Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence: Promise and Pitfalls in Family Courts

Family law professionals have been thrust into innumerable forms of technology, which has both improved practice and created new challenges. Thus far, final decisions about parenting plan disputes continue to be made by parents, or by the court when parents cannot agree. But are we nearing computer-generated parenting plans? Are there future opportunities for unbiased, value-free algorithms that determine the most appropriate parenting plan? If algorithms can determine child support and asset division, will professionals continue to be necessary actors in divorce and parenting time disputes? Presenters in this session will examine the future that doubtless lies ahead.

1. Everything You Wanted to Know about ODR but Were Afraid to Ask (ODR Track)

Online dispute resolution (ODR) is here, and courts around the world are leveraging it to expand access to justice for parties involved in family disputes. Presenters (who have more than 50 years of combined experience in dispute resolution) will share the latest developments in ODR, including best practices, ethical standards, technology platforms, and practical implementation advice for practitioners and courts that can help to ensure success.

No Handouts

2. An Evidence-Informed Family Systems Decision Tree for Intervening in Parent-Child Contact Problems

Parent-child contact problems occur within the broader family system.  This workshop will introduce an evidence-informed decision tree to consider treatment plans that emphasize each family member’s strengths and builds upon them for change within the system. Using a family systems approach, the decision tree considers a multifactorial approach that
addresses intensity, severity, and duration of contact problems, the level of engagement with each family member, and strains within the larger family system.

3. “Will You Please Behave Properly?” Etiquette for Online Family Interventions

This workshop will present a beginning framework and details for developing best practices for conducting online family interventions with moderate to high-conflict divorce cases, within the contexts of custody mediation, co-parenting counseling, and parenting coordination . Categories of protocols for practitioners and clients that have emerged will be described and their efficacy will be illustrated with case examples . Participants will be encouraged to share protocols that have worked for them as we work toward building a comprehensive set of best practices .

4. Parent Group Counseling for Underserved Communities: A Telehealth Model

This presentation will examine the use of a court mandated group counseling intervention for parents who are experiencing behavioral problems with their adolescent children. Specifically, a case example will be utilized
to describe how parent group counseling can assist mothers and fathers from underserved communities via a telehealth platform . Implications for clinicians, family court judges, and staff will be discussed.

Presenters bringing handouts

5. Development of a Collaborative for the Evaluation of Divorce Education Programs

Although divorce education programming is prevalent and frequently mandated by statute statewide, standardized evaluation of programs is limited. The Divorce Education Assessment Collaborative (DEAC) was designed to implement a standardized assessment tool and evaluation services for divorce education programs . This workshop will provide description of the DEAC’s development, current efforts, and preliminary findings collected in partnership with diverse for-profit, nonprofit, and extension-based organizations . Recommendations for judges, policy makers, educators, and practitioners will be shared.

6. The Hague Convention: From Best Interest to Grave Risk — Repositioning Parents’ Counsel, Child Advocate, and Evaluator

The Hague Convention on International Child Abduction is supposed to be a jurisdictional inquiry. Why does it “feel” like a custody battle? This workshop will focus on how parents’ counsel, child advocates, and evaluators must modify their focus, advocacy, and analysis to succeed in Hague cases. This inquiry will include the meaning and application of the most common Hague defense — grave risk; other defenses permitted by the convention; the impact of potential parental exclusion on Hague analysis and evaluation; and how undertakings and, where applicable, available
ameliorative relief, are affecting and changing international practice.

No handouts

7. Understanding and Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth in the Family Courts

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other sexual andgender minority (LGBTQ+) youth face an elevated risk of mental health problems associated with experiencing maltreatment in a variety of systems, including families, schools, and the justice system. LGBTQ+ affirming pr actices show promise for improving mental health and resilience. This workshop introduces participants to issues facing LGBTQ+ youth, with an emphasis on the assessment and treatment of LGBTQ+ youth and their families.

Presenters bringing handouts
 

8. Parenting Coordination: The Experience of the Systemic Model in Italy

The family is a system and fits into a socio-cultural and historical context, which contributes to the evolution of the system itself. The parenting coordinator works with the family with a systemic approach on three levels: intervention with the parents; listening to the child; and network coordination with professionals involved. This w orkshop will present innovative tools and techniques for listening to children, and a model of online intervention.
 

