Training Schedule

Foundations for Change: Screening, Risk, and Judicial Responses to Family Violence

1. Understanding Family Violence—The History, Definitions, Dynamics, and Concept Creep

10:05AM - 11:05AM

Presenter: Michael A. Saini, PhD, MSW, RSW

To respond effectively to family violence, professionals must begin with a clear understanding of what violence is—and what it is not. This session lays the foundation for the workshop by exploring how our definitions have expanded over time and how that expansion, while necessary, also brings complexity and controversy. We’ll reflect on the roots and evolution of terms like coercive control and psychological abuse, and examine how concept creep may influence law, policy, and frontline practice.

Learning Objectives:

  • Define the major forms of family violence, including coercive control and psychological abuse
  • Identify how "concept creep" may impact clarity and consistency in legal and clinical settings

2. Screening for Family Violence—Early Detection and Legal Considerations

11:05AM - 12:05PM

Presenter: Hilary Linton, JD, LLM

Screening is the first and most vital step in creating safer outcomes for children and families. This session highlights the purpose and power of structured screening in family law, with a focus on asking the right questions in the right way. We’ll discuss the difference between screening and risk assessment, address ethical concerns, and consider the limits of informal or unstructured approaches.

Learning Objectives:

  • Explain why consistent screening is critical in family law practice
  • Identify key considerations when conducting screening in legal or mediation settings

First Break

12:05PM - 12:20PM

3. Using the MASIC-Short: A Structured Interview for Screening Violence

12:20PM - 1:20PM

Presenter: Amy G. Applegate, JD

The MASIC-Short (Mediator's Assessment of Safety Issues and Concerns) is a brief but structured screening interview designed for use in mediation and custody evaluations. This session introduces participants to the MASIC-Short tool, covering administration, scoring, and how it guides decision-making about next steps and referrals.

Learning Objectives:

  • Describe the purpose and design of the MASIC-Short tool
  • Describe how to administer and interpret responses

4. Embedding the DOORS Framework in Family Court Practice

1:20PM - 2:20PM

Presenter: Elisabeth Godbout, MSW, PhD

The Detection of Overall Risk Screen (DOORS) framework is a tiered model designed to guide early identification of risk in separating families. This session explores how DOORS has been implemented in Canadian jurisdictions and offers insight into how to adapt and scale the model in various professional settings.

Learning Objectives:

  • Discuss the three-tiered structure of DOORS (Self-Report, Practitioner, Collaboration)
  • Describe how DOORS can improve triage and early intervention

Mid-Training Break

2:20PM - 3:00PM

5. SAFeR: A Brief Screening Tool for Family Law Contexts

3:00PM - 4:00PM

Presenters: Anadelle M. Martinez-Mullen, JD and Tracy Shoberg, JD

SAFeR is a front-end, one-page screening tool designed for professionals who need a quick and effective way to flag family violence concerns. This session provides a walkthrough of the tool’s structure, its guiding principles, and how it fits into intake, triage, or ongoing client engagement processes.

Learning Objectives:

  • Discuss the purpose, structure, when, and how to integrate SAFeR into family law processes
  • Identify red flags that require immediate follow-up or referral

6. Risk Assessment and Safety Planning

4:00PM - 5:00PM

Presenters: Lisa Heslop, PhD and Katreena Scott, PhD

Once violence is detected, professionals need a reliable approach for assessing danger and planning for safety. This session moves from red flags to concrete risk assessment, and from there to coordinated, trauma-informed safety planning that protects children and adults.

Learning Objectives:

  • Explain how to distinguish levels of risk and patterns of harm
  • Identify tools and strategies for effective safety planning

Final Break

5:00PM - 5:15PM

7. Judicial Perspectives on Responding to Family Violence

5:15PM - 6:15PM

Presenter: Hon. Rosemary Collins (Ret.)

What happens when family violence cases come before the court? A judicial officer shares perspectives on judicial responses to violence, including evidence challenges, trauma-informed practices, and how to craft orders that reflect both protection and due process.

Learning Objectives:

  • Explain the judicial role in identifying and responding to family violence
  • Discuss challenges courts face in balancing risk and fairness

8. Building Safer Pathways: Strengthening Family Violence Screening and Assessment Across AFCC Guidelines

6:15PM - 7:15PM

Presenter: Kathleen McNamara, PhD

This session explores the integration of family violence considerations within major AFCC guidelines and standards, focusing on screening practices, assessment techniques, and responses to coercive control and intimate partner violence (IPV). Drawing on a cross-document comparative review, the presentation highlights consistencies, gaps, and tensions among evaluative, therapeutic, and mediation roles.

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify the relevant sections of AFCC guidelines that address violence, including IPV, coercive control, and abuse
  • Apply screening, assessment, and safety planning across AFCC guidelines

Wrap-Up & Reflections

7:15PM - 7:20PM

Parenting Plans, Interventions, and Child-Centered Solutions

9. The Impact of Family Violence on Children: Exposure, Adaptation, and Consequences

10:05AM - 11:05AM

Presenter: Angelique Jenney, MSW, PhD, RSW

Violence between parents has ripple effects on children that are often long-lasting and deeply personal. This session reviews the latest research on how exposure to family violence affects children’s emotional, cognitive, and behavioral development and how these effects should inform parenting decisions.

Learning Objectives:

  • Summarize key research on the short and long-term impact of family violence on children
  • Identify coping strategies children may use and how these relate to risk and resilience

10. Parenting Plans in the Context of Family Violence

11:05AM - 12:05PM

Presenter: Peter Jaffe, PhD

Parenting plans must adapt to the realities of violence. This session provides guidance on how to develop plans that prioritize safety and minimize risk. Through case examples and research-informed recommendations, the presenter will explore when and how to consider supervised visitation, no contact, or other protective measures.

Learning Objectives:

  • Discuss the importance of tailoring parenting plans based on the type and severity of violence
  • Explain how to align parenting plans with the best interests of children exposed to harm

First Break

12:05PM - 12:20PM

11. Interventions for Survivors, Children, and Perpetrators

12:20PM - 1:20PM

Presenter: Katreena Scott, PhD

Recovery and accountability can coexist. This session introduces programs that support survivors, children, and those who have caused harm. The session will discuss intervention models like Caring Dads and explore culturally responsive approaches that meet families where they are.

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify intervention models that address patterns of harm while promoting accountability
  • Explain the unique needs of children and survivors in the healing process

12. Working Across Cultures and Borders—Diversity, Migration, and Justice

1:20PM - 2:20PM

Presenter: Archana Medhekar, LLB, LLM

Legal responses to family violence must be inclusive and adaptive. This session focuses on families navigating violence while also facing systemic inequities, language barriers, or migration-related vulnerabilities. This segment will offer reflections from her work at the intersection of international law, cultural identity, and trauma.

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify barriers to justice for racialized and immigrant families
  • Apply principles of equity and cultural humility to family violence practice

Mid-Training Break

2:20PM - 3:00PM

13. Repairing Ruptures: Rebuilding Parent-Child Relationships After Family Violence

3:00PM - 4:15PM

Presenters: Glenda Lux, MA, RPsych, Beth Archer-Kuhn, PhD, and Natalie Beltrano, PhD(c)

When violence fractures a child’s sense of safety, their relationships with both parents can suffer. This session explores the complex journey of repair following violence, offering insight into what healthy connection looks like and what it doesn’t. Presenters will explore appropriate timelines, signs of readiness, and safeguards for safe reintroduction, drawing on evidence-informed models for child-led recovery.

Learning Objectives:

  • Explain the emotional and relational impact of violence on parent–child bonds
  • Identify risks of premature or court-ordered repair in unresolved violence contexts

Final Break

4:15PM - 4:30PM

14. Technology in Family Violence Cases: Risks and Responses

4:30PM - 5:30PM

Presenter: Sean B. Knuth, PhD

Technology and artificial intelligence are reshaping the dynamics of family violence. While they can enhance safety and access to support, they also present new avenues for control, coercion, and harm. This session explores the complex role of emerging technologies in family violence cases and offers insights into how professionals can respond with awareness, accountability, and care.

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify inherent risk factors of technology and AI in family violence cases
  • Identify potential benefits of technology in family violence dynamics

15. Final Panel—From Knowledge to Action: Implementation and Next Steps

5:30PM - 6:45PM

Presenters: Training Faculty - Moderated by Michael A. Saini, PhD, MSW, RSW

In our final session, participants will hear closing reflections from faculty and engage in live Q&A. This session offers a space to consolidate learning, share ideas, and commit to change. The panel will also offer thoughts on how professionals can support each other in this complex and essential work.

Learning Objectives:

  • Discuss the training’s key takeaways and their relevance to practice
  • Identify strategies for applying knowledge in day-to-day decision-making

Closing Reflections & Evaluation Instructions

6:45PM - 7:00PM

Note: If you are unable to attend live, stay tuned to the AFCC website for a special offer. Recordings of the training program will be available at a reduced price for non-registrants following the completion of the program. Continuing education credit is available only for programs attended live.