MA-AFCC Annual Conference

As a service to our members and the general public, the Massachusetts Council on Family Mediation is sharing the following announcement. MCFM is not responsible for the content of this announcement and is not a sponsor of the program or programs described in this announcement.

*** Training Announcement From MA-AFCC ***

MA-AFCC Annual Chapter Conference:
"From Theory to Practice: The Challenge of Managing Resist-Refuse Cases In and Out of Court"
March 15, 2024
8:15 AM - 5:00 PM
The Conference Center at Waltham Woods
860 Winter Street
Waltham, MA 02451

This is an essential conference for any practitioner — whether clinician, evaluator or lawyer – involved in cases in which a child refuses contact with a parent. Using both a clinical and legal lens, this conference will provide the do’s and don’ts in high-conflict cases with parent-child contact problems as they move through the legal system – from the time parents decide to separate to post-divorce conflict. This conference will address possible ways of resolving the parent-child contact problems without contentious litigation; as well as how to handle court cases from motion practice to trial. Resist-refuse cases appear to be on the rise. It is critical that practitioners keep apprised of the latest developments for dealing with these difficult cases.
 

Conference Schedule:

8:15 - 8:30 AM: Introduction

8:30 - 10:30 AM: Keynote Address: Shely Polak Ph.D.

Dr. Polak is on the Factor Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto. Her specialties include strained parent-child relationships and reintegration therapy during postseparation and divorce. She is the Director of the Mackenzie Clinic in Toronto, a boutique private practice offering clinical and forensic (court involved) services for individuals, including legal representation of children. Dr. Polak served as President of the Ontario Chapter of AFCC and, in 2016, was awarded that chapter’s Nicholas Bala Award for Excellence in Children & Family Law. She is the author or co-author of multiple articles on parent-child contact problems and has presented on that topic at a variety of venues in the United States and Canada, including at various AFCC conferences.

10:30 - 10:45 AM: Break

10:45 - 11:30 AM: Keynote continues.

11:30 AM - 1:00 PM: Dealing with the Parent-Child Disconnect outside of Court.
James Brick, Esq., Michael Childs, Ph.D., Jennifer Durand, Esq., and Tony Pelusi Jr., Moderator: Robin Deutsch, Ph.D.

1:00 - 2:00 PM: Lunch

2:00 - 3:30 PM: The Mental Health Expert and the Court.
Hon. Michael Anderson, Hon. Melanie Gargas, and Hon. Claudine Wyner; Moderator, Robin Deutsch, Ph.D.

3:30 - 3:45 PM: Break

3:45 - 5:00 PM: Post-Judgment – Ongoing Issues.
Premela Deck, J.D., Ph.D., Nicole George, Esq., and Rachel Hodgman, Esq., Moderator, Jessica Greenwald O’Brien, Ph.D.

Costs:

Before March 1:  $215 members; $235 nonmembers
Starting March 1:  $240 members; $260 nonmembers

Reduced rates for students and family court personnel available

CE Credits:

This program is sponsored by the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) and is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. This program has sought 7.0 continuing education credits for psychologists, social workers, mental health counselors, and licensed marriage and family therapists. We have also applied for CE credits for PC professionals (in MA). CPCS/CAFL has approved 7.0 CE hours. AFCC maintains responsibility for the program and its content.

►► FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER