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An interdisciplinary and international association of professionals dedicated to improving the lives of children and families through the resolution of family conflict.

About AFCC

What is AFCC?

AFCC is the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts – the premier interdisciplinary and international association of professionals dedicated to the resolution of family conflict. AFCC members are the leading practitioners, researchers, teachers and policymakers in the family court arena.

The AFCC Membership Network

AFCC members are the association’s best and most important resource. The AFCC membership network provides an international network of collegiality, support and timely access to information and resources. AFCC members gather, in person and electronically, to exchange information, share perspectives and work collaboratively on projects. AFCC's website, members and staff can quickly help identify resources and information that benefit the busy professional.

AFCC convenes members of multiple disciplines in the public, private and nonprofit sectors, from all over the world. AFCC is unique as a professional association because members do not all share a common profession. Rather, AFCC members share a strong commitment to education, innovation and collaboration in order to benefit communities, empower families and promote a healthy future for children.

AFCC members are:

Judges
Lawyers
Mediators
Psychologists
Researchers
Academics
Counselors
Court Commissioners
Custody Evaluators
Psychiatrists
Parenting Coordinators
Court Administrators
Social Workers
Parent Educators
Financial Professionals

A History of Innovation and Positive Change

For nearly half a century, AFCC and its members have served as catalysts for generating major reforms. Dispute resolution processes such as child custody mediation, parenting coordination and divorce education are just a few of the innovative ideas developed by AFCC members. AFCC has developed Practice Guidelines and Standards for family and divorce mediation, child custody evaluation, parenting coordination, brief focused assessment and court-involved involved therapists. Task forces and special projects address the ongoing challenges faced by AFCC members and the families they serve. AFCC actively disseminates innovations and ideas to its members. The ripple effect can be seen in courts and communities throughout the world.

Family Court Review: An Interdisciplinary Journal

AFCC’s quarterly journal, Family Court Review, is sponsored by the Hofstra Law School Center for Children, Families and the Law and published by Wiley-Blackwell. The leading interdisciplinary family law journal, FCR publishes issues on topics such as domestic violence, child development and attachment, parental alienation, unified family courts and child welfare mediation.

Collaborative Leadership to Improve Practice and Policy

AFCC plays a leadership role and collaborates with leading organizations on major reform initiatives and training in family law and domestic relations practice and policy. Through the AFCC Center for Excellence in Family Court Practice, AFCC places an ongoing emphasis on issues including case management, domestic violence, family law education and the integration of research into practice and policy. AFCC partners include the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, Hofstra Law School Center for Children, Families and the Law, Battered Women’s Justice Project, Werner Institute for Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, University of Baltimore School of Law Center for Children, Families and the Courts, Loyola University Chicago School of Law’s Civitas ChildLaw Center, Resolution Systems Institute and Marquette University Law School Dispute Resolution Program.