Month: May 2020

Nancy Ver Steegh, a family law professor at Mitchell Hamline Law School, former National President of the AFCC and strong Minnesota Chapter supporter was awarded the Stanley Cohen Distinguished Research Award yesterday for her decades of scholarship in the area of family law. Congratulations Nancy! Ver Steegh is an expert on addressing intimate family violence Read more…

Like every other agency, Hennepin County Family Court Services regular routine and structure were altered considerably with the onset of COVID-19. Within a matter of days, calendars for both staff and families which had been set, sometimes months in advance, were suddenly wiped clear. In person services across the board were suspended, and serious questions Read more…

We know all too well how parents’ communications go poorly when the parties are in conflict and litigation, especially when kids must stay home from school while parents are either working from home or not working at all.  But what about when professionals’ communications go poorly as well? We are going to look at how attorneys/professionals Read more…

The need for neutral support in families seems to be increasing during these challenging times.  Providers must rapidly shift to delivering this work in a remote setting.  Join us for this remote session to learn how to ethically and effectively conduct your neutral work virtually. Presenters will discuss best practices on a broad range of Read more…

Chief Justice’s May 15, 2020 and the Statewide Court COVID Preparedness plans have been posted on the resource page under COVID-19 resources.  The Preparedness Plan is the nuts and bolts of what you can expect as you return to courthouses for in person hearings.    Justice Gildea’s May 15, 2020 order COVID-19 Preparedness Plan James Read more…

Join us for a special screening of the highly acclaimed documentary Angst June 2, 2020 from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm. Virtual Reception, Networking and Facilitated discussion of the film is included. Angst – This IndieFlix Original documentary is designed to raise awareness around anxiety and includes interview with kids, teens, educators, experts and a Read more…

We have posted on our resource page under COVID-19 Resources, communications from Dakota County, Hennepin County and Ramsey County Courts about how each district is planning on operating in the near future as the courts move to reopen.  If you have cases in those courts, it will be helpful to review them.  In Ramsey County Read more…

The Battered Women’s Justice Project has produced a short, insightful video discussing the dynamics of coercive control during the Pandemic.  This video is important to view if you have or suspect that there are coercive control dynamics occurring in a case you are handling.  This is important for mental health providers, ADR providers, lawyers and Read more…

Chief Justice Gildea has convened a group which has been called the “other side workgroup” which is envisioning a plan for the courts to move through the COVID-19 crisis.  The group of judges and court staff who are part of this group held a stakeholders meeting with a number of bar leaders, and as the Read more…

Minnesota’s AFCC Chapter gains 9 new members in April and wins the international chapter membership challenge.  We entered the last month’5 new members ahead of California.  California had a great month of April and added 10 new members.  We added 9!  Thanks to all of the hard work of our membership committee chaired by Emilee Read more…