9. Dealing with Social Networking Data: Authenticity and Implications

Navigating data from text messages, coparenting apps, and emails is already a feat in and of itself . Social networking sites (SNS) data can be invaluable when it comes to forming and informing hypotheses regarding each party’s current and past functioning, the relationships and communication styles between parties, and the level of insight parties have
into their own contributions to conflict. This workshop will focus on processes for verifying, collecting, considering, and archiving data from SNS, email, text, and other online sources. These processes will provide a framework for custody evaluators to collect such data, and for attorneys to ensure that it has been collected in a reliable manner.

10. A New World for Mediation: Self-Represented Parties, Interdisciplinary Roles, and More

As the majority of family court parties are self-represented, mediation is becoming a bridge between a DIY and a two-lawyer process  The Family Mediation Center interdisciplinary team mediation approach incorporates the voice of the child while helping couples navigate the legal process, providing the value of diverse expertise for families. How does it work? Is it cost-effective? Can it be done virtually? This workshop will explore these questions and others.

11. Innovative Technologies in Family Mediation (ODR Track)

This workshop will discuss and demonstrate new technology developed in Australia, which helps mediators resolve family law disputes in both face-to-face mediation and ODR. The technology assists lawyers and mediators to: (1) collect and disclose information and documents online securely 24/7 to better prepare everyone for mediation; (2) accurately calculate, model, compare, and save proposals through interactive balance sheets; (3) model parenting arrangements in an interactive parenting schedule; (4) increase productivity and efficiencies through streamlined
mediation case management tools; and (5) manage a specialist mediation practice.
 

12. The Weaponization of Technology in Domestic Violence and Family Law Cases

Family law professionals understand that offenders use whatever means are available to abuse and harass victims and co-parents alike. Technology has provided many tools to accomplish these tasks. This workshop will explore the risks and benefits of technology for victims and professionals alike . Attendees will learn safety planning and evidence collection strategies for phone technology, location apps, social media, and more . Non-technical language will be used during the presentation.

13. The Adolescent Brain, Resist-Refuse Dynamics, and Therapeutic Intervention

This workshop will examine how to recognize and understand the underpinnings of resist-refuse dynamics in high-conflict divorcing families. While this dynamic can impact children of all ages, this presentation will focus be on adolescent development and the challenges that adolescence poses for treatment and making decisions in their best interest . Various treatment options and decisions to be made for this age group will be addressed.

No handouts 

14. Roundtable Discussion: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Family Law

Many professional organizations have struggled to become diverse and inclusive, especially in the family law arena . AFCC and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges are no exception . This roundtable discussion, facilitated by leadership from both organizations, will provide an opportunity for attendees to share observations, concerns, and ideas to address the needs of our members and the challenges we face together becoming a more inclusive and diverse field . Sponsored by the DE&I Collaborative.
 

15. Court-Based Programs: How to Stay Relevant and Effective During a Pandemic

How can court-based mediation programs offering on-the-spot mediation remain relevant and effective with remote court dates here to stay? How can supervised parenting time and neutral exchange services be safe for families during a pandemic? The DuPage County Family Center and the 18th Judicial Circuit in Illinois will present cooperative solutions to maintain “on-the-spot” services that serve families and the court.

16. Putting Your Best Foot Forward? Goals and Methods of Behavioral Observations in Custody Evaluations

Office-based behavioral observations (OBBO) of parent-child relationships are standard in most custody evaluations and can be a very powerful means of generating systemically informed hypotheses . This discussion contrasts OBBO intended to capture a “naturalistic sample” versus those intending to assess how relationships manage stress. Standardized observational coding systems and observational tasks are discussed and illustrated via video. The added value (and diminished costs) of incorporating OBBO into a larger process-oriented protocol is emphasized. Participants will be encouraged to share their practices.

17. Using the Tools of Implementation Science to Develop a Triage Model

Informed by the field of implementation science, a new academic-legal partnership was formed, and a contextual inquiry of a county family law context was conducted to inform the development of a family law triaging model. Members of this academic-legal partnership will present the results of their work, including: (1) how high-conflict and intimate partner violence is defined and identified; (2) the legal pathways for family law cases; and (3) the perceived barriers to implementing a triage model. 

Presenters bringing handouts

18. Unmuting Lily: Virtual Meetings with Children — Lessons from 24 Months Online

Meet Lily and learn how child actors assisted in piloting the safe inclusion of meeting virtually with children eight years and older . The Meeting with Children approach is based on expressive activities for children and youth and has now been adapted for online. During the workshop participants will learn a standard way of documenting information shared by children and youth. Participants will join the conversation about assessing and managing risk and identifying appropriate families for online child inclusion. Presenters will identify ten lessons le arned when meeting with children online.

Presenters bringing handouts

19. “How” Is as Important as “What”: Addressing Legal Cynicism in Family Courts

This session will explore sources of conflict between litigants and family court; identify factors that can cause legal cynicism and its effect in family court; and discuss how to ensure confidence, legitimacy, and client satisfaction by considering how we interface with litigants and families, in addition to what we do to serve them .

20. Technology in Practice: Benchmarks for Family Practitioners

Like it or not, technology is an increasingly critical component of family law practitioners’ daily work. However, any pr actitioners aren’t tech experts, making this element of running their practices a challenge. This session will share the results of OurFamilyWizard’s 2022 Technology in Practice survey, providing attendees with key benchmarks for technology use in their practice, insights into available technology, and an understanding of the challenges and benefits their peers have seen through implementing new technologies.

Presenters bringing handouts
 

21. Ethical Obligation and Data Protection for the Dispute Resolution Practitioner (ODR Track)

There is a lot of talk about data security as stories of hackers and ransomware appear in the news. This presentation will take a practical approach to explaining the issue, and in plain language examine the sources and standards and the practitioner’s obligation to protect client data. Participants will learn basic, practical steps to take, including things that the IT department (if it exists) may or may not be handling. For example, where and how to store data? Is email secure? This program will provide practical tips to enhance data protection security using existing tools.

Presenters bringing handouts

22. My Judge Hates Me! What Judges Want to Hear from Attorneys and Evaluators

Knowing what matters to judges in family litigation and how to present information to the court in pleadings, reports, testimony, and argument is critical to being believed in the courtroom . Attorneys and mental health professionals should understand what matters to judges and what does not. They should also understand how the research on judgment and decision-making can be used to improve their presentation in court. This session will assist attorneys and mental health professionals achieve both goals so that their information is considered valuable and trustworthy.

No handouts

23. A High-Conflict Case: Trauma’s Impact on Children, Parents, and the Courts

The film Tommy reflects on a boy affected by his parent’s conflicted divorce. After showing the film, the presenters will explore how children commonly act in difficult situations and examine behaviors of children and parents through a traumatic lens . Finally, presenters will focus on the impact of trauma on the participants in the court system (i .e ., the lawyers, the mental health professionals, and the judges) and provide short- and long-term tools for reducing its impact on all family law professionals.

24. VoIP of the Child: Children’s Technology as Evidence in Parenting Disputes

This workshop will focus on the law of evidence as it relates to a child’s out-of-court statements and electronic evidence generally. The presenter will consider how such laws may apply to children’s electronic data as evidence in family law disputes, a child’s own right to privacy, and how courts in Canada have addressed these issues to date.

Presenters bringing handouts

25. Millennials, Gen Z, & Family Court: The Future is Now

Each generation brings with it new attitudes towards relationships, parenting, and separation  and divorce. This presentation will provide information on the Millennial and Gen Z generations, focusing on changing trends in family structure, a new relationship to technology, and how this all plays out in court. The presenters will use local (Cook County) data and statistics and experience with Millennial and Gen Z parents to illustrate how the face of family court is changing.

26. Conflict Is Viral: Eldercaring Coordination and Eldercaring Conflict Checklist

Florida’s new eldercaring coordination statute provides safeguards to older adults caught in the middle of family feuds. Why is that important to you? Older family conflict permeates the well-being of even the youngest generations. The presenters will describe eldercaring coordination as a safeguard and introduce the Eldercaring Conflict Tool, which helps professionals identify a conflict typology to provide targeted interventions to families they serve.

27. Transforming Family Justice in Ontario: From 19th to the 21st Century in Two Years

This workshop summarizes recent research on the dramatic transformation of the Ontario family justice system from a paper-based, in-person system to a virtual environment, with commentary by an Ontario Family Court judge. While access to justice has been negatively affected by the pandemic, the virtual environment allows for more protection for victims of intimate partner violence in processes like mediation, and judges who are more supportive of a return to in-person hearings than are lawyers. The presenters will discuss proposals for systemic reforms as the family justice system moves towards a post-pandemic, hybrid model .

28. Are Divorce Online Parent Education Programs Effective?

Presenters in this workshop will discuss two randomized trials of online parent education programs. The first segment reports on a trial that found that an online version of the New Beginnings Program had positive effects to reduce interparental conflict, strengthen positive parenting, and reduce child mental health problems as compared with controls. The second segment reports on a trial of two online parenting programs, Two Families Now and Children in Between. These programs produced positive findings while highlighting the need for the continued evaluation.

29. Hope — The Essence of Resolving Family Disputes

Family attorneys and mediators usually see clients who are stressed, angry, depressed, or fearful about their future. Their emotional state and the uncertainty of their condition makes it difficult for many clients to appropriately participate in settlement negotiations. This workshop will present the benefits of hope: How we can use hope to center ourselves
and how to share that hope and give it to our clients so they can navigate the process with security and strength rather than fear.

30. Judicial Officers Forum: Perspectives on New Technology in Family Court

Join four experienced jurists to discuss the impact of technology on their work. This will be a lively discussion about the pitfalls and perils, as well as the benefits, of the many ways in which technological developments are impacting their work in family court. Participants will discuss virtual hearings, social media, drug and alcohol te sting, and virtual parenting time, among other topics. In addition, the judges will give tips for best practices using technology to their courtrooms. Participation is limited to judicial officers only.

No handouts

31. Online Screening and Mediation for Cases with High Levels of Domestic Violence (ODR Track)

The Covid-19 pandemic created challenges, but also opportunities, as family law practice pivoted online. This workshop will address two issues relevant to using technology for family mediation: (1) efficient online screening for intimate partner violence (IPV); and (2) conducting online mediation for cases in which parents report high levels of IPV . The workshop will present two online concurrent studies that build on prior in-person, pre-pandemic studies of screening and mediation practice for high IPV cases.

No handouts

32. The Threads That Bind: An Ecosystemic Approach to Parenting Coordination

With parenting coordination practice now in its third decade, different models have emerged as social scientists  examine the efficacy of this intervention and emphasize the importance of a child-informed (and often inclusive) process for ever-changing family formations. This workshop will describe an ecosystemic approach to parenting coordination, emphasizing a holistic view of families in transition. The presenter will discuss a framework including techniques and interventions to expand perspectives and depict an evolving family landscape . Rationale, theoretical underpinnings, and potential pitfalls will also be examined.

33. Training Child Custody Evaluators: A Dying Breed!

It’s time for experienced child custody evaluators to take responsibility for training the next generation of high quality, ethical evaluators. If evaluators are not willing to train others, then the aging population of evaluators could negatively impact the field of family law in the years to come. This workshop will provide seasoned child custody evaluators a solid framework for training other professionals consistent with accepted methodology and the peer reviewed research that guides our field .

34. Virtual Exposure in Resist-Refuse Cases: Theories and Court-Ordered Interventions

This workshop will address resist-refuse cases and how virtual treatment can assist clinicians and judges in achieving their ultimate goal of successful reunification. The presenters will tackle alienation myths, clinical application of techniques, practice recommendations, diversity considerations, ethical considerations, and court intervention. Participants will receive information on current best practice techniques from practicing psychologists, as well as invaluable input from Family Division judges based upon their experience and research.  

35. Promoting Well-Being in Domestic Relations Court

Addressing the intersection between domestic relations, domestic violence, and behavioral health, the Cady Initiative for Family Justice Reform and the National Judicial Task Force to Examine State Courts’ Response to Mental Illness established a multidisciplinary committee to consider how judicial processes exacerbate or contribute to mental health issues and practices to mitigate that unintended outcome. Having met virtually over the course of almost a year, leaders of this committee will discuss the charge of the group, the challenges identified, and will present their opinions on what courts need to do next.

Presenters bringing handouts
 

36. Getting from Either/Or to Both/And in High-Conflict Cases

Canceled

37. Substance use and Family Court Litigation

Substance use is a common issue in family court litigation. Drawing on the latest research, this workshop will provide attorneys, judges, and mental health professionals with the information necessary to thoughtfully approach litigation involving substance-use dynamics. Topics covered include an overview of addiction, step-up parenting plans, drug and alcohol monitoring, constructive advocacy, and the various roles practitioners can play in these challenging cases.

38. Apps, Nests, and Tiles: Exploring the Internet of Things and Emerging Technology

This session will dive into the complexities of newer technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and next-generation tracking devices and how they are misused by abusers to track and surveille survivors. Considerations
for reviewing and admitting digital evidence will also be discussed. At the end of this session, professionals will have a better understanding of the newest technologies being misused and the types and forms of evidence they can anticipate seeing in cases involving intimate partner violence.

No handouts

39. Meeting the Challenges of Child and Parent Neurodiversity in Family Court

Understanding neurodiversity helps reduce bias in family court. Recognition that there is a broad range of brain  functioning enables the court, attorneys, evaluators, and mediators to take a strengths-based approach, rather than a pathology orientation. Unique parenting plan factors must be considered for neurodiverse children in separating families . For neurodiverse parents, overt or implicit bias may impact judicial decision-making when a divorcing parent has a significant psychiatric disorder or neurocognitive disability. Presenters will address specific issues that arise for family law professionals when working with neurodiverse children and parents, in an effort to reduce implicit and explicit bias and automatic negative presumptions about parental competency.

40.Rhetoric Meets Reality: Updating Mandatory Mediation in the Family Law Paradigm

This workshop provides background on the current family law paradigm in which mediation is a court alternative, then presents recent study results from the US and Australia that show how mediation has become embedded within family law. An updated paradigm is proposed that distinguishes private from legally mandated mediation services, and highlights the active use of mediation by the state in a subset of cases to manage co-parenting relationships . Workshop participants will critically evaluate the current  and proposed paradigm.

Mind the Gap: Technology, Access, Connection, Equity, and Justice

Since the explosion of online mediation, remote hearings, evaluations, and telehealth, due to Covid-19 risk, questions about the impact of technology on the family justice system are on the rise . Is technology the great equalizer or doe s it widen the gap between the haves and have-nots? Do gains in efficiency result in a more effective family justice system, or are there tradeoffs of which we should be wary? How does technology impact factors such as rapport and trust, especially when children are involved? This panel will discuss how technology impacts users and practitioners as we strive to evolve toward a more accessible, effective, and humane family justice system.

No handouts

41. Parenting Agreement Generator: Language and Technology Considerations (ODR Track)

Presenters will share the journey of how the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts created a statewide parenting agreement generator.  The project included choosing the best, most effective language and then transitioned into the development of a platform that would be easy for mediators to navigate while creating a comprehensive parenting agreement. The generator consists of an interactive HTML page converting to a Word Press plug-in . Presenters will demonstrate use of the generator in crafting a parenting agreement during the session.

42. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: The Direct and Cross of a Custody Evaluator

This workshop will be a mock trial, in which two attorneys will provide tips and techniques in crafting well-written direct and cross examination questions of a child custody evaluator. The child custody evaluator will provide the do’s and don’ts of expert testimony.

43. The Digital Moat: How Technology Helps and Hinders Incarcerated Litigants

Lack of technology has long kept people who are incarcerated locked into prisons and locked out of family law cases. This can have a profound impact on the litigants and their children. This workshop will examine the ways that technology harms incarcerated litigants and their families, current ways that technology is being used to facilitate access to justice, and proposed solutions for the future.

44.Developing Theories of the Case to Meet Best Interests Objectives

Presenters in this workshop will articulate an operational model for best interests of the child tasks and objectives, then  describe the scientific process of analyzing data about people, contexts, and possible contexts.  The focus will be on how to organize and analyze the data to construct the “theories of the case” about the child, the parents, and the possible parenting plans . Criteria for developing these theories, as well as how to assess their reliability, will be outlined.

45. Healing Fragmented Families: A Virtual Approach

This workshop will emphasize strategies for hosting family reunification therapies in a virtual format, and specific ways to engage fragmented families in online therapy activities. The presenters will share various online tools that can be utilized to improve family communication, build parenting skills, and address parent-child contact problems.

Presenters bringing handouts

46.Utilizing 2022 Technology for a Paperless Practice

In this workshop participants will learn how to develop a paperless online business model utilizing cloud storage, Google, iOS, Android, and Apple devices. Participants will develop more confidence and competence in using technology to ensure families that they benefit from the very latest in business administration, and to offer support to separating and separated parents and guardians to execute the business of separated coparenting in the most efficient and humane way possible.

This workshop has been canceled 

47. Negotiation Theory in Mediation Practice

The presenter will explain the most popular ideas about strategic choice in negotiation and how they apply to mediation. Participants will compare strategic choices in family mediation, for example, in a divorce with no children versus a divorce with children, between haggling over property verses negotiating a parenting plan. The debate will demonstrate why these different types of negotiations call for consideration of different strategies.

48. Legal Divorce, Emotional Divorce: Why We Must Attend to Both

Much of the high conflict in our work is a direct result of the failure of the parties to obtain an emotional divorce. High conflict divorcing and former spouses remain stuck in the dysfunctional marital dynamic, unable to extricate themselves. This workshop will describe what a healthy emotional divorce looks like, explore the psychological and emotional obstacles that commonly get in the way, and offer practical advice to help clients obtain the emotional closure that is the ultimate goal of a healthy emotional and legal divorce.

49. Electronic Resources, Possibilities, and Mischief in High-Conflict Cases

Technological tools are a ubiquitous part of children’s lives, and can be used to enrich children’s relationships or misused to undermine them. Families need structure and protocols for virtual contact, children’s contact with each parent during the other’s parenting time, access to social media, promoting children’s development, and minimizing high-conflict mischief. Behavior patterns may emerge that require intervention. The presenters will discuss assessment, clinical, case management, parenting coordination, and judicial options and challenges for dealing with these issues.

50. Kansas Protection Order Portal: Balancing Security and Accessibility

Covid-19 and the subsequent measures to limit its spread have had a disruptive effect on all aspects of our lives, including access to legal services and court operations . In Kansas, this meant that overnight, victims of abuse and sexual crimes lost access to self-help centers, victims’ advocates, and whatever little assistance they had before . This workshop will address the benefits and limitations of using technology to help self-represented litigants . The presenters will share the lessons learned from building an automated system to allow litigants to file for a protection order online without visiting a courtroom.

51. The Use and Abuse of ICT by Separating Parents in Australia (ODR Track)

This workshop has been canceled 

52. Deconstructing a Child Custody Evaluation for the Court

The parties have requested, or the court has ordered sui sponte, a child custody evaluation. Once it is received and reviewed by all responsible parties, and possibly by the court, decisions need to be made regarding next steps. Do the parties settle, or do they proceed to trial? Does the attorney need a consultant to assist in some way, or do they go it alone? This presentation will explore how to read and evaluate a child custody evaluation, how best to gain an understanding of the strengths and/or weaknesses of the report, and how best to present those to the clients
and/or the court.

53. A Heavy Burden: Understanding Vicarious Trauma, Compassion Fatigue, and Burnout

Intimate partner violence, physical/sexual abuse, and high-conflict divorce often create trauma for children and families. These cases pose a high risk for liability, which can lead to emotional and physical fatigue among court professionals. This is particularly true when virtual services are being provided, as there are fewer opportunities for collaboration and
support that leads to feelings of disconnection and isolation. This session will explore factors leading to vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, and burnout . Emphasis will be given to self-care.

54. Coaching with the New Ways for Families Online Co-Parenting Class

The presenters will explain the New Ways for Families online co-parenting class and a structured method for live coaching with this class, which can be done by trained counselors, lawyers, mediators, and parent educators.
The self-directed online class is usually court-ordered for both parents and includes 12 units of approximately one hour each . Three or more live coaching session are designed to discuss and practice the skills the parents are learning. This is a low-cost yet effective method for parents.

55. How the Sausage Is Made: Behind the Scenes of a RRD Team

A cohesive team of mental health professionals, lawyers, and a judge is essential for handling refuse-resist dynamic cases. This workshop will demonstrate the benefits of the team approach in cooperatively working towards solutions for the family . Additionally, it will address how professionals can work together in arriving at solutions while still representing their clients’ interest and providing the appropriate family system treatment.

56. The Implementation and Impact of Virtual Supervised Visitation

When quarantine halted in-person visitation, providers pivoted to a virtual modality. In this workshop the presenters will explore the shift to virtual visits; the framework of safe, trauma-informed, child-focused virtual visitation; and the long-term impact this shift has had on the field of supervised visitation.

No handouts

57. Rethinking Safety and Privacy: Remote Hearings and Intimate Partner Violence

Love them or hate them, requests for remote hearings and court ordered services aren’t going away anytime soon. Presenters will weigh the pros and cons of conducting remote proceedings in intimate partner violence cases, provide considerations for litigant safety and privacy, and look at the inclusion of survivors and other marginalized voices when developing, implementing, and evaluating remote proceedings.

No handouts

58. Child Interviews with Parent Present: Protecting Children in the PC Process

The Child Interview with Parent Present model focuses on giving children information about the parenting coordination process as well as information about children’s rights according to the Convention on the Rights of the Child . Giving children information, with each parent present at different occasions, aims to protect the child from being interrogated after the interview while simultaneously providing the parent and the child with the same information at the same time . This workshop will address how to organize the interview .

Presenters bringing handouts

59. Are Algorithmically Generated Parenting Plans in Our Future?

If an unrequested block has ever been placed on your credit card, or if you have used a computer-based test  nterpretation, or if you have ever used Google, you have experienced algorithmically generated predictions. Presenters, both of whom regularly review the work of evaluators, and, in doing so, consider the ways in which evaluators have developed parenting plans recommended by them, will discuss the implications of algorithmically generated parenting plans.

60. I Love Him/I Hate Him: Ambivalence in Marital Partings and High-Conflict Divorce

Research suggests that between one-third and one-half of all people in the process of divorce, and after, experience ambivalence regarding the decision to divorce, which is at the root of much of the obstructive, angry, and non-compliant behavior of high-conflict divorce cases. Children of such parental dynamics are at particularly high risk for being caught in the middle of these internal and interpersonal dynamics. This workshop will explore these dynamics and offer divorce professionals practical strategies for case management and court procedures to reduce the conflict in these cases.
 

61. Improving the Responses of Lawyers and Judges to High-Conflict Cases

This workshop is based on insights gained from recent research in Ontario and Quebec on the experiences of litigants and legal professionals with high-conflict cases. Interviews with over 175 parents and 350 professionals provide valuable information about how lawyers and judges can improve their p rofessional effectiveness, as well as important advice about approaches that are counterproductive. Th is presentation will offer practical guidance for lawyers and judges on how to improve their handling of high-conflict cases.

62. Interviewing Children: Understanding Their Experience of Parenting

Garnering reliable information from children and adolescents in the context of custody evaluations is crucial to thoroughly understand parenting strengths and weaknesses and how they interface with the child’s unique
needs. Illuminating children’s experience canreveal more than mechanics of parenting and provides insight into their needs and parents’ personality and parenting style, and at times even pathology. Carefully fashioned
questions target inquiries into central parental tasks . Collaboration, utilizing workshop participants’ input, willbe utilized inhoning useful interview approaches and questions.

63. Shifting Your Mindset and PC Practice Toward Technology

Parenting coordination services are in high demand across the country due to the pandemic. But how do p arenting coordinators (PCs) provide services online without sacrificing quality and without being super techsavvy? In this  workshop, PCs will learn how to shift both their mindset and practice to build a successful online/hybrid practice. Self-limiting beliefs will be identified and replaced with positive mindset skills . Online processes, systems, and safeguards, which PCs can implement immediately in their practices, will be shared 

No handouts

64. Evaluating Online Classes with CARE for Parents Experiencing Break-Ups

Canceled

65. Substance Use Monitoring in Family Law: Best Practices and Common Pitfalls

Advances in technology have given family law stakeholders more options and instruments to implement substance use monitoring (SUM). The presenters will review the purposes of SUM in the family law context, and will describe the essential elements of a SUM program. A discussion of clinical and practical considerations regarding SUM will follow, including consideration of common workarounds used by clients, and how professionals may best implement SUM in a way that protects the child and supports the adult’s recovery.

66. Leveraging Technology to Create Financially and Geographically Accessible Resources

Geographic location and economic means have long influenced which litigants can access services with qualified  professionals. However, online education platforms popularized during the pandemic allow professionals to reach marginalized populations through more geographically and financially accessible options. The presenter will briefly cover the process of setting up online education courses and detail the courses she has available that may benefit a variety of court-involved clients.

67. Passing the Torch: Cultivating New Professionals in Family Court Roles

Established court-involved professionals, across disciplines, express concern about aging out without a clear path for passing the proverbial torch. It isn’t clear how to identify beginning professionals who would both be interested in these careers and likely be good at them. This workshop, offered by an experienced career counselor, will include the exploration of career theory, traits that align to increase the likelihood of career retention and satisfaction, strategies for attracting new professionals who could be called to this work, and a plan to not scare them off with horror stories!

68. Ready or Not? The Child and Youth Readiness Tool for Including the Child

Professionals may think they are ready to meet with children. Parents and third parties may be ready to hear from children, but are children ready to be involved, and if so, how? What factors should be considered when addressing this question? This workshop introduces a nine-item, five-point tool intended to help identify a child’s potential readiness to provide direct or indirect input, and addresses the matter from a social science perspective. Participants will examine several case examples in order to apply the tool factors.

No handouts

69. How to Use Tech to Ditch Overwhelm and Work from a Place of Rest, Not Hustle

Canceled

70. Make the Most of Virtual Visitation

Learn how and why to incorporate virtual visitation into your parenting plans with practical tips and strategies that can apply to nearly all levels of child development, parental distance, and supervision. Participants will see how online gaming, movie night, and homework can be incorporated into a visitation plan that allows for inexpensive, safe, and engaging interactions between children and their visiting parents.

No handouts

71. Reviewing Child Custody Reports: Ethical Examination, Consultation and Testimony

This workshop will help evaluators conduct ethical reviews of child custody reports. Presenters will help to provide the knowledge and understanding to perform an objective review of work product as well as awareness of applicable legal and ethical standards, critical procedural directions to ensure the reviewer is objective and accurate in providing an analysis, and how to assist the attorney prior to going to court and in court, if necessary. The difference between consulting expert and testifying expert will be discussed.

72. Redefining, Rethinking, Reflecting: Developing an Intentional Community for Youth

This workshop is focused on the importance of intentional relationships for youth who are experiencing or have experienced trauma. The presenters will offer strategies and techniques which were developed through a combination of information learned from healthy foster parents, counselors, advocates, and ultimately personal lived experience. The presenters will focus on the roles of a foster parents and advocates, with other necessary resources, that become part of an intentional community and have a positive impact on youth.

No handouts

73. Collaborative and Team Mediation: Flexibility in Modes, Meetings, and Technology

This workshop explores the interconnected evolution of collaborative law, mediation, and collaborative-mediation  hybrids accelerated by Covid-inspired technological innovations. The trend in these divorce approaches is toward flexible use of specialists to increase efficiency, tailor service, and lower cost. Now virtual media allows for nimble, strategic scheduling of mix-and-match meetings with various specialists and in-person and remote participants. The pros and cons of technology regarding mental health, rapport-building, discernment of nuanced gestures, and facilitation of conflict will also be considered.
 

74. Parental Boundary Ambiguity and Its Impact on Children’s Adjustment to Divorce

Boundary ambiguity between coparents has been identified in research as having a negative impact on child prosocial skills, externalizing behaviors, and internalizing behaviors. This workshop will discuss recent findings about coparents’ boundary ambiguity and its negative impact on children’s well-being . The presenter will go in-depth to discuss how professionals can talk with parents about establishing healthy, child-focused boundaries in their coparenting relationship and communication strategies.