Moderators
Karen MacDonald, LCSW
Karen MacDonald is a licensed clinical social worker and therapist based in Gorham, Maine. She is dedicated to creating a non-judgmental space for individuals to heal and grow. Her strengths-based practice employs various evidence-based modalities to empower clients, emphasizing that they are the experts of their own lives.
Karen specializes in two areas: working with adolescents facing co-occurring disorders and co-parenting coaching. She has experience in residential settings with teens and young adults who have experienced trauma, using motivational interviewing and authenticity to build therapeutic relationships. Additionally, as a trained mediator, she employs a directive approach in co-parenting coaching, focusing on communication and conflict resolution to help divorced or separated parents establish respectful new relationships.
Karen earned her MSW from the University of Southern Maine School of Social Work.
Karen facilitates the First Step: Foundations in Co-Parenting, the Next Step, ICOPE, and Kids First for Kids! at the Kids First Center.
More about Ms. MacDonald is found at Psychology Today.
Christopher Leddy, Esq.
Christopher Leddy is an attorney with Ainsworth, Thelin & Raftice in South Portland, Maine. Having started his Family Law and Criminal Defense practice with ATR in 2010, Chris is a regular speaker at Family Law and Guardian seminars throughout Maine and teaches classes at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy to police cadets. The early years of his legal career were spent in service to the State of Maine as an Assistant District Attorney in Cumberland County, and with the Attorney General’s office in the Child Protective Division. He became a rostered Guardian Ad Litem in 2004 and was appointed to the initial Guardian Ad Litem Review board by the Law Court in 2015.
Attorney Leddy earned his JD from the University of Maine School of Law in 1996 and appears in Maine courts from Bangor to York.
More about Attorney Leddy at the Ainsworth Thelin & Raftice website.
Webinar 1: Thursday, October 31, 2024 • 2:00 pm to 4:10 pm
Insights from Research: A Review of Academic Literature and Case Law
Participants will be introduced to parallel parenting and its relevance in today's legal context, along with an overview of the research that supports co-parenting education and parallel parenting techniques. Additionally, participants will learn how to leverage current research findings and legal frameworks in their daily interactions with parents involved in high-conflict divorce or custody disputes. The first hour of this webinar will provide an introduction to the latest research on coparenting education, emphasizing the connection between parallel parenting and contemporary psychological research, as well as child custody laws. Attendees will examine the "best interest of the child" standard for parenting decisions in Maine and consider how parallel parenting fits within this framework. The second hour will feature a guided discussion between panelists and participants, focusing on how to apply the concepts discussed in the first hour to their work in family court settings characterized by varying levels of conflict.
$50.00, 2.0 hours CLE; CPE/Guardian credits pending
Presenters
Luke T. Russell, Ph.D
Luke Russell is an Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Science at Illinois State University. With a strong commitment to understanding the intricacies of human relationships and family dynamics, Dr. Russell’s research focuses on the developmental processes that influence individual and family well-being. He has a particular interest in the intersection of family functioning and societal factors, addressing issues such as parental involvement, child development, and the impact of cultural contexts on family life.
Dr. Russell earned an MS in Family Science and his Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Science from University of Missouri, where he developed his foundational knowledge in family systems theory and applied research methods. His academic journey has been marked by numerous contributions to peer-reviewed journals, where he explores innovative strategies for enhancing family relationships and supporting individuals in various life stages.
More about Dr. Russell at his Illinois State University profile page.
Nick J. Galanin, Esq.
Nick J. Galanin is the founding attorney at Galanin Family Law, LLC, located in Gorham, Maine. His diverse background includes experiences ranging from running a theatre camp to working in the credit industry, complemented by extensive foreign language studies. This unique combination has shaped his community-focused approach to family law. Before establishing his own firm, Nick worked as an associate attorney at MillerAsen, P.A., where he represented clients in matters such as divorces, separations, parental rights, protection orders, and modifications of existing court orders.
Nick graduated from Colgate University and earned his law degree from the University of Maine School of Law. He also holds a Certificate in Mediation from the University of Southern Maine. During his law school tenure, he volunteered as a translator and interpreter for the Cumberland Legal Aid Clinic. Additionally, he served as a trial assistant at a criminal defense firm in Portland, where he coordinated closely with clients, courts, mental health professionals, and substance use recovery programs.
Currently, Nick offers Guardian ad Litem and Co-Parenting Mediation services. He is a facilitator of the First Step: Foundations in Co-Parenting program at the Kids First Center.
More about Attorney Galanin at the Galanin Family Law website.
The Kids First Institute is underwritten in part by the generous support of: