Initiatives informing the work of practitioners
The AFCC Center for Excellence in Family Court Practice is home to initiatives undertaken by task forces and collaborative endeavors. These interdisciplinary initiatives include practice guidelines and model standards, consulting and inter-organizational collaborations that address research, practice and policy related to family courts, family law and dispute resolution.
CEFCP initiatives focus on the challenges and controversies that family court practitioners and policymakers must address, providing the latest research, ideas and practices from the leading professionals in the field.
AFCC and NCJFCJ Joint Statement on Parent-Child Contact Problems
The Association of Family and Conciliation Courts and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges approved this joint statement to acknowledge risk to children of polarized perspectives and to emphasize the importance of a child-centered approach.
More Information
AFCC Parenting Coordination Task Force (2017-2019)
The Guidelines for Parenting Coordination (“Guidelines”) are the product of the interdisciplinary AFCC Task Force on Parenting Coordination (“Task Force”).
More Information
AFCC Task Force for the Revision of the Model Standards of Practice for Child Custody Evaluation
The Guidelines for Parenting Plan Evaluations in Family Law Cases were developed by an AFCC interdisciplinary Task Force appointed to revise the 2006 Model Standards of Practice for Child Custody Evaluation.
More Information
Access to Family Court Services Task Force
The AFCC Access to Family Court Services Task Force was appointed by AFCC President Dick Altman in 2014 to examine access to justice challenges in the family courts.
More Information
Task Force on Guidelines for Examining Intimate Partner Violence
A Supplement to the AFCC Model Standards of Practice for Child Custody Evaluation
More Information
AFCC Task Force on the Use of Social Science Research in Family Law
In 2016, AFCC President Marsha Kline Pruett appointed the AFCC Task Force on Guidelines for the Use of Social Science Research in Family Law.
More Information
Closing the Gap: Research, Practice, Policy and Shared Parenting
Closing the Gap: Research, Practice, Policy and Shared Parenting grew out of a longstanding debate about parenting time and decision making after separation and divorce.
More Information
The Future of Court ADR: Mediation and Beyond
In collaboration with Marquette University Law School Dispute Resolution Program and Resolutions Systems Institute
More Information
Domestic Violence and Family Court Project
In collaboration with the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
More Information
Family Law Education Reform Project
In collaboration with Hofstra University Center for Children, Families and the Law
More Information
Family Civil Intake Assessment Screen Project
A project with the Connecticut Judicial Branch Court Support Services Division
More Information
Child Welfare Collaborative Decision Making Network
The Child Welfare Collaborative Decision Making Network consists of leaders in the field who convene annually at AFCC conferences to address emerging issues in child welfare dispute resolution.
More Information
Unbundling Legal Services: Options for Clients, Courts and Counsel
In 2015, AFCC collaborated with the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System (IAALS) to provide resources related to unbundled legal services, or limited scope representation.
More Information
AFCC Task Force on Guidelines for Court-Involved Therapy
In 2008 AFCC President Robin Deutsch appointed the AFCC Task Force on Guidelines for Court-Involved Therapy. The Guidelines have been formulated to assist members of AFCC and others who provide treatment to court-involved children and families.
More Information
AFCC Task Force on Guidelines for Brief Focused Assessment
In 2007 AFCC President Hon. William Fee convened the AFCC Task Force on Brief Focused Assessment to study the issues of “limited assessment” models used in family courts.
More Information
AFCC Task Force on Model Standards of Practice for Child Custody Evaluation
AFCC President Leslye Hunter appointed the Task Force on Model Standards for Child Custody Evaluation in 2004. The Task Force was charged with revising AFCC’s 1994 Model Standards.
More Information
Parent Coordination Task Force (2003)
In 2003, AFCC President George Czutrin appointed a Task Force to develop Model Standards of Practice for Parenting Coordination following AFCC’s Task Force on Parenting Coordination that conducted research and published the 2003 Report on Parenting Coordination Implementation Issues.
More Information
Symposium on Standards of Practice for Family and Divorce Mediation
Convened by AFCC, the American Bar Association Family Law Section and the National Council of Dispute Resolution Organizations
More Information
Child Custody Consultant Task Force
In 2009, AFCC President Emile Kruzick established the Interdisciplinary Child Custody Consultant Task Force, to study and define the role of the mental health professional engaged as a consultant (mental health consultant) by an attorney for a litigant in a child custody dispute.
More Information
Court Services Task Force
The AFCC Court Services Task Force was appointed by AFCC President George Czutrin in 2003 to examine the challenges faced by contemporary court service agencies and to conduct a review of initiatives and best practices in service delivery.
More Information
Educator's Guide Workgroup
In 2004, an AFCC workgroup was appointed to develop guidelines for educators on how to work with separating and divorcing parents.
More Information