Dear AFCC Colleagues,
Happy New Year! I wish each of you a healthy, happy, and fulfilling one. For just a moment, please bear with me as I indulge in a bit of bully pulpit preaching. For over thirty years, I had the blessing and curse of telling people what to do (after considering the evidence and analyzing the law), and it’s a hard habit to break. In these challenging and often angry times, I urge you to practice and model considerate behavior, patience, and compassionate kindness (especially while wearing your AFCC cap). Inevitably, at some time someone will act in a way that is less than kind toward each of us. When someone cuts in front of you in the grocery store, cuts you off on the road, or takes the parking space you were waiting for, please, instead of reacting with anger, act with kindness borne out of patience and understanding. Perhaps the transgressor is not fully present in the moment for any number of reasons; they just came from the funeral of a loved one, are rushing to get to the hospital to visit a sick child or they just learned that they have a serious illness. Remember that everyone may be facing unseen challenges. Give the benefit of a doubt that their behavior is based not on selfishness or deliberate rudeness, but on human frailty. Wish them well. By responding with empathy instead of anger, we can help make the world a better place
Reflections on 2025 achievements
Much was achieved by the efforts and participation of many in the past calendar year. Thanks to each of you for your ongoing commitment to AFCC and our mission. Through AFCC, we continue collaboration across professional disciplines. We teach each other formally and informally and learn from each other. We challenge each other. We form and foster connections that help each of us as we serve the children and families that come to us for help during difficult times in their personal lives.
In 2025, AFCC presented three dynamic conferences—the 62nd Annual Conference in New Orleans, our joint program with AAML in San Francisco, and a virtual conference in November—all packed with memorable highlights, as well as several training programs. Three special issues of the Family Court Review were published on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I); ALI Restatement of Children and the Law; and Understanding and Supporting military-connected families. Distinguished and educational monthly webinars, including the Social Science Year in Review by Michael Saini, were produced and provided as well as three outstanding DE&I webinars: Before you File: The Hidden Immigration Risks in Family Law; Every Person has a story: The Importance of Narrative in Native American Culture; and The Impact of Disabilities on Family Dynamics.
At the end of 2025, both the number of members and the number of Chapter were at an all-time high.
Vision and Priorities for 2026, renewal and shared goals
As we transition into a new calendar year and are halfway through the AFCC fiscal year, AFCC continues to be financially strong. We have the resources, and are implementing, important, challenging, and important technological improvements.
In 2026, AFCC will also continue to explore and discuss important issues like the voice of the child, not only in court, but in Mediation, Arbitration, Parenting Coordination, world-wide. AFCC will continue to support the two current task forces as they work on developing guidelines for court involved therapy and parent education. Plans for a third task force are in motion. We will continue to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, encourage international growth while being mindful of resources, and continue offering accessible conferences, training, and webinars held in North America and in the Asia Pacific region.
For 2026, as always, the importance and value of our chapters cannot be emphasized or supported enough. AFCC is where we learn, teach, and challenge practices that serve families across disciplines and silos. In our chapters we adapt them, fold them into our communities, and learn and grow from their implementation before bringing those experiences back to broader membership. This vital feedback loop is what makes AFCC the most important voice in the world for family law inter-disciplinary work.
Things to look forward to in the first part of 2026 include a 28-hour online training program for professionals on the Fundamentals of Conducting Parenting Plan Evaluations the 2nd week of March, and our 63rd Annual Conference in May, What Lies Beneath, Hidden Forces Shaping Families in Transition. As we look forward to Seattle, I am eager to engage on many topics, including one of our plenary sessions with April Harris-Britt and Chioma Ajoku on Code Switching, Bias, and Family Law, drawing from research and lived experiences. Join me!
I look forward to seeing you in Seattle,
Hon. Dolores A. Bomrad (Ret.), AFCC President