VOLUME 22, NUMBER 1 Association of Family and Conciliation Courts WINTER 2003

Minister of Justice and AttorneyGeneral Martin Cauchon and

Supreme Court Justice Hon. MarieDeschamps head the lengthy list of digni-taries who will join AFCC in welcomingdelegates to AFCC’s 40th AnniversaryConference, Change and Challenge: 40Years of Evolution in Families, Courts andCommunities May 28-31, 2003 at theWestin Ottawa.

Also participating will be Chief JusticeHeather Smith, Superior Court of Justice;Chief Justice Brian Lennox of the OntarioCourt of Justice; Minister Norman Sterling,Ontario Attorney General; SenatorLandon Pearson; George Thomson,Executive Director of the National JudicialInstitute; and Hon. Claire L’Heureux-Dubé, Retired Justice of the SupremeCourt of Canada.

The conference will open with “Changeand Challenge: 40 Years of Evolution inFamilies.” Hon. Arline Rotman (ret.) willmoderate a discussion about the nature oftoday’s family and its impact on our future.Presenters include sociologists PaulAmato, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State Uni-versity; Robert Glossop, Ph.D., The VanierInstitute of the Family; and David Pope-noe, Ph.D., National Marriage Project.

Thursday morning’s plenary, “FromAdversaries to Collaborators: The Evolu-tion of Family Law,” provides anopportunity to look at changes—movingfrom general practice to specialized ser-vices—and forecasts the future directionof family law practices. This session willfeature Hon. Leonard Edwards, President,National Council of Juvenile and Family

Court Judges; Philip Epstein, Q.C.; Julie Macfarlane, University ofWindsor; Forrest Mosten, author, Unbundling Legal Services; andmoderator George Thomson, Executive Director of Canada’sNational Judicial Institute.

Domestic abuse and custody issues will be addressed at Friday’splenary session. Peter G. Jaffe, Ph.D., co-author of Child Custodyand Domestic Violence: A Call for Safety and Accountability will bejoined by Joan B. Kelly, Ph.D., co-author of Surviving the Breakup;Jeffrey Wilson, author, Wilson on Children and the Law; Justice V.Jennifer McKinnon; and moderator Mary E. O’Connell, AssociateDean, Northeastern University Law School.

With more than 40 workshop choices addressing child custody

and access, domestic violence prevention,parent-focused and child-focused media-tion, family resiliency, ex-spouse copingstrategies, financial professionals’ role indivorce, child abduction, absent parents,collaborative law and many other topics,you’ll expand your knowledge while net-working with friends and colleagues.

New this year will be three-hour dis-cussion forums on Friday afternoon.These in-depth sessions will allow ampleopportunity for interaction between par-ticipants and presenters. Topicsdiscussed will be mediation certification,parenting coordination, child protectionand dependency mediation, collaborativefamily law, unrepresented litigants andUnified Family Courts.

You won’t want to miss the Silent Auc-tion on Friday, with bids accepted from5:00pm to 7:00pm, followed by AFCC’s40th Anniversary Banquet. Silent Auctionproceeds will benefit the AFCC ResourceDevelopment Fund.

Pre-conference InstitutesPlan your arrival in time to participate

in one of the in-depth topics offered duringthe Pre-conference Institutes on Wednes-day, May 28, from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Thesix Institute selections include:

• Working with High Conflict Families:Child Alienation and Parenting Coordi-nation

• Representing Children

• Judicial Officers Institute: CulturalCompetence in the Courtroom

• Advanced Family Mediation Skills

• Issues for Families with Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual or TransgenderMembers: What Family Court Professionals Need to Know

• At the Nexus of Domestic Violence and Child Maltreatment

For additional information, please see the conference programat www.afccnet.org. If you do not have a hard copy please contactAFCC at (608) 664-3750 or afcc@afccnet.org and request that onebe sent to you.

Remember to make your hotel reservations early to assure yourspace at the group rate. Contact Westin central reservations at(800) 937-8416 or the Westin Ottawa directly at (613) 560-7000.

Canadian Dignitaries to Celebrate AFCC’s 40th Anniversary at the Annual Conference in Ottawa

Hon. MarieDeschamps

Chief JusticeHeather Smith

Paul R. Amato, Ph.D.

Hon. MartinCauchon

Hon. ClaireL’Heureux-Dubé

Peter G. Jaffe, Ph.D.

“A great pleasure in life is doing whatpeople say you cannot do.” — Walter Bage-hot, English journalist, 1826-1877.

Ihope that this edition of the newsletterfinds you well and enjoying the challenges

the new year has brought to your doorstep.As for me, I am reminded, almost daily, thatlife steps in whether we are ready or not!

My “day job” as I jokingly refer to it, is asa Court Administrator in Orange County,California for the Superior Court. I amresponsible for a seven-story court building,annex offices, more than 250 staff andfamily law, juvenile, probate and mentalhealth operations. Oh yes, I forgot to men-tion that the job includes supporting 34judicial officers located in two different court-houses. Do I love my job? Absolutely.

Seldom do we hear about the challengesof the court administrator, yet access to jus-tice often depends on the effectiveness ofthose in administrative roles. In my quarter-century working in a court setting, I havenever been so worried about the courts abil-ity to do business as is the case with ourcurrent state budget crises. Our governorand legislators tell us we are short about $20billion. Many families and services arealready being seriously effected by the cut-backs and we have only seen the tip of theiceberg. Locally we have had to trim an addi-tional $10 million from this year’s budget andwe are awaiting the third wave of cuts. Infiscal year 2003-2004 we are anticipating atleast $20 million off the top. We have notbeen able to fill vacancies, except for court-room positions, since last July. In order to fillcourtroom vacancies we have had to createholes elsewhere. Only essential purchasesare being made with major expenses, suchas painting and carpeting, on the backburner even though throughout the facilitywe have duct tape covering holes and tornseams. All staff travel, unless reimbursedfrom a source outside the court, is prohib-ited. Even release time for paid training hasbecome a significant issue because it hasbecome nearly impossible to provide cover-age in someone’s absence. Staff is on pinsand needles with talk of furloughs and lay-offs. Many have or are now taking voluntaryfurloughs. So what’s the good news?

Managing in the current environment ischallenging, fast paced and full of pres-sures and stressors, yet full of opportunitiesto find creative solutions, further collabora-tive decision making and consensus

building while opening the doors wide forinnovation and risk taking. It is no secretthat bureaucracies, for the most part, findchange threatening, unnecessary and evil.When confronted with increased work-loads, our first response is “either give usmore money or more staff.” In my opinion,no longer can courts, or other bureaucra-cies for that matter, operate with this kindof limiting solution finding. The more rea-soned and sound approach is to respondwith a close examination of the businessprocesses to determine what can bestreamlined or eliminated. Essential to thesuccess of this model is close communi-cation with our judicial leaders, communitypartners and local bar associations. I per-sonally find bringing folks together to getthings done exciting, fun and producesbetter outcomes. However, without myextensive experience in conflict resolutionand facilitation, I suspect I would feel illequipped to address the competing issueswith all the parties present.

Imperative to our success in court oper-ations is accelerating the speed at which ourorganizations make decisions, albeit easiersaid than done! The more some managersand supervisors are stretched, the moreinformation they feel they simply must havebefore reaching a decision or recommen-dation. Judicial leaders, senior courtmanagement and our stakeholders providesupport by giving permission for us to fail,brush ourselves off and reload. Severalyears ago when implementing a controver-sial pilot project for the radically differenthandling of civil domestic violence restrain-ing orders, I adopted the phrase “newprogram syndrome.” So many folks werenay-sayers; we were definitely under amicroscope and a lot of folks were predict-ing we were doomed to fail. New programsyndrome gave us permission from the verybeginning to be wrong, to make mistakes,to change our minds and to conclude it mayhave been an idea whose time had notcome, without all the finger pointing. Whileunder attack or at the epicenter of somecontroversy, I found it a wonderfully effec-tive intervention to remind folks about newprogram syndrome. A quiet period almostalways followed my reminder and therewere substantially fewer “told ya so’s.”

So take heart fellow administrators. Wehave many skills to bring to the table asmediators and evaluators that are unique tomost courts. To quote John Baines, “the firststep to finding a solution is optimism.” I amoptimistic that at the end of this severebudget crisis courts can be more respon-sive, flexible and accessible to the users ofour services and courtrooms. Because weare often isolated let’s make it a point toshare our ideas and frustrations. I applaudAFCC member David Hodges for his ener-getic and ongoing efforts in gettingquestions and ideas out across the Internetfrom program supervisors and administra-tors. AFCC is the network to get and givesupport to one another!

If not already on your “to do list,” pleaseadd “sign up for AFCC ‘s 40th AnniversaryConference in Ottawa, Canada, May 28-31.”The program and conference activities won’tdisappoint you and I look forward to seeingyou there!

2 AFCC NEWSLETTER • WINTER 2003

AFCC BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PresidentJan ShawOrange, CA

President ElectHon. George CzutrinHamilton, ON

Vice President/SecretaryLeslye Hunter, M.A.New Orleans, LA

TreasurerMary Ferriter, M.P.A., J.D.Boston, MA

Past PresidentDenise McColley, M.Ed., J.D.

Napoleon, OH

Robert Barrasso, J.D., Tucson, AZCarole Brown, Ph.D., Darlinghurst,

NSW, AustraliaHon. Linda Dessau, Melbourne,

VC, AustraliaLarry S. Fong, Calgary, AB, CanadaHon. Ross Goodwin, Quebec City,

QC CanadaStephen Grant, M.A., Rocky Hill, CTR. John Harper, L.L.B. Hamilton,

ON CanadaWilliam J. Howe III, J.D., Lake Oswego, ORMichele MacFarlane, L.I.S.W., Toledo, OHFrederic Mitchell, Ph.D., Tucson, AZLeah Pallin-Hill, J.D., Phoenix, AZC. Eileen Pruett, J.D., Columbus, OHHon. Hugh Starnes, Fort Myers, FLJanet Walker, Ph.D., Newcastle Upon

Tyne, England

Executive DirectorPeter SalemMadison, Wisconsin

AFCC NEWSLETTERVol. 22. No. 1

EditorPeter Salem

Published by AFCC6515 Grand Teton Plaza, Suite 210Madison, WI 53719-1048Tel: (608) 664-3750Fax: (608) 664-3751E-mail: afcc@afccnet.orgWeb: www.afccnet.org

The AFCC Newsletter is a publication ofAFCC, an association of family, court andcommunity professionals. The newsletter ispublished four times a year. Deadlines fornews items and advertising are March 1,June 1, September 1, and December 1.Advertising copy must be camera readyand payment made in U.S. funds.

Advertising Rates:Full page (7 1/2” x 10”) . . . . . . . . . . $400Half page (7 1/2” x 4 7/8”) . . . . . . . $300Quarter page (3 5/8” x 4 7/8”) . . . . . $175

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Jan Shaw Orange, California

3AFCC NEWSLETTER • WINTER 2003

It is a pleasure to take this opportunity tocommunicate with AFCC members after

spending the last eight months digging outfrom what seems like a never-ending stackof papers, telephone messages and e-mails. Since my appointment as executivedirector, I have gained a newfound appre-ciation for the work involved in managingthis association and the accomplishments ofthose who preceded me in this position.Although our work is far from complete, I amhappy to report that we have made excel-lent progress in our administrative transition.Our fall conferences were successful, ourmembership numbers continue to grow andthe program for our 40th Anniversary Con-ference in Ottawa, May 28-31, 2003 isgetting rave reviews. I hope to see you therefor the celebration.

In the 14 years since I first becamean AFCC member, I have come to appre-ciate the many attributes that make ourAssociation special. These include the inter-disciplinary nature of the organization, theopportunity for any member to networkinformally with the leading professionals inour field, the continuous flow of innovativeideas and the generosity with which theseideas are shared.

We are all driven by the AFCC’s missionof making our courts and services moreeffective for families and children. But thereis something more to it than that. There issomething that I can’t quite put my finger onor reduce to words, but I know it exists. It isabout the collegiality, the professional con-nections and friendships that form at aconference. It is the relationships, the chap-ters that seem to spontaneously form(although we know how much hard work ittakes) and the new opportunities that arecreated within the AFCC network. It isabout a feeling so comfortable that two cou-ples decided that they would spend theirhoneymoons at last year’s annual confer-ence in Hawaii... and they were even seenattending conference sessions!

When I discuss the benefits of AFCC withprospective members and try to explain thisphenomenon I often find myself saying thatthey are just going to have to join and expe-rience a conference to fully understand. Ifyou are a member of AFCC and have beento our conferences, you get it. If you have

not, I hope you will join us in the near future.You won’t be disappointed.

While it isn’t always easy to explainexactly what makes our organization andconferences so special, it is clear that noneof it would happen without the extraordinarycommitment of many people. The energyand ideas generated by AFCC Board andcommittee members is extraordinary. Thededication and generosity of the conferencepresenters, who pay their own way to ourconferences to contribute their expertise, isequally impressive. And the enthusiasm andexcellence of the staff and Editorial Boardof the Family Court Review is remarkable.Space does not permit me to name all ofthese people, but if you open a copy of thejournal or your Ottawa conference pro-gram, you will get a good representation ofthose responsible for our success. (Whilethe conference brochure is open, don’tforget to fill out the registration form andsend it in!)

There are a few people, however, who Iwant to recognize individually because theyare the backbone of AFCC. You speak withthem on the telephone, they answer your e-mails, respond to rush orders, and whenyou have a special request for a referral orneed an article from a back issue of theReview, they are there to help. Given thisyear’s administrative changes and the sig-nificant amount of contact between ourstaff and members, it may be helpful tointroduce the people who come to workevery day to make sure our members areserved. In alphabetical order:

Dawn Holmes, OfficeManager/Conference Registrar

Technically, Dawn’s job title is OfficeManager and Conference Registrar, how-ever, she is also responsible for AFCC’s

in-house computer operations, websitemaintenance and database management.She is also actively involved with providingtechnical support and guidance to AFCC’sMembership Committee and AFCC’sChapters.

In addition to the above duties, a typicalday finds Dawn fielding dozens of telephoneand e-mail requests for everything from a listof parent education classes in Idaho to

From the Executive Director

AFCC ADVISORY COUNCIL

Joel Bankes, MSFredericksburg, VAHon. Betty BarteauRussiaPhil Bushard, D.P.A.Reno, NVLinda Cavallero, Ph.D.Worcester, MAKathleen Clark, Ph.D.Galion, OHChristie Coates, M.Ed., JDBoulder, COHon. Melvin E. CohnSan Carlos, CAHon. Sean DunphyBoston, MAGregory Firestone, Ph.D.Tampa, FLJay Folberg, LLBSan Francisco, CAJonathan Gould, Ph.D.Charlotte, NCElayne E. Greenberg, MS, JDGreat Neck, NYJanet Johnston, Ph.D.San Jose, CAJoan Kelly, Ph.D.Corte Madera, CAHon. Emile KruzickOrangeville, ONGerald Lecovin, LLBVancouver, BCMargaret Little, Ph.D.Los Angeles, CADonald Moir, LLBVancouver, BCDiane NunnSan Francisco, CAHon. Frank OrlandoFort Lauderdale, FLJessica Pearson, Ph.D.Denver, COHon. Arline Rotman (ret.)Norwich, VTAndrew Schepard, JDHempstead, NYArnold Shienvold, Ph.D.Harrisburg, PAPhilip Stahl, Ph.D.Danville, CASuzie S. Thorn, JDSan Francisco, CARobert Tompkins, M.A.Derby, CTCarolyn Wah, JDPatterson, NYJanet WardColumbus, INHon. R. James WilliamsHalifax, NS

Peter Salem, Madison, WI

Dawn Holmes

continued on page 7

by BeaLisa Sydlik, J.D., Family LawPolicy Analyst, Oregon JudicialDepartment, Member, AFCC Task Forceon Parenting Coordinators, Salem, OR

The AFCC Parenting CoordinationTask Force is finalizing its briefing

paper, Parenting Coordination: Implemen-tation Issues, in time for AFCC’s 40thAnniversary Conference, May 28-31, inOttawa, Ontario where the paper will bemade available as a part of the AFCC pub-lication library. The Task Force, chaired byformer AFCC President Christine A. Coates,was formed to address the the need forinformation and guidance for the parentingcoordinator (PC). Task Force membersdetermined that the PC role was too new fora comprehensive set of standards, howeverthe briefing paper was prepared to respondto the numerous requests for informationabout the PC. The requests were largelyrelated to implementation of the PC role;i.e., what should a planning and develop-ment committee consider when looking toinstitute the PC model in their local courts?

The Task Force gathered informationfrom courts, attorneys, service providers,and others across the country who areeither already instituting some version of thePC model, or hoping to do so in the nearfuture. A great variety of approaches to themodel, based upon local needs, court cul-ture, bar affiliation, and philosophicalpreferences for resolving parental conflict,were discovered to exist. The briefing paperis a useful tool for eyeballing what otherjurisdictions have done, and provides guide-posts for establishing PC services in one’sown court or community.

The briefing paper addresses 16 specifictopics relevant to the PC model. This arti-cle provides a brief overview of the issues.

1. Statutory Authority: There is a generalsense that, while the PC may provideservices in their professional capacity,courts may not feel authorized toappoint a PC without specific legislation.As the PC role grows in acceptance andeffectiveness, more states are exploringstatutory frameworks, ranging from gen-eral to detailed, to provide this authority.

2. Appointment of the Parent Coordina-tor: A crucial issue is whether the PC’sservices may be mandated over a par-ty’s objection, or can only be utilized withboth parties’ stipulated consent. Issues ofunlawful delegation of judicial authoritymust be considered, and there is a broadspectrum of opinion on this issue. SomePC models provide that PC appointmentmay take place over a parent’s objectionif particular findings are made.

3. Timing of the PC Intervention inFamily Law Proceeding: The majorityof PCs are appointed to monitor andenforce a parenting plan after itbecomes part of a final judgment, and

only rarely to assist in developing the ini-tial parenting time plan.

4. Term of Appointment, Removal andResignation: There are various con-siderations in appointing a PC for aspecified term. A typical term is twoyears. Some courts have expedited thePC intervention, bringing the partiesback to court for a status conferenceafter a short period of time to see howissues have been resolved. PCs desirespecific direction on when they may beauthorized to resign from their role, andparties are concerned about under whatcircumstances they can requestremoval. What happens when fees arenot paid is a common question.

5. Areas of PC Decision Making Author-ity: Determining the extent of PCdecision-making often involves extensivediscussions among stakeholders, includ-ing local attorneys, judges, andprofessional service providers. Courtswant to avoid “unlawful delegations ofjudicial authority” and often do so by lim-iting PC decisions to day-to-day detailsas opposed to an encompassing custodyor parenting time determination. Attor-neys are interested in preserving theirclient’s due process rights, and oftenseek judicial review of PC decisions.

6. Confidentiality and Ex Parte Com-munications: The PC process asimplemented to date is almost univer-sally not confidential; i.e., the PC can becalled as a witness to testify and tomake recommendations to the court.The PC may also communicate withthird parties to assess family dynamicsand investigate allegations made by theparties. An important consideration iswhether the PC may communicate withattorneys and judges ex parte.

7. Access to Non-Parties, Children andPrivileged Information: Almostalways, the PC meets with the children.The PC is usually authorized to contactand review records of schools, physi-cians, mental health providers,guardians ad litem, and custody evalu-ators. Parties are almost alwaysrequested to provide releases to permitthis level of investigation.

8. Referral for Third-Party Services:Deciding whether the PC can refer byrecommendation or order parents orchildren for adjunct services, such aspsychological exams, drug testing, orsupervised visitation, is a necessaryconsideration.

9. PC Proceedings: The PC is typicallygiven wide latitude in how sessions withthe family members are conducted.These are commonly described as“informal.”

10. PC Compensation: Typically, partiesshare the expense of the PC in propor-tions initially set by agreement or by the

court and based upon income and abil-ity to pay. The PC is often empoweredto alter this percentage where one parentabuses the process or unreasonablyconsumes more of the PC’s time. ManyPCs are authorized to request paymentin advance since parents dissatisfied withthe process often decide to unilaterallywithhold payment. PC fee rates canrange from $75 to $275.

11. PC Qualifications and Training: Mostjurisdictions require the PC to possessa social science or mental healthdegree; others provide that paraprofes-sionals, such as court staff, can fulfill thefunction provided they receive adequatetraining. In some jurisdictions, attorneysserve as PCs. Determining areas ofrequired PC expertise should be a topicof extensive consideration by the plan-ning/implementing committee.

12. Immunity: Orders appointing PCs mayprovide that the PC acts as a quasi-judi-cial officer and has limited immunity. Thisdoes not necessarily prevent the filing ofindividual complaints with professionallicensing boards, but provides a measureof protection from civil lawsuits. Somejurisdictions may require professional lia-bility insurance coverage.

13. Submission and Objection to PCRecommendations/Reports: Fre-quently, the PC is required to submit awritten report to the court when the par-ties cannot otherwise agree. The reportmakes recommendations that becomecourt orders unless a parent filesobjections within a specific number ofdays (usually 10-20), after which a con-tested hearing is held where the PCmay be called informally or by subpoenato testify.

14. Judicial Review of PC Decisions:Courts typically have the final say inaffirming the acts of the PC, unless theparties authorize the PC to arbitratewhere they cannot agree, in which casethe PC (sometimes called a “med-arbiter” in this role) is authorized torender a final decision that cannot beoverturned by the court except forabuse of discretion or acting beyond thescope of granted authority.

The final three sections of the briefing paperdiscuss “risk management” for PCs, domes-tic violence concerns in the context ofparenting coordination, and acknowledgesthe need for further research to determinethe effectiveness of parenting coordinators.The briefing paper is an important first stepin developing guidelines and standards forthis emerging field of practice. A futureendeavor of the Task Force may involvedeveloping a “bank” of forms, orders, andinformational materials for courts, practi-tioners and PCs.

4 AFCC NEWSLETTER • WINTER 2003

Parenting Coordination: Implementation Issues

5AFCC NEWSLETTER • WINTER 2003

AFCC Thanks ParentingCoordinator Task ForceMembers

AFCC would like to thank the members of its Parenting Coor-dinator Task Force for their outstanding efforts over the past

two years in preparing the briefing paper Parenting Coordination:Implementation Issues. Members of the task force include:

Christine Coates, J.D., M.Ed., ChairBoulder, CO

Philip Bushard, D.P.A.Reno, NV

Robin Deutsch, Ph.D.Boston, MA

Hon. William JonesCharlotte, NC

Philip Stahl, Ph.D.Danville, CA

Matthew Sullivan, Ph.D.Palo Alto, CA

BeaLisa Sydlik, J.D.Salem, OR

Robert Wistner, J.D.Dublin, OH

40th Anniversary ConferenceFeatures ParentingCoordinator Sessions

AFCC’s 40th Anniversary Conference, May 28-31, 2003 inOttawa, Canada, will feature several educational opportuni-

ties for those interested in parenting coordination and other modelsfor working with high conflict families.

Members of AFCC’s Parenting Coordinator Task Force, includ-ing Christine Coates, J.D., Robin Deutsch, Ph.D., and MatthewSullivan, Ph.D. will present a special three-hour Parenting Coor-dination Forum. Those interested or experienced in parentingcoordination are encouraged to come discuss AFCC’s briefingpaper and other issues related to the process.

Joan B. Kelly, Ph.D., and Robin Deutsch, Ph.D., will offer afull-day pre-conference institute on Working with High Conflict Fam-ilies: Child Alienation and Parenting Coordination.

Christine Coates, J.D., Betsy Duvall, M.S.W., and MatthewSullivan, Ph.D. will present on dual role issues in their workshop,Parenting Coordination: The Challenges of Being Coach and Deci-sion Makers.

For additional information about the conference program go tothe AFCC website at www.afccnet.org or contact the office at:

Association of Family and Conciliation Courts6515 Grand Teton Plaza, Suite 210Madison, WI 53719-1048Phone: (608) 664-3750Fax: (608) 664-3751Email: afcc@afccnet.orgWeb: www.afccnet.org

Mark your calendar now for AFCC’s2003 Regional Conference,

November 13-15. The conference willtake place at the Sheraton City CenterHotel & Suites, a beautifully renovatedhistoric downtown building, built in 1929as a merchandise warehouse for JCPenney. Known locally as the EdisonBrothers Warehouse, the building is dec-orated with a huge trompe l’oeil mural bynoted artist Richard Haas. Located adja-cent to the Metro Link/Light Rail system,directly across from the Savvis CenterSports Arena (home of the St. LouisBlues) and just blocks from all the down-town attractions such as the Arch, BuschStadium, Riverboat Casinos, Union Sta-tion and more, the hotel has oversizedguest rooms and suites with sofa sleep-ers, wet bars, refrigerators and Internetaccess. Guest room rates for AFCC con-ference attendees will be $115 for singleor double occupancy.

St. Louis is known for its cultural,family and sports attractions, many ofwhich are available at no charge, such asthe Zoo, Art Museum, Science Centerand Missouri History Museum. Blues,jazz, ragtime, rock ‘n roll and roots musicall make their home in St. Louis, whichensures that you can find the music tomatch your mood in the entertainmentdistricts. And, at 630 feet above St. Louisin the Gateway Arch, you’ll discover anunsurpassed view of the city. Major air-line carriers provide service to the St.Louis International Airport and, once yourplane lands, MetroLink light rail will trans-port you from inside the airport terminalsto downtown. For more information aboutthe city, go to www.explorestlouis.com.

Watch the AFCC web site and AFCCNewsletter for the Call for Proposals.Make your plans now to meet AFCC in St.Louis.

AFCC Boardof DirectorsNominations

The Nominations Committee of theAssociation of Family and Conciliation

Courts hereby provides notice to AFCCmembership that the following membershave been nominated to serve a three-yearterm on the Board of Directors beginningJuly 1, 2003.

Cori Erickson, M.S., Sheridan, Wyoming

Hon. William Fee, Angola, Indiana

Larry Sun Fong, Ph.D., Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Robert M. Smith, J.D., Fort Collins, Colorado

Hon. Hugh Starnes, Fort Myers, Florida

Janet Walker, Ph.D., Newcastle UponTyne, England

The Nominations Committee includesAFCC Past President, Denise McColley,Chair, Phil Bushard, Christine Coates, Hon.Emile Kruzick and Eileen Pruett.

Save the Dates! November 13-15, 2003

St. Louis to Host AFCC Fall Conference

By Judge Mark W. Armstrong, PresidingFamily Court Judge, Maricopa CountySuperior Court, Phoenix, AZ

Should we have an integrated familycourt that deals with all of a family’s

related legal issues? This is not a simplequestion and reasonable people may differin their answer. People may even disagree,again reasonably so, about what an inte-grated family court is and what it mightaccomplish. I can only tell you what I believeit is.

To me, the most easily distinguishablefeature of an integrated family court is theconcentration of all justiciable family con-flicts and problems in one court department.Today, many families have related financialand emotional problems that repeatedlypresent themselves under different guisesin different courts.

A couple contesting custody in a disso-lution action may also be involved in a childabuse or neglect proceeding. A child of thecouple may come to the attention of juve-nile authorities because of behavior relatedto the parents’ conflict. The same familyappearing in two or more courts creates dif-ficulties of logistics and coordination, as wellas emotional trauma and unnecessaryexpense. No one judge or team is respon-sible for disposition of the family’s legalissues. Numerous court appearances maybe required, and new judges may have tobecome familiar with the family’s back-ground. Social service personnelassociated with the different courts may per-form duplicative functions, such as multipleinterviews of children.

An integrated family court may haveadvantages over the current system. Again,it would concentrate family-related decision-making in a single department. It wouldinclude judges trained in the full range offamily-related legal issues. It may reduceduplicative court services and provide bettercommunication and information sharingamong various courts and agencies thatdeal with children and domestic violence. Itmay provide the court with more informationupon which to make family-related deci-sions. It may reduce conflicts in judicialphilosophy and jurisdiction. It may make thefamily court assignment more attractive tojudges because of the greater varietyinvolved and the enhanced ability tomanage the case for the whole family. Itmay be more economical for the family andthe court. Most importantly, it may providebetter service to families and children. Thatis why we in Maricopa County, Arizona,decided to embark on a pilot project.

BackgroundThe notion of an integrated family court,

of course, is not a new one. The conceptwas first proposed in this country in 1899,

the same year that a specialized JuvenileCourt was first created in Denver andChicago. The first documentary evidence ofa family court’s creation is in some 1912New Jersey legislation that authorized theJuvenile Court to hear domestic matters.The first actual family court consolidation ofjuvenile and domestic relations courtsoccurred in 1914 in Hamilton County(Cincinnati), Ohio. The first Hamilton CountyFamily Court judge, Charles W. Hoffman,said in 1918 that “[b]y reason of the orga-nization of the family courts, we believe thatthe administration of the juvenile court willbecome more effective and significant andbetter understood, not only by those con-nected with the juvenile court but by thepublic generally. There is no need for pub-licity on this point…It is clear…that theprinciple of the juvenile court is the founda-tion upon which the family court must beconstructed.”

The purpose of the family court was fur-ther defined by the Standard Family CourtAct, a model act proposed in 1959, asfollows:

“...to protect and safeguard family life ingeneral, and family units in particular, byaffording to family members all possiblehelp in resolving their justiciable problemsand conflicts arising from their inter-per-sonal relationships, in a single court withone specially-qualified staff, under oneleadership, with a common philosophyand purpose, working as a unit, with oneset of family records all in one place, underthe direction of one or more specially-qual-ified judges.”

Since then, family courts have evolved innumerous forms and without a universallyaccepted definition. Among the first statesto develop family courts after the act wereRhode Island in 1961, New York in 1962,and Hawaii in 1965. Comprehensive juris-diction family courts have beenrecommended by the National Council ofJuvenile and Family Court Judges (1993),the American Bar Association (1993), andthe Association of Family and ConciliationCourts (1995). One of the reasons for thefamily court movement is that nationally,family law cases, excluding juvenile cases,account for 35-40 percent of all case filings,and the percentage is growing. Yet inex-plicably, family courts nationally remainamong the most neglected areas of thecourt system.

At least 24 states currently have signifi-cant efforts underway to improve the waycourts address family cases. As of 1999, atleast 11 states had statewide family courts;16 states had family courts in certain areasof the state; and eight states had plannedor pilot family courts. Judicial terms for thesefamily courts range from nine months to life-time. Some of the best elements of thesediverse family courts include: (1) having thefamily court at the same jurisdictional level

as the general jurisdiction trial court; (2)having comprehensive family law subject-matter jurisdiction over the full range of afamily’s related legal problems; (3) using aone team-one family approach in which theteam is headed by the judge but provides amulti-disciplinary approach to family man-agement and services; (this approachpromotes stability and predictability); (4)using specialized judges; (5) employing acase management system capable of con-taining the family’s entire court records in aneasily accessible database; and (6) usinginterdisciplinary approaches such as thera-peutic justice.

The Early Arizona ExperienceOn October 22, 1997, former Chief Jus-

tice Thomas A. Zlaket created the statewideCommittee to Study Family Issues in theSuperior Court. The committee was askedto study the manner in which Arizona andother states handle family-related cases, toconsider the prospect of a unified or inte-grated family court, and to makerecommendations to the Arizona JudicialCouncil (AJC), the Arizona Supreme Court’sprimary policy-making body, on ways toimprove the system. The committee sub-mitted its final report to the AJC inDecember 1998. The AJC did not adopt thereport and asked the committee to reportback with more specific recommendations.In September 1999, after nearly two yearsof meetings, the committee recommendedto the AJC that the committee disband whileendorsing the family court projects in Mari-copa and Yavapai Counties.

On March 26, 1999, former MaricopaCounty Presiding Judge Robert D. Myersasked Judges Daughton, Portley, Schneiderand myself to design an integrated familycourt in Maricopa County. The four of usmet on May 10, 1999, agreed to the ele-ments of an integrated family court (similarto the six elements described above), andcreated the Maricopa County IntegratedFamily Court Design Task Force. The TaskForce met for two years, and in 2001, cur-rent Maricopa County Presiding Judge ColinCampbell entered an administrative ordersetting up an Integrated Family Court PilotProject.

Maricopa County Pilot ProjectThe pilot project ran from March 19,

2001, through June 28, 2002, at the South-east Judicial District complex in Mesa. Thetwo primary purposes of the pilot were toexplore ways of better coordinating family-related cases and services, and to usejudges trained in both family and juvenilelaw. The Southeast site was chosen sincethe Family (domestic relations) and JuvenileCourt facilities are in close proximity. Thepilot involved two Family Court judicial

6 AFCC NEWSLETTER • WINTER 2003

The Integrated Family Court in Maricopa County, Arizona

continued on page 7

7AFCC NEWSLETTER • WINTER 2003

officers and two Juvenile Court judicial offi-cers. The court hired two Case Coordinatorsto assist the judges with case management.When a new Family or Juvenile Court casewas filed, the petitioner was required to com-plete a cover sheet to assist the court indeciding whether the case should beincluded in the pilot project. Only cases thathad both Family and Juvenile Court issueswere considered for the pilot. If there wereoverlapping issues, the participating judgesdecided whether to include the case in thepilot, and if so, to what extent. The one team

(including judge)-one family principle was animportant element of the pilot project. Allfamily-related matters could be consolidatedin one division at the discretion of the par-ticipating judges. With one exception, theconsolidation would be in either Family orJuvenile Court. The task force decided thatdelinquency and incorrigibility cases shouldremain at the Juvenile Court facility whereprobation and detention reside. The JuvenileCourt judge had discretion, however, toconsolidate all family-related matters ifdeemed appropriate.

At the end of the pilot project, an analysiswas conducted by Greacen Associates,LLC, using 14 outcome measures, including

the following: (1) reduction of time to dispo-sition, defined as follows by case type:Dissolution—Decree of Dissolution; Pater-nity—Judgment of Paternity; Delinquency—Disposition; Dependency—Finding ofdependency as to both parents; Terminationof Parental Rights—Final judgment; (2)reduction in subsequent contested filings orproceedings; (3) reduction in the number ofjudicial officers involved with the “family;” (4)increase in implementation of ADR compo-nents in cases; and (5) overall litigant andstaff satisfaction with the new process. Grea-cen Associates, LLC, issued a Draft Reporton November 25, 2002, and is currently

assistance setting up a member passwordon AFCC’s website.

Dawn begin working with AFCC in May1999, less than a month before our annualconference. She was forced to step in rightin the middle of the conference registrationprocess and learn to run the meeting regis-tration software and everything else aboutAFCC in time for the conference.

Prior to working with AFCC, Dawn spentten years as computer technician with theInternal Revenue Service. She is a singlemother of Ashley, age 12, and Michael,age 6. Dawn is an active leader and volun-teer with the local Girl Scouts and shecoaches Ashley’s and Michael’s soccerteams. She helped initiate and volunteers inseveral community groups including a youthreading program, a children and divorcesupport group and a parents support group.

Dawn attended the University of Wis-consin on an academic scholarship andplayed soccer. She plans to finish herdegree in education. She is the middle ofthree children. Her older bother Brian ismarried and has two children. Her youngersister, Linn was diagnosed in 1999 withALS. Dawn said, “From Linn I’ve learned tolive each day to its fullest and to try not tosweat the small stuff. I’ve learned not to takepeople or things for granted and, most of all,to be a fighter.”

Nola Risse-Connolly, Program Assistant

Nola manages AFCC’s publicationslibrary and serves a wide range of admin-istrative duties in areas includingconferences, membership and administra-tion. She came to AFCC in September 2002after a long-term temporary assignmentwith the local utility company. Prior to thatNola spent more than two years as a stay-at-home mother.

Nola has a bachelor’s degree in sociol-ogy from Central College in Pella, Iowa andhas done social work with the mentally ill.While in college she lived in Germany andAustria. Nola plans to study technical writ-ing in the near future, but promises that shewill do so while staying on full time withAFCC.

Nola has been married to her husband,John, for nine years. Their daughter, Bron-wen, will turn four in April. The family enjoyscamping, canoeing and other outdoor activ-ities and spending time with family. Nola isalso a fanatical rubber stamper and scrap-booker, and she enjoys sewing.

For Nola, being a mother has been themost challenging and rewarding job she hasever known. “Bronwen was born ten weeksprematurely, and has had five surgeries and19 weeks of body casts for congenital hipdysplasia,” Nola said. “Bronwen has infan-tile scoliosis, for which she wears a backbrace 23 hours a day. From these experi-ences, I have grown and changed morethan I ever thought possible. It has trulybeen an amazing — and difficult — journey,one that has left me utterly in awe at thestrength of the human spirit, will to live, anddesire to thrive. I’m glad to be a part ofAFCC, and I hope that I, in my own smallway, can help better the lives of children allover the world by helping AFCC achieve it’sgoals, just as I am helping my daughterachieve hers.”

Candace Walker, Program DirectorCandi Walker joined AFCC in January asProgram Director to oversee the develop-ment and management of conferencesand training programs. For the past 17years, she has planned and managedconferences, exhibits, educational meet-ings and seminars for two non-profitmembership organizations, and an envi-ronmental and energy-savings relatednon-profit organization.

Candi is a Certified Meeting Professional

(CMP) and one of only 254 meeting pro-fessionals worldwide to have earned aCertification in Meeting Management(CMM) designation. She is an activemember of Meeting Planners International(MPI), and served as co-chair of educationat the state level, and roundtable facilitatorfor hotel contracts and negotiations atnational conferences.

Born and raised near Indianapolis, Indi-ana, Candi and her family lived in El Paso,Texas before making Madison, Wisconsinher home in 1978. She is the mother ofthree grown daughters and has four grand-sons. As a mother with school-age children,Candi worked part-time, including two anda half years as the Middleton Chamber ofCommerce Executive Director/Secretary.Community volunteer work includes sixyears as a Middleton Good NeighborFestival Trustee and parade leader/coordi-nator, past-president and member of theMiddleton Optimist Wives Club, Girl Scoutand Brownie leader and Meals on Wheelsvolunteer.

Candi has given up downhill and cross-country skiing (except when thetemperatures are above freezing) butenjoys vacations, especially to Hawaii. Sheis a golf and sailing enthusiast and espe-cially enjoys visiting her grandchildren.

“I mostly enjoy being with people whoshare the passion of whatever excitesthem,” Candi said, “that puts a sparkle intheir eyes and zip in their actions. Myfavorite quote is taped inside my daily plan-ner: ‘Measure wealth not by the things youhave, but by the things you have for whichyou would not take money.’”

From the Executive Directorcontinued from page 3

The Integrated Family Courtcontinued from page 6

Nola Risse-Connolly Candace Walker

continued on page 10

Hon. Hugh Starnes is the co-chair of the AFCC Chapter

Council with Dr. Fred Mitchell. Witha representative of each of the statechapters, the Chapter Councilserves as a vehicle to assist newchapters and to facilitate theexchange of ideas between chap-ters. Judge Starnes truly enjoysworking with AFCC chapters anddeveloping ideas for strengtheningthe mediation process at the statelevel.

The Chapter Council communi-cates through quarterly conferencecalls and meetings at every AFCCconference. In recent years it has

developed the Chapter Tool Kit, which provides guidance for set-ting up a chapter and the Conference Tool Kit, which offers ideason how to plan and organize chapter conferences. The ChapterCouncil nominates and selects a member to represent the councilfor a one-year term on the AFCC Board of Directors.

Childhood: I was born in Fort Myers, Florida and raised ina small town. My dad had a cattle ranch where we did all the work.I spent a lot of time outdoors and loved working on the ranch. Irounded up the cattle on horseback much like the old west days. Iwas also active in the Boy Scouts.

Education: I attended Fort Myers High School and earnedmy bachelor’s degree in political science and law degree from theUniversity of Florida.

Favorite teacher who greatly influencedme: Maude Betterton, my English teacher. She introduced us tothe book Word Power Made Easy, which used fascinating accountsof the derivations of words to lead into a group of sophisticatedwords that greatly broadened my vocabulary. This stood me in goodstead for the rest of my life.

Family: My wife, Judy, owns a woman’s clothing store. Luck-ily, I met her in college after my life as a shy, immature cowboy. Ihave two daughters and a son: Cindy, a pharmaceuticals repre-sentative; Sally, a social worker; and Charlie, managementconsultant.

Work Resume: I practiced law in a fairly large law firm inFort Myers, Florida doing general civil litigation and real propertywork for 13 years. I became a Circuit Judge in 1978 and have con-tinued in that position since. I like people and, because of that, Iended up as a family law judge.

What led to present career: I preferred the idea ofthe intellectual honesty and freedom of making my own decisionsas opposed to having to be an advocate for a demanding client andtrying to figure out how the judge would rule and what would bemost persuasive to her or him.

Proudest personal achievement: MarryingJudy and getting three kids raised and through college and intodecent careers and successful lives.

Personal career goals: To improve the way family law

is practiced, so that the families we encounter are helped throughthe worst period of their lives without undue harm. It’s such a simpleconcept, but steering the battleship around is a monumental task.The battleship in our jurisdiction is headed in the right direction butthere is still a journey ahead. It is a challenge to be on some statecommittees trying to help promote change.

Personal life goals: Being on the Board of Directors ofAFCC and our Florida Chapter is sort of the culmination of my pro-fessional goal of improving the way we practice family law. In astressful world there is a constant need to make the relationship ofthe family the most important priority. I want the relationship withmy wife and children to never be invaded by the pressures of a jobor misfortune.

Favorite book: Undaunted Courage by Steven Ambrose.It is about the Lewis and Clark expedition. It brought alive the dramaof crossing the continent in 1803 and the fresh and unspoiled worldof the undiscovered Far West. I would have loved to have beenthere.

Favorite Word: “Yes,” particularly when said by the rightperson.

Least Favorite Word: “Can’t.”

What career would you love to do if notthe one you are in: Management consultant.

What career would you least like to have:Medical doctor. A urologist once shook his head and told me whata terrible job I had. You figure that one out!

Top five changes you would make infamily law: (1) There must be a local, active, interdiscipli-nary advisory committee for every family law court, charged withpromoting the improvements of the system; (2) each jurisdictionwould have a domestic violence court, in which there is a limitednumber of judges who handle all civil injunctions and criminal mis-demeanors in an integrated manner for continuity and expertise;(3) there should be a regular combined social and educational func-tion for all the local family law professionals; (4) a case managementsystem would be in place for every family law judge. One way todo this is to have an experienced attorney case manager conducta conference within the first 45 days after filing, to promote com-munication and planning between the attorneys for anon-adversarial method of managing the case. (5) All attorneyswould have an initial conference with their client in which the ben-efits of cooperation are explained, the harm to children by parentalconflict is explained, and the full cost of adversarial litigation is cal-culated. Only then can clients make informed, intelligent decisionsabout how their case should be conducted.

Favorite AFCC memory: Being at the first AFCC con-ference I attended (a regional conference in Ft. Lauderdale in 1986)and experiencing first-hand the exciting, cutting-edge ideas pre-sented.

What one thing would you most likeAFCC to accomplish: Establishing a method of spon-soring or establishing local units of AFCC at the local court level.These are the type of groups that can have the greatest impact onimproving the way the family law court system and professionalpractices are conducted. The local level is where the action is!

8 AFCC NEWSLETTER • WINTER 2003

AFCC COMMITTEE CHAIR PROFILE

Hon. Hugh Starnes, Chapter Council Co-chair

Hugh Starnes

9AFCC NEWSLETTER • WINTER 2003

Doneldon Dennis, Co-chair, AFCC Publications Commitee,Minneapolis, MN

What offers a bold, contemporary look, updated content,prices unchanged for years and another great reason to

attend AFCC’s 40th Anniversary Conference? It’s the AFCC’s pop-ular brochures, which the Publications Committee will introduce inOttawa, at the 40th Anniversary Conference, May 28-31, 2003.

This is the first revision of AFCC’s brochures, some of which arenearly 20 years old. While the pamphlets still had good content,many no longer reflected current trends or terminology in family lawand dispute resolution and their appearance was inconsistent withAFCC’s design. The revisions are being presented as a group, theirintroduction coinciding with the release of two all-new brochures.

The AFCC Publications Committee took on this task over aperiod of two years and was assisted by numerous revisers, read-ers and proof readers. Among the contributors to this effort wereRobin Deutsch, Risa Garon, Michele MacFarlane, Leslye Hunter,Denise McColley, Ann Milne, Fred Mitchell, Eileen Pruett, Hon.Arline Rotman, Peter Salem, Russ Schoenemann, Jan Shaw, PhilStahl, Candace Walker and former intern Tracey Mayer.

New PublicationsAFCC’s pamphlet collection will offer two new additions this spring:

• My Mom and Dad Are Getting a Divorce was developed byformer member Florence Bienenfeld for children ages 4-12. Thisbeautifully animated brochure shows the sadness and confusionexperienced by a little girl who learns her parents are parting.The girl’s distress is relieved when friends tell her their parentsare divorced but they still have plenty of love and security withboth parents. The brochure offers parents concrete, practicalways to improve their cooperation.

• When Parents Relocate: Moving Away and Long-distance Par-enting was written by AFCC members Larry Fong, ElayneGreenberg and Doneldon Dennis. This brochure discusses thereasons parents move and shows how those moves stress fam-ilies. It offers pointers for keeping the focus on children andsuggests ways parents can maintain relationships with childrenwho are far away.

The Updates• In 1982, Florence Bienenfeld and Alayne Gayman Kardener

wrote the first of AFCC’s current pamphlet collection, TwentyQuestions Divorcing Parents Ask about Their Children. The large

amount of information in the original publication led to two newbrochures: Frequently Asked Questions Separating and Divorc-ing Parents Ask About Their Children and Frequently AskedQuestions Separating and Divorcing Parents Ask About LegalMatters. These guides work together, one focused on child mat-ters, the other on legal issues. Both recognize jurisdictionalvariations and urge parents to consult legal or social services intheir home area for further information.

• In 1984 former executive director Ann Milne chaired the com-mittee that developed a popular brochure on joint custody. Theterm has evolved, though, and we now often refer to shared par-enting rather than joint custody, so the brochure’s revisions arereflected in the new title, A Guide to Joint Custody and SharedParenting.

• AFCC’s Guide for Stepparents was originally developed in 1986.This brochure discusses the demanding role stepparents face,and offers tips on how to cope with the challenges.

• In 1987, AFCC released two of its biggest sellers, Is Mediationfor Us? written by Ann Milne and Parents Are Forever, writtenby staff at the Los Angeles County Conciliation Court. Thesebrochures have both been updated with some additional infor-mation and language.

• A Relationship that Lasts Forever was written by Phil Bushardand William Hodges in 1991 to provide parents with effectivemethods of co-parenting. The revision of this brochure featuresa new, more contemporary title Making Your Parenting PlanWork, along with revised language.

• Preparing for Your Custody Evaluation was written in 1992 byDorothy Howard and Phil Bushard. A few new tips and some newlanguage has been added to help tell parents what to expect ina custody evaluation. It explains “best interests” and it remindsparents they can stop the process if they reach agreement.

• Understanding Your Child’s Needs: Information for Never-mar-ried Parents, written in 1998 by Phil Bushard and DoneldonDennis escaped revision, as reviewers deemed the content cur-rent. This pamphlet has information for the nearly one-third of allparents who are unmarried, and a comprehensive list ofresources. Information for Never-married Parents is available inSpanish.

AFCC’s new collection of brochures answer just about any ques-tion that clients have about issues related to separation and divorce.They are brief, easy to understand and are an economical way ofpassing important information on to family members.

AFCC to Roll Out New and Revised Brochures in Ottawa

Florence Bienenfeld, former AFCC member from Pacific Pal-isades, California, is the author of two books published by FirstBooks. The books are: Child Custody Mediation: Techniques forMediators, Judges, Attorneys, Counselors and Parents and MyMom and Dad Are Getting a Divorce: A Healing Book About Divorcefor Children 4-12, with Guidelines for Parents.

Jay Folberg, former AFCC President and Executive Director, wasawarded the Bernard E. Witkin Award, which honors persons whoare not current members of the judiciary for their outstanding con-tributions to the California Courts. Professor Folberg was honoredfor his leadership in the field of alternative dispute resolution (ADR)and for his contributions over the past decade to the ADR accom-plishments of the Judicial Council and the Administrative Office ofthe Courts.

Alison Taylor, AFCC member from Oregon, is the author of thenew book The Handbook of Family Dispute Resolution: MediationTheory and Practice, published by Jossey Bass. Ms. Taylor hasalso been named Executive Director for the Oregon Family Insti-tute (www.oregonfamilyinstitute.org).

Robert Tompkins, former AFCC President from Connecticut, hasannounced that he will retire from the Court Support Services Divi-sion June 1, 2003. He is looking forward to working in privatepractice, spending some time on the golf course and being a dotinggrandfather.

Justice John VanDuzer (ret.), former AFCC President fromHamilton, Ontario, will be awarded an Honorary Doctor of Lawdegree by McMaster University in Hamilton. Justice VanDuzer isbeing recognized for his leadership and contributions to family lawwithin Canada and internationally.

AFCC Member News

10 AFCC NEWSLETTER • WINTER 2003

ArizonaAFCC’s Arizona Chapter held

its annual conference February 7-9, 2003 in beautiful Sedona,Arizona. Guests included AFCCPresident Jan Shaw, and PastPresident Denise McColley, former president Phil Bushard andAFCC Executive Director Peter Salem.

Dr. Mavis Hetherington, who was to be the keynote speaker, wasunable to attend due to a family emergency. Conference presen-ter Dr. Andrew Benjamin generously stepped in to handle theopening address on Friday evening. Dr. Benjamin was joined byHon. Mark Armstrong and Hon. Nanette Warner to present the Sat-urday morning plenary.

Additional conference highlights included the always beautifulsurroundings of Sedona; an Arizona snowfall (which melted bynoon); an outstanding hospitality suite and silent auction staffed byAFCC-AZ Chapter board members; luncheon speaker, humoristand attorney Robert Howard; and numerous outstanding work-shops and pre-conference institutes.

The 2004 Arizona Chapter conference will again be held at theHilton Sedona. Watch the AFCC Newsletter and website for futherinformation.

CaliforniaThe Lodge at Sonoma will be the venue for

AFCC-Cal’s 2004 Chapter Conference. Theconference will take place over the weekend ofFebruary 5, 2004. Inspirational speaker andcomedian Michael Pritchard will be a featuredpresenter. The conference steering committeeof Jane Shatz, Sherrie Kibler and Susan Ratzkinare busy organizing the program and welcomeproposals by prospective presenters of work-shops and plenaries. The full conference planning committee willmeet in June to finalize the program and conference activities.

Sonoma is wine country, which makes it a particular desirabledestination. For more information about AFCC-Cal, visit the web-site at www.afcc-cal.org or address email to afcc-cal@aol.com.

FloridaAFCC’s Florida Chapter is

pleased to announce a FloridaParenting Coordination Trainingand Legislative Forum to takeplace on August 15-16, 2003 atthe Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando. The program will be sponsoredin collaboration with the Florida Supreme Court ADR Rules Com-mittee, the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Florida and theOffice of the State Courts Administrator.

AFCC members who have not yet joined the Florida chapter forone of its outstanding conferences should take this opportunity toattend the Forum. Hotel rates are only $89. For additional infor-mation contact Linda Fieldstone at Lfieldstone@jud11.flcourts.orgor (305) 349-5589.

MissouriAFCC’s Missouri Provisional Chapter held

a lunch and learn session on March 12, 2003in St. Louis. The topic was Parenting Plans forYoung Children: Unintended Consequencesin High Conflict Families. Featured presenterswere Rosalyn Schultz, Ph.D., and Margaret Rissman, Ph.D.

Missouri members are looking forward to working with AFCC onplanning the Fall Regional Conference, November 13-15, 2003 atthe Sheraton City Center Hotel in St. Louis. See page 5 for moredetails about the conference site.

TexasSave the dates! AFCC’s Texas Chapter will

hold this year’s annual conference on October24, 2003. Pat Ross, Texas Chapter Secretary,is overseeing site selection and is busily scour-ing the Dallas area for a top-notch venue. Hon.Debra Lehrman, Texas Chapter President Elect and Chair of theProgram Committee, is developing an outstanding program andhopes to feature AFCC favorite Joan Kelly, Ph.D. Watch for addi-tional information and details in the AFCC Newsletter or check theconference page of the AFCC website at www.afccnet.org.

AFCC Chapter Update

4

n

preparing its final report. In its draft report, Greacen Associates, LLC,recommended that the Integrated Family Court concept beexpanded court-wide, that a presiding Integrated Family Court judgebe appointed to oversee the court, and that at least two specialistIntegrated Family Court judges be assigned at both Juvenile Courtlocations in Maricopa County.

Over the Horizon—Future of the IntegratedFamily Court in Arizona

Even as the pilot project in Maricopa County was winding down,an Arizona legislative committee, the Domestic Relations Com-mittee, was considering ways to implement a statewide IntegratedFamily Court. On August 22, 2002, SB 1088, as signed by Gover-nor Jane Hull, became effective and provided that the DomesticRelations Committee shall prepare and submit a statewide plan for

an Integrated Family Court on or before December 31, 2002. TheDomestic Relations Committee created an Integrated Family Courtworkgroup under the leadership of Family Law attorney EllenSeaborne. Using much of the work done in Maricopa County, aswell as research into national programs, the workgroup worked longand hard before arriving at a plan, An Integrated Family Court forArizona (Plan), that was subsequently adopted by the committeeas a whole. The Plan was presented to the AJC on December 12,2002, and became the basis for an Arizona Supreme Court admin-istrative order dated February 25, 2003, that creates three new pilotprojects in Coconino, Pinal and Maricopa Counties.

In Maricopa County, we will be following the recommendationsof our consultant as well as those in the statewide Plan as closelyas possible. We intend to place two specialist Integrated FamilyCourt judges at or near each of our Juvenile Court facilities begin-ning in June 2003, at our Mesa Juvenile Court facility, and betweenDecember 2003 and February 2004, at our Durango Juvenile Courtfacility to coincide with the opening of a new Juvenile Court at thatlocation. Challenging but exciting times lie ahead.

The Integrated Family Courtcontinued from page 7

11AFCC NEWSLETTER • WINTER 2003

AFCC’s Resource Development Com-mittee would like to thank AFCC

members for their generous donations inresponse to this year’s Annual Appeal.Special thanks to Ann Milne, Hon. John andJoan VanDuzer, Hon. Arline Rotman andthe Suzie S. Thorn Family Foundation fortheir exceedingly generous contributions.

Contributions to the Resource Develop-ment Fund help provide conferencescholarship and financial support of smallnonprofit programs that serve children andfamilies.

Key Club ($5,000 + )Ann MilneThe Harbinger Foundation and

Hon. John and Joan VanDuzer

Diamond ($1,000-$4,999)Hon. Arline Rotman (ret.)Suzie S. Thorn Family Foundation

Platinum ($500-$999)Doneldon DennisLeslie Ellen Shear

Gold ($250-499)Hon. George CzutrinLeslye HunterDenise McColley and FamilyFrederic Mitchell

Silver ($100-$249)Ruthanne AllenLynn BakerChristine BurtPhil BushardHan DeRemerHon. Linda DessauBarbara FidlerSteven FriedlanderScott GeyerMichael Gottlieb and Jeffrey SiegelJanet JohnstonDeanna Look LoyR. John HarperValarie HoughtonBill HowePaul MellerLinda RioJack RounickPeter SalemAndrew Schepard

Jan ShawArnold SheinvoldHon. Hugh StarnesMary Ann Stokes

Bronze ($50-$99)Christine CampisiKaren FenchelLisa JohnsonSteven LarsonRoxanne PermeslySusan RajaEdward SilvermanPhil and Ruth StahlMaureen Vernon

ContributorsAza Howard ButlerRobin DeutschBeth JohnsonTerry JohnstonRisa GaronJaneen MassarosJoan PavlikMarsh Kline PruettLita SchwartzBrian SeltzerR. Malia Taum

Kids Count Club Update

The AFCC Resource Development Committee is pleased toannounce that its Fifth Annual Silent Auction will be held on

Friday, May 30, in conjunction with AFCC’s 40th Anniversary Con-ference, May 28-31, 2003. The conference and auction will takeplace at the Westin Ottawa in the heart of downtown Ottawa.

In the last five years, the silent auction has become the signa-ture fund raising event for the AFCC Resource Development Fund.The Fund provides conference scholarships for AFCC membersand financial support to local non-profit programs serving childrenand youth.

Participants will have the opportunity to bid on a wide range ofexciting items, including autographed sports memorabilia, finewines, hotel vacation packages, professional materials, original art-work and more.

Early contributions for this years auction include:

• Exquisite glass artwork from Michele MacFarlane

• Fine wines from the wine cellars of Doneldon Dennis and SteveGrant

• Four nights at the Sheraton City Center in St. Louis for AFCC’sRegional Conference, November 13-15, 2003

• A patch quilt from kindergartners at Belleville, WI Schools

• Four Ottawa Passports, good for free admission to Ottawa attrac-tions including white water rafting, Cordon Bleu CookingDemonstration, museums and more, courtesy of Ottawa Tourismand valued at more than $500

• An Ohio State University National Championship Package, fromAFCC Past President and OSU alum Denise McColley

If you would like to make a contribution to the AFCC Silent Auc-tion, please contact AFCC Executive Director Peter Salem at (608)664-3750 or psalem@afccnet.org.

Auction Features Special Grand Prize Drawing

All registrants at AFCC’s 40th Anniversary Conference will havetheir name entered into a special drawing to take place at the FifthAnnual Silent Auction. The winner will receive a special gift fromAFCC. You must be present to win, so make your plans now toattend AFCC’s 40th Annual Conference and Silent Auction.

Fifth Annual Silent Auction

Association of Family and Conciliation Courts

40TH ANNIVERSARY C O N F E R E N C E

Change and Challenge: 40 Years of Evolution in Families,

Courts and Communities Save the Dates! May 28-31, 2003

Westin Ottawa • Ottawa, Ontario

AFCC 40th Anniversary ConfereceMay 28-31, 2003Westin OttawaOttawa, Canada

AFCC Fall Regional ConferenceNovember 13-15, 2003Sheraton City CenterSt. Louis, Missouri

AFCC 41st Annual ConferenceMay 12-15, 2004Adam’s Mark HotelSan Antonio, Texas

AFCC’s Sixth International Symposium on Child Custody EvaluationsFall 2004Dates and location to be announced

AFCC 42nd Annual ConferenceMay 18-21, 2005Sheraton SeattleSeattle, Washington

Other Upcoming AFCC Conferences