Past Programs & Events
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2015 Kids First Gala Spring for Kids
Thursday May 7th, 2015 6:00-10:00 PM
PORTLAND HARBORVIEW (The Westin)
Located at 157 High Street, Portland, ME
View the Sponsors of the 2015 Gala
Featured:
Master of Ceremony - Lee Goldberg
Auctioneer - Tom Saturley
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Conflict Resolution
For parents and professionals - (CEUs available pending approval)
Presenters: M. Thomasine Burke, Esq., Pamela Waite, Esq., & Steve Young, LCSW
This workshop explores conflict resolution both in the legal and practical context. Learn how mