October 16, 2020
Keynote Speaker: El Jones

8:30-9:00     AFCC-O Annual General Meeting

9:00-9:15      Introductory Remarks & Announcement of Dena Moyal Award

9:15-10:45     Keynote Speaker: Professor El Jones

El will review the tenets of intersectionality theory, exploring how an intersectional lens can deepen our understanding of social justice, access to justice, and pervasive issues within the family justice system.  Concepts of family and violence will be examined through this lens, highlighting the impacts of structural oppression and systemic inequalities on those served by the family justice, child welfare, and criminal justice systems.  In particular, the presentation will focus on how race, poverty, gender and domestic violence may overlap in ways that significantly disadvantage the men, women and children that come before our courts.  Finally, El will offer her insights about best practices for family justice professionals, and solutions for the future that will support transformative change.

10:45-11:00   Break

11:00-12:30   Panel: Tools for Addressing Internet Abuse in Parenting Cases

Justice Freya Kristjanson, Superior Court of Justice
Shawn Richard, Lenkinski, Carr & Richard, LLP
Seema Jain, Jain Family Law & Mediation
Linda Popielarczyk, MSW, RSW, Acc.FM

This multidisciplinary panel will review tools that may be available to address the increasing problem of parents using the internet to cyberbully their former spouses, including the new privacy tort of “publicly placing someone in a false light”, and effective resort to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.  Potential impacts of cyberbullying of children will also be reviewed, along with steps that can be taken to minimize these impacts, and assessment or therapeutic options that may be of assistance.  Finally, the panel will discuss the personal impacts on family justice professionals who are targeted by internet abusers, and steps that professionals can take to protect themselves and their reputation.

12:30-1:15     Lunch Break

1:15-2:45      The Opioid Epidemic and Family Court

Dr. Stephanie Tabashnek, Psy.D., J.D.

Practitioners and courts across North America are confronting the challenge of how to manage the effects of opioid addiction on families. Drawing on the latest research, this presentation will provide lawyers, judges, mediators, and mental health professionals with the information necessary to thoughtfully approach cases involving opioid-addiction dynamics. Topics covered include the impact of opioid misuse on parenting, the science of addiction, and best practices for family law professionals who are developing parenting plans or court orders in these cases.

2:45-3:00      Break

3:00-3:05     Tribute to Kathleen Chapman

3:05-4:30     Panel: Resist/Refuse Dynamics in Custody/Access Cases

Justice Phil Clay, Ontario Court of Justice
Justice Julie Audet, Superior Court of Justice
Patric Senson, Counsel, Office of the Children’s Lawyer
Dr. Shely Polak, PhD, MSW, RSW, Acc.FM
Heather Hansen, Martha McCarthy & Co

There has been a significant amount of literature released and webinars available on the resist/refusal dynamic in 2020. Our five person panel recognizes that registrants understand the issues so our approach will be practice focused. We will examine a factual scenario involving child resistance/refusal. Each panelist will examine the issues raised from the perspective of their role in family dispute resolution and provide practical advice for Ontario based judges, lawyers, and counsellors/therapists. The fact scenario will then be modified to raise new issues that may require different advice and different solutions. The scenarios will be available to registrants in advance of the program so that we can launch right into our discussion.

4:30-4:45      Closing Remarks

Note: Application to the Law Society of Ontario for professionalism and EDI credits is pending

Due to limitations imposed by COVID-19, this year’s event will be held virtually. As such,
registration fees have been decreased by 50% from last year’s prices.

2020 Fees

Gather on Zoom to discuss Southwest Region approaches to the “new normal”:

• Court: Thinking Outside the Courtroom “Box”
• Domestic Violence: Alarming Rise in Risk – Best Practices?
• Understanding Parenting in a COVID World
• Using Experts to Assist Families: What’s Available?

Speakers TBA and include:

Justice Gerri L. Wong
Dr. Dan Ashbourne
Dr. Kim Harris
Dr. Lynda Ashbourne
Facilitated by: Jennifer Suzor

No Fee. Please Donate to your local COVID relief efforts.

RSVP to jocelyn@familylawspecialist.ca

The 2020 AFCC-Ontario Parenting Plan Guide and Template:
A Webinar for Children’s Aid Society Professionals

Tuesday, May 19, 2020, 2-4 pm

Karen Ksienski (CAS counsel), Will Explore the Following Issues With Our Panel: Prof. Nick Bala
(Queen’s Law), Andrea Himel (Lawyer/Mediator), and Justice Gerri Wong( OCJ Chatham):

• Background to the development of AFCC-O Guide and Template
• Tips for social workers, supervisors and legal counsel
• Drafting a parenting time plan between family members, kin and in openness cases
• Appropriate plans for “Age and Stage” of development
• Tensions in parenting plans – flexibility/specificity, regular/holiday schedule….
• Domestic Violence considerations
• Covid-19 cases and clauses
• Transitioning out of the Covid-19 crisis and towards the “New Normal”

CAS Professionals: Register Free
Please Join AFCC-O or Consider Making a Voluntary Contribution

Lawyers may count this program as 2 hours of CPD

Thanks to Vicky Ringuette for IT support

Panelists will explore the following issues as we move towards the “New Normal”:

• Negotiating Agreements During Covid-19 –Compliance Considerations and Finality
• Make-Up Access ?
• Motions to Change – The Test, Timing, Factors and Best Interest Considerations
• Domestic Violence – The Fallout Post-Covid-19
• When Children’s Views and Preferences No Longer Align With the “Regular” Schedule
• Special Considerations for Children With Exceptionalities
• What is the New Normal for Children and the Internet, Social Media, Virtual Access ?

Panelists:

Justice Phil Clay, Ontario Court of Justice, Brampton

Andrea Himel, Lawyer, Mediator, & Arbitrator, Toronto

Maxine Kerr, Family Lawyer, Aurora

Dr. Shely Polak, PhD (Social Work), York Region

(Moderator) Vicky Ringuette, Lawyer, Mediator & Coach, Hamilton

Note: A separate email containing webinar access information will be sent to registrants in the coming days as materials are finalized.

Post-Separation Parenting in the Spring of 2020: The Covid-19 Crisis and the AFCC-O Parenting Plan Guide

Webinar for Family Justice Professionals

April 23, 2020
2:00pm-4:00pm

This is a very challenging time for families and the professionals who are assisting them in dealing with post-separation issues.  Our multi-disciplinary panel will address issues related to access to family justice and urgent motions during the Covid-19 Crisis and adjusting parenting plans during the State of Emergency.

The panel will also introduce a new free resource for parents and family justice professionals: The AFCC-O Parenting Plan Guide and Template. The Guide and Template were designed for use in “normal times,” but will be of even greater use now.  The materials will help professionals to orient their clients to the process of making a parenting plan and will also be invaluable for parents who are self-represented litigants.

Counts for 2 hours of LSO Continuing Professional Development

Panelists

Professor Nick Bala,Faculty of Law. Queen’s University, Kingston

Dr. Dan T. Ashbourne, Ph.D., C. Psych., AccFM,
Clinical Psychologist, Accredited Family Mediator, and Executive Director, London Family Court Clinic

Andrea Himel, LL.B./M.S.W., Accred. Mediator (Family and Child Protection), Himel Mediation and Family Law Services, Toronto

Justice Gerri Wong, Ontario Court of Justice (Chatham)

View Parenting Plan Guide and Template

Note: Instructions for accessing the webinar along with any necessary presentations materials will be provided to registrants via email on Wednesday afternoon prior to the event 

Date:  Friday, March 6, 2020
Time:  5:30pm
Venue:  Arts and Letters Club, 14 Elm Street (Between Bay St. and Yonge St.)
Dress:  Business attire
RSVP by:  February 28, 2020

For Lawyers, Social Workers, Psychologists, Mediators and other interested professionals

Program

• Role of Lawyers
• Clinical Investigation
• Voice of Child Reports

Chair: Ms. Karla McGrath – Queen’s Family Law Clinic
Marian Jacko, Children’s Lawyer for Ontario
Gord McDiarmid, Children’s Lawyer, Panel member
Justice Deborah Swartz, Ontario Superior Court, Parent’s Lawyer

For lawyers, this program is eligible for 1.5 hours Substantive Hours toward CPD requirements.

Admission is without charge, but space is limited, so those who want to attend are required to register by sending an email to: kingstonafcco@gmail.com

Social Event: As has become a tradition, for those who are interested, immediately after the education program there will be a gathering at the Queen’s Grad Club, 162 Barrie St., Kingston, with munchies provided by AFCC-O, and food and beverages available for purchase . Everyone is welcome to attend.

This 2-day program is jointly sponsored by the Law Society and AFCC Ontario.

Location: Donald Lamont Learning Centre, 130 Queen Street West, Toronto

A child protection case needs to be handled delicately. Our presenters teach you the strategic and advocacy skills for each stage of the case. They reinforce your understanding with numerous practical demonstrations, including conduct of temporary care and custody hearings, summary judgment motions, conferences, opening and closing statements, voir dires, and examinations of witnesses. Finally, you receive an array of relevant materials, including topical case law, precedents, and social science literature. You leave with the confidence that comes from an intense focus on the fundamentals of this area of family law.

For further details and registration visit: https://store.lso.ca/intensive-child-protection-training-primer

Chair: Ms. Karla McGrath – Queen’s Family Law Clinic

Adam I. Newman, MD, CCFP, Queen’s Univ., Dept. of Family Medicine, Kingston, ON

Hon. Judith C. Beaman (Ret.), Ontario Court of Justice, Gananoque, ON

Tina Tom, LL.B., Counsel, Family and Child Services of Frontenac, Lennox and Addington,

Lousanne Rode, MSW, Family and Child Services of Frontenac, Lennox and Addington,

Opportunity for questions & comments

AFCC-O Kingston Notice Sept 23 2019

Admission is without charge, but space is limited so those who want to attend are required to register by sending an email to: kingstonafcco@gmail.com

For lawyers, this program is eligible for 1.5 hours Substantive Hours toward CPD requirements.

Social Event: As has become a tradition, for those who are interested, immediately after the education program there will be a gathering at the Queen’s Grad Club, 162 Barrie St., Kingston, with munchies provided by AFCC-O, and food and beverages available for purchase . Everyone is welcome to attend.