May 19 Ask the Experts Premela G. Deck, JD, PhD, LICSW Introducing Parent-Child Contact Cases: A Guide to Aligning Professionals Using a Systems Perspective If you have ever worked on a case involving a child who refuses to see a parent, you already know how quickly things can unravel — not just within the family, but among the professionals trying to help them. Picture this: an attorney for the favored parent is convinced the other parent is dangerous and files emergency motions accordingly. A therapist working with the rejected parent shares, candidly, that they believe the child is being "brainwashed." The child's therapist, having only ever met with one parent, produces notes that read more like an advocacy document than a clinical record. Meanwhile, the family therapist — who was appointed to work with the whole system — is fielding calls from lawyers who want to know when she'll be "recommending" the child resume overnight visits. No one is collaborating. No one is certain what anyone else's role actually is. And the family, watching all of this unfold, is more entrenched than ever. Sound familiar?
April 22 Ask the Experts Ruth Ouzts Moore, PhD Breaking the Cycle: Mental Health and Resilience in High-Conflict Divorce Divorce is often a highly stressful life event that can significantly disrupt the stability of a family. When parents separate, they frequently encounter major changes in financial arrangements, household responsibilities, living conditions, childcare, and visitation schedules. In many cases, one partner may be more emotionally prepared for the actual divorce, having experienced an “emotional divorce” long before the legal process began. As a result, the other partner may feel shocked, betrayed, or blindsided. These intense emotional reactions can contribute to heightened conflict and more complex family dynamics, potentially exacerbating mental health concerns—particularly for individuals with a prior history of psychological difficulties. Thus, it is essential to support clients in finding purpose and meaning during this transition. Beyond simply adapting to a new reality, clients benefit from developing resilience and the capacity to move forward in a healthy, constructive manner. Here are 10 important considerations when working with clients who have mental health concerns and are involved in high-conflict divorce.
April 22 President's Message Hon. Dolores A. Bomrad (Ret.), AFCC President April 2026 President's Message May 30, 2025, feels both like eons ago and like yesterday. That day, at the 62nd Annual AFCC Conference in New Orleans, our remarkable Past President, Professor Michael Saini, handed me the AFCC Presidential Gavel. In truth, that was the first and last time I held it. It has been under repair ever since, which still makes me laugh. I may not have had the gavel in my possession, but I certainly cherished what it represented: the opportunity to learn the inner workings of this extraordinary organization, meet more of our members and colleagues in collaborating organizations, preside over the countless programs and initiatives under way at AFCC, and keep learning every step of the way.
March 16 eNews Linda B. Fieldstone, MEd & Sue Bronson, MSW Top 10 Tips: Eldering Strategies to Bridge Across Generations The April 2026 Special Issue of the Family Court Review introduces “eldering” — acknowledging aging as an evolving relational role, recognizing interdependencies within the family system. These Top 10s reflect contributions from the authors in this special issue, as well as discussions with participants in our workshop* on skill building to reduce multigenerational conflict at the 2025 AFCC Annual Conference. In an interdisciplinary family-law context (judges, attorneys, practitioners, mediators, parenting and eldercaring coordinators) eldering means shifting to a family systems perspective, which enhances stability and builds resilience. We apply eldering best when we learn from each other’s professional lenses—legal clarity, clinical insight, resolution skills, and coordination strategies—so the family experiences one coherent, bridge-building approach. Listening to multigenerational voices with an eldering framework enhances AFCC’s mission to “improve the lives of children and families through the resolution of family conflict.” Continue Reading.
February 19 Other Jennifer E. Joseph, JD Minnesota in Crisis: Practice Tips from the Front Line Working with families who are in the process of restructuring, as we do, is hard work under the best of circumstances. I have had the dubious honor of trying to maintain my practice in Saint Paul, Minnesota, as our state, particularly the Twin Cities metro area, has experienced a surge of over 3000 federal agents in what is being described as “the largest immigration crackdown in [recent American] history.” Regardless of your politics and/or your feelings about the federal government’s handling of this situation, there are undeniable practical implications for providers. Here are a few things I have experienced since the crackdown began just over two months ago, along with some “pro tips” gleaned from some of my colleagues. Continue Reading.