $65 discount per training.

A block of rooms has been secured at the Seneca Hotel & Suites (www.senecahotel.com), just a block from Michigan Avenue in Chicago’s Magnificent Mile district. The hotel is less than a five minute walk from the Loyola Law Center. For reservations, call (800) 800-6261 and ask for the special rate of $179 for a Deluxe Suite with King bed or $199 for a Deluxe Suite with two Queen beds per night. Please secure your hotel reservations today, as the hotel may sell out.

Please view the program brochure for more information at www.afccnet.org/training or contact AFCC at afcc@afccnet.org or (608) 664-3750.

Thursday, April 19, 2007

AFCC eNEWS - April 2007

Please click the following link for the Web site version:
http://afccnet.org/members/eNewsletter/2007apr_eNEWS.html

44th Annual Conference - Capital Hilton Sold Out
Alternate Hotel Reservations

The Capital Hilton is sold out on several nights during AFCC's 44th Annual Conference, May 30-June 2, 2007 in Washington, D.C. Prior to booking alternate hotel reservations, please check with the Capital Hilton for cancellations by calling (800) 445-8667 or (202) 393-1000. AFCC has made arrangements for alternate accommodations at the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown and the Hilton Washington Embassy Row at a special rate of $175 per night. Please identify yourself with AFCC to receive the special group rate. For more information, please follow the link below to the AFCC Conferences page and click "Alternate Hotel Reservations."
More information...

Columbus Regional Training Conference
Call for Presenters Deadline Approaching

The Call for Presenters deadline for AFCC's Regional Training Conference, September 27-29, 2007 in Columbus, Ohio is almost here. If you are interested in participating as a presenter, please submit a proposal before April 23, 2007. The conference is cosponsored by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) and will showcase three full days of program tracks designed for judges, mediators, custody evaluators, lawyers and parenting coordinators.
Call for Presenters (PDF)

AFCC Chicago Trainings in June
AFCC is offering two outstanding training programs for professionals who work with high conflict families. The program takes place at the Loyola Law Center in Chicago, Illinois. Joan B. Kelly, Ph.D., will present Parenting Coordination: Helping High Conflict Parents Resolve Disputes, June 18-19, 2007 and Christine A. Coates, M.Ed., J.D. will present Advanced Issues for Family Mediators: Beyond the Forty-Hour Training, June 20-21, 2007. Each training program is eligible for 12 CE hours for psychologists and both trainings are pending approval by the Illinois MCLE Board for 12 CLE credits. AFCC members receive a $65 discount per training.
More information...

AFCC Board of Directors
The AFCC Nominating Committee hereby provides notice to the membership that the following members have been nominated to serve a three-year term on the Board of Directors beginning July 1, 2007:
View nominations...

CAADRS Offers Sample ADR Rules Online
One of the most important tasks a court must undertake in the creation of an ADR program is to write rules for it that are clear, unambiguous and thorough. To help courts with this process, the Center for Analysis of Alternative Dispute Resolution Systems (CAADRS) with the support of a JAMS Foundation grant, has identified good rules governing ADR programs in the courts. The rules come from state and federal courts for programs for civil, family, child dependency, probate, bankruptcy, and appellate cases. They cover mediation, arbitration, early neutral evaluation, summary jury trials, and other processes. The rules are to be used as samples only and can be accessed on the CAADRS Web site by clicking the link below.
More information...

RESEARCH UPDATE
Parents Affected By Divorce
Courtesy of J.M. Craig Press, Inc.

There is ample data to support the conclusion that divorce has adverse effects on adults. The next generation of research will examine these effects in more detail. This is one of the first articles we have seen that does so. The authors hypothesized that while divorce harms parental psychological well being, the ill effects may be greater when they have young children. Interviews were conducted with nearly 5,000 married couples; they were interviewed a second time, and some had divorced. For all participants, the authors measured psychological well-being in a variety of ways, economic resources, and the ages of the children.
Read more...

FEATURED ARTICLES
Negotiating Custody with High Conflict Couples
by Anita Vestal and Linda Munro, courtesy of Mediate.com

Divorce litigation, especially when there is contested custody, is rarely a straightforward negotiation process. Issues of divorce and custody can be negotiated out of court when certain conditions are present to move the couple to resolution of the issues. Mediated settlements are increasingly popular with both divorcing spouses and the judicial system. However, couples who cannot communicate with one another, and who have engaged in behavior that is threatening, coercive, manipulative and deceptive are usually not in a position to negotiate a settlement with each other. This essay suggests a model that allows a couple to attempt to negotiate a custody agreement taking into consideration the needs of the children and spouses for safety, expediency and firmness in the decision-making process.
Read more...

Should Single Parents Stay That Way?
by Amy Lunday, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland

In an age when cohabitation and divorce are common, single parents concerned about the developmental health of their children may want to choose new partners slowly and deliberately, new research from the Johns Hopkins University suggests. The reason for taking your time? The more transitions children go through in their living situation, the more likely they are to act out, Johns Hopkins sociologists Paula Fomby and Andrew Cherlin report. They also found that the effect of family upheaval on children varies by race.
Read more...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Drops from Down Under
by Hon. Graham Mullane, New South Wales, Australia

This issue of Drops from Down Under features an update on the Australian Family Law Act, which is designed to encourage shared care of children by their separated parents. Additional topics include the court ruling of a father inflicting physical discipline on his son, relocation proceedings and Hague Convention applications, customary law in the Australian Aboriginal communities, same-sex couples, gaol sentences and more.
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Report from England and Wales
by James Pirrie, London, England and Andrew Greensmith, Preston, England

Size-wise, England and Wales is a bit smaller than Oregon, except one third of our area is Scotland, which is a quite different jurisdiction, thus, we end up being quite a lot smaller than Oregon. However, in terms of population we are at 55 million, more numerous even than California.Having spent a few centuries shamelessly exporting anything and everything to countries that may not have wanted to hear from us (and quite a few that were very sure indeed that they did not), we are now perhaps two decades into a more receptive mode-at least so far as our family law industry is concerned. Since the mid-80s, our heroes have, by and large, been your heroes: on our bookshelves will be the same names as on yours: Ahrons, Benjamin, Haynes, Kelly, Meyer, Mnookin, Monk and Whitney. We have borrowed as shamelessly for our ADR movement as our marketing industry had done before us.
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AFCC eNEWS is a bi-monthly e-newsletter published by the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC). AFCC eNEWS provides professionals with time sensitive and up-to-date topics including case law updates, research innovations and international news.
AFCC eNEWS archive...