35th Annual Conference of the

Conference Location: Hilton Sedona Resort and Spa – Sedona, AZ

Please Register At:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-mosiac-of-the-modern-family-new- theories-new-evidence-and-new-strategies-tickets-7971676499

In addition to a stimulating educational curriculum, the

Conference opens with a reception following the opening plenary program on

Friday evening. As usual, a hospitality suite will be available for socializing

Friday and Saturday night.

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OPENING RECEPTION AND SILENT

AUCTION PREVIEW :

Friday, January 29th

7:30 PM - 9:30 PM

SILENT AUCTION FINAL BIDDING : Saturday, January 30th

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

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12:45 PM – 5:00 PM

Pre-Conference: - Military (Related PTSD, TBI & IPV) and the Intersection With the Criminal Justice System - Introducing A Novel, Evidence-Based, Empirically-Supported Batterers Intervention Program

6:00 PM Welcoming Remarks Presented by President of AZAFCC Chapter Michael Aaron, JD

6:10 PM – 7:30 PM Friday Plenary: The Art of the Family

7:30 PM – 9:30 PM Reception and Silent Auction Preview

9:30 PM – 11:00 PM Hospitality Suite

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7:30 AM – 8:45 AM Breakfast Buffet

8:45 AM – 10:15 AM Saturday Plenary: Reforming Family Law for Today’s World: A Legal Structure for Non-Marital Families

10:15 AM – 10:30 AM Break

10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Morning (A) Workshops:

A1. Hope for Healing Through Relationship: The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) & Opportunities for Advocacy

A2. Children of Same Sex Parents & Obergefell v. Hodges

A3. Effective Assessment, Identification & Handling of “Hazardous Parenting Materials”; Containing the Narcissist & Catching the Stealthy Coercive-Controller

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM 2015 Summit Project: Child Sexual Abuse Awards Presentation Raffle

**Silent Auction Closes at 1:00 PM—Pay & Pick-Up Your Items**

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1:45 PM – 3:15 PM Early Afternoon (B) Workshops:

B1. Can Never-Married Young Parents Be Taught to Cooperate? Challenges & Promising Approaches.

B2. Experimental Evaluation of an Evidence-Based Parenting Program (New Beginnings Program)

B3. Neuroscience of Addiction & Recovery: An Introduction

3:15 PM—3:30 PM Break

3:30 PM – 5:00 PM Later Afternoon (C) Workshops:

C1. Multidisciplinary Management of High Conflict Cases

C2. Trauma & The Adolescent Brain

C3. Special Parenting Plans for Special Needs Children

5:15 PM—5:30 PM Annual Membership Meeting

5:45 PM—6:30 PM Judicial Reception

9:00 PM—11:00 PM Hospitality Suite

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7:30 AM – 8:30 AM Continental Breakfast

8:30 AM – 9:30 AM Sunday Plenary: Ethics

9:30 AM – 9:45 AM Break

9:45 AM – 10:45 AM Morning (D) Workshops:

D1. Mental Health: Do You See Any Problems With This Report?

D2. Legal Ethics

D3. Mediation Ethics

Please see the registration site for a complete list of registration fees. The early bird fee will end on January 8, 2016 at 6:00 PM. Registration includes attendance at all plenary sessions and workshops as well as buffet breakfast and lunch on Saturday, continental breakfast on Sunday, and the hospitality suite. Non-registered guests may attend all meals for an additional $150.00. For specific conference questions that are not answered on the eventbrite.com registration page, please email:

Arizonaafcc@gmail.com With your registration, you will be able to download the handouts from the AZAFCC website, shortly before the conference. Cancellation Policy: Transfer of registration to another person may be done at anytime without a fee. A cancellation and request for refund must be made by email to Michael Aaron at maaron5879@aol.com. A registrant who cancels after January 27, 2016 will receive a refund of the registration fee minus $25.00 and any other costs incurred by AZAFCC as a result of the cancellation.

Hilton Sedona Resort & Spa is located at: 90 Ridge Trail Drive Sedona, Arizona 86351 Hilton Sedona Resort & Spa Phone Number: 928.284.4040

To make hotel accommodation reservations at the conference rate, use the link located on the Eventbrite website. Conference room rates are $214.00 per night plus tax for either a standard room (single or double) or one bedroom suite (single or double). Conference rates will be guaranteed through January 4, 2016. Space is limited so book early. Hotel reservations should be made directly with the Hilton Sedona Resort & Spa but be sure to indicate that you are attending the AZAFCC Annual Conference to receive the conference rate.

Alternate Hotels: Sedona Wildflower Inn: http://www.sedonawildflower.com Days Inn Kokopelli: http://www.daysinnkokopelli.com Sedona Views Inn: http://sedonaviewsinn.com Desert Quail Inn: http://www.desertquailinn.com

There are a limited number of scholarships available for students who are interested in learning about working with families involved in the legal system. We encourage students to apply who are interested in working in this area, specifically students in law, psychology, counseling, social work or any other field associated with the family law/family mental health. If you have any questions, please send them to: azafccscholarships@gmail.com

This training, including the Preconference Institute, may qualify for 12.5 hours of CEU and CLE units, of which, 2.0 are ethics credit. The Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. AFCC maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

12:45 PM – 5:00 PM

Military (Related PTSD, TBI & IPV) and the Intersection With the Criminal Justice System

Moderators: Paul Bennett, JD and Rebecca Stahl, JD, LLM

Presenter: April A. Gerlock, PhD, ARNP This session will provide a general overview of the common co-occurring problems of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) for military service members and veterans. The session will begin with the scope of the problem. PTSD, TBI and IPV perpetration will be situated within the context of violence in which they may occur. We will briefly address how traditional PTSD-focused treatment may or may not help when there is also IPV. The audience will have an opportunity to watch videos of an OIF (Operation Iraqi Freedom) veteran talking about his PTSD symptoms, the impact of those on his wife, and child and his ultimate arrest for IPV perpetration. Case scenarios describing both PTSD symptoms and IPV tactics will be described. This session will also discuss elements to consider for intervention with both PTSD and IPV perpetration, to include risk elements of IPV-related homicide/suicide.

Introducing A Novel, Evidence-Based, Empirically-Supported Batterers Intervention Program

Moderators: Paul Bennett, JD and

Rebecca Stahl, JD, LLM

Presenter: Erika Lawrence

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is highly

prevalent with serious consequences for

individuals, couples and children.

Unfortunately, interventions designed to

prevent future IPV among perpetrators have

had little success. Most of these

interventions comprise a blend of

patriarchal theory and/or cognitive-behavior

theory approaches and, in general, focus on

modifying how IPV perpetrators think and

act through cognitive restructuring, skills

training and anger management techniques.

Despite their widespread use and legal

support, there is overwhelming and

consistent empirical evidence that these

interventions do not yield significant or

clinically meaningful reductions in IPV. This

presentation will begin with an overview of

ACTV, a novel IPV intervention.

Interventions emphasizing this new

approach have yielded impressive outcomes

for a broad range of problems, but this was

the first intervention to apply these proc-

esses to IPV. Additionally, this is also the

first intervention to target the reasons why

violence continues rather than why it is

initiated. A brief overview of outcome data

will also be presented.

6:10 PM – 7:30 PM

The Art of the Family

Moderator: Michael Aaron, JD

Panel: Faren Akins, PhD, JD; Barbara Atwood, JD; Jack Moran, PhD and Marie Piccarreta, JD

Art is the language of emotion and ideas. Visual art lets you see and feel it. This seminar will present art that illustrates key concepts in the union and unwinding of family relationships. Here, four individuals each make presentations of visual art that offer potentially meaning-ful points about “family”, its creation...its dissolution...its evolution…

Participants select visual art to project in a slide show and describe the significance of the art to a better understanding of “family” whether intact or not.

8:45 AM – 10:15 AM

Reforming Family Law for Today’s World: A Legal Structure for Non-Marital Families

Moderator: Barbara Atwood, JD

Presenter: Claire Huntington, JD

Despite the enormous increase in non-marital cohabitation and childbearing, American Law still places marriage at the core of legal regulation of families. In this plenary, Professor Clare Huntington will explore the ways in which “marital family law” undermines and disrupts relationships of non-marital families, to the lasting detriment of parents and children. Co-parenting outside of a committed relationship is challenging, but marital family law makes it particularly difficult for unmarried parents. Building on her recent book, Failure to Flourish, Professor Huntington will propose strategies for strengthening and supporting never-married parents and their families.

10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

A1. Hope for Healing Through Relationships: The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Opportunities for Advocacy

Moderator: Stacey Brady, JD and Mediator Panel: Sarah Daffron, MC, LPC, NCC; Kelly Nguyen, MS, MSC, LAC and Priscilla Whitlock-Coates, MC, LAC, IMH-E®(II) Adverse Childhood Experience (ACEs) have a significant impact on physical, cognitive and social-emotional developmental, resulting in physical and mental health consequences later in life. In this presentation, the impact of complex childhood trauma will be discussed, as well as the protective factors that can help mitigate the effects of trauma. Learn how a safe, positive relationship with a nurturing caregiver can create a lasting effect on a child’s resilience and how your role within the judicial, child welfare, or mental health system can advocate for the child’s success and healing, and help break the cycle of trauma and toxic stress.

A2. Children of Same Sex Parents and Obergefell v. Hodges

Moderator: Hon Dean Christoffel, JD

Panel: Barbara Atwood, JD; Hon Lisa Bibbens and Rodney Erwin, MD

The landmark case of Obergefell v. Hodges struck down state laws banning same-sex couples from the institution of marriage. Rather than ending the struggle for equal rights, this decision may just mark the

beginning. Hear what we can reasonably expect from the future as Obergefell becomes part of our social fabric. Which legal issues are left unresolved by the decision? What will be the legal, psychological, and practical consequences of the decision for same-sex and transgender couples and their children?

A3. Effective Assessment, Identification and Handling of “Hazardous Parenting Material”; Containing the Narcissist and Catching the Stealthy Coercive-Controller

Moderator: Michael Aaron, JD Panel: Hon Jack Assini; Thomas Brunner, PhD; Edina Strum, JD and Samantha Toale, MA This presentation will explore effective handling of parents who display psychologically toxic narcissistic and/or coercive/controlling behavioral styles. We will address the psychological assessment challenges and opportunities, ethical, and practical problems they pose for attorneys, mental health professionals, and judges. Preventing, or containing, the negative fall-out they cause, especially within the legal decision-making and parenting time contexts will be articulated such that the parents’ opinions and legal rights are preserved while simultaneously protecting the children’s best interests.

1:45 PM – 3:15 PM

B1. Can Never-Married Young Parents be Taught to Cooperate? Challenges and Promising Approaches. Moderator: Julie Skakoon, LPC

Presenter: Donald Gordon, PhD

The neurological immaturity of young unmarried parents, often with little or no history of co-parenting, seriously raises the risks for their children’s adjustment. It also leads to repeated hearings with these pro se litigants. Limited financial resources limits court options to deal with this growing population. An educational approach that teaches emotional control, respectful communication skills, and appropriate, healthy involvement with their children will be demonstrated. Preliminary findings from a controlled study will be presented.

B2. Experimental Evaluation of an Evidence-Based Parenting Program (New Beginnings Program) Moderator: Hon Carey Hyatt Panel: Sarah Jones; Irwin Sandler and Sharlene Wolchik, JD This presentation describes findings from a randomized trial to evaluate the delivery of the New Beginnings Program (NBP) to divorcing families in four counties in Arizona. The NBP has previously been demonstrated in a randomized experimental trial to improve children’s post-divorce adjustment up to 15 years later, including reductions in children’s mental health problems, substance use and abuse and improvements in academic success, coping and self-esteem. The current experimental trial involved a collaboration between the developers of the NBP, family courts in four counties and community agencies to test whether the program has positive effects when delivered at large scale and implemented by community agencies. All divorcing and separating parents with children over three were offered the program in the four courts over a two year period. The trial involved 886 parents who enrolled (502 mothers and 384 fathers) and 1,530 children who were randomly assigned to receive the ten sessions of NBP or the two session brief program that discussed parenting skills. Measures of parenting, conflict and child adjustment were completed by parents, children and teachers at pre-test, post-test and ten month follow-up. Results indicated positive impact of the program on parenting and child mental health problems and reduction of inter-parental conflict for both mothers and fathers. Stronger effects were

found for Non-Hispanic White parents than for Hispanic parents. Practical issues to implementing the program through the courts and community agencies and in maintaining the program over time are discussed.

B3. Neuroscience of Addiction and Recovery: An Introduction Moderator: Hon Lisa Ilka Abrams Presenter: James D. Stoehr, PhD The rewarding properties of all drugs of abuse are due to disturbances in specific neurotransmitter systems within the brain. Eventually, these alterations underlie the behavioral loss of control associated with chemical dependency. These changes involve dysfunctions in higher centers in the brain, such as the prefrontal cortex, and manifest in compulsion and behavioral inflexibility. Specific drugs of abuse, such as methamphetamine, can cause rapid and permanent changes in these systems as well as neuronal damage and cell death. The recent surge in the abuse of synthetic cannabinoids, such as ‘spice’, and prescription medications has warranted significant research into their epidemiological, as well as biological, consequences.

3:30 PM – 5:00 PM

C1. Multidisciplinary Management of High Conflict Cases

Moderator: Hon Carey Hyatt Panel: Hon Carey Hyatt; Celice Korsten, PsyD and Hon Stephen JP Kupiszewski This presentation will identify the systems pieces and the role they each play in managing the high conflict family. A psychologist will present on evaluations of parties and the children and the therapeutic component to minimize the conflict. A retired judge and current parenting coordinator will present on the view from the bench and the role of a parenting coordinator in improving communication skills. Finally, a retired Commissioner and current litigator/mediator will present on best practices in handling high conflict cases from a representation and mediation standpoint.

C2. Trauma and the Adolescent Brain

Moderator: Hon Dean Christoffel Presenter: Rodney Erwin, MD Adolescence is a critical period of develop-ment and transformation, characterized by enormous physical, emotional, psychological, and social change. Ground-breaking research over the past two decades has enabled us to better understand the development that occurs in the adolescent brain and how these changes drive the thoughts and behaviors that are prevalent during this time. One of the most significant potential influences on this development is trauma. This seminar will explore the profound impact that trauma can have on adolescent brain development and the lifelong implications for emotions, behavior, and functioning.

C3. Special Parenting Plans for Special Needs Children Moderator: Diana Vigil, LPC, RPT

Panel: Laura Petrolle Clemons, MA; Jennifer Kupiszewski, JD and Hon Jay Polk

The Simpsons, Marge and Homer, and Game of Thrones, Katelyn and Eddard Stark are getting a divorce. Marge and Homer’s child, Maggie has developmental delays but does not have a diagnosis. Their son, Bart has Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Katelyn and Eddard’s son, Ricon Stark, has Autism and Brandon suffered a Traumatic Brain and Spinal Cord Injury from a fall. Both of these families need creative parenting plans to address the children’s special needs. They also need guidance on whether the child will need a guardian after turning 18 and how that transition happens. In this session, we

will work on their parenting plans, provide sample clauses, and post-majority planning. Participants will gain an understanding of the Guardianship process in probate so they can prepare clients for the transition to the probate process. We’ll review what you need to know about in special needs planning and Social Security benefits during a dissolution. There will be practical materials, such as pamphlets and checklists for participants to use with clients.

8:30 AM – 9:30 AM

Professional Ethics Across Disciplines: Ethics Workshop For All Moderator: Norma Izzo Miller, JD

Panel: Paul Bennett, JD; Hon Dean Christoffel and Diana Vigil, LPC, RPT

The integrated ethics panel discussion focuses on the ethical issues faced by different disciplines through an interactive discussion of case scenarios. The panel will focus on how the ever changing needs of the modern family create challenges to each discipline and how the family-centered practitioner can address these needs.

9:45 AM – 10:45 AM

D1. Mental Health: Do You See Any Problems With This Report? Panel: Faren Akins, JD; Sid Buckman, MA and Diana Vigil, LPC, RPT

Abbreviated sample reports for a Parenting Coordinator case, a Forensically-Informed Therapist treatment case, and an evaluation case will be reviewed and highlighted. An interactive presentation style will be used to discuss scenario facts, approaches and processes, conclusions, and recommendations. The program is geared to help attendees examine best practice approaches and ethical concerns.

D2. Legal Ethics

Panel: Hon Dean Christoffel and Paul Bennett, JD

We will discuss the many new ethics rules changes that will have gone into effect just before the Conference. We will also discuss a few ethics rules proposed changes that are still being considered by the Supreme Court and State Legislature.

D3. Mediation Ethics

Panel: Joy Borum, JD and Mediator; Stacey Brady, JD and Mediator and Kathy McCormick, CP and Mediator Mediators often confront many ethical challenges and responsibilities in family and child welfare mediations. Through role play by the panel, this interactive workshop will allow the panel and audience to explore the application of the American Bar Association Model Standards of Conduct for Mediators, and Model Standards of Practice for Family and Divorce Mediation to the scenario. Hot topics in mediation, such as a recent published Arizona Court of Appeals decision regarding mediation confidentiality, will also be addressed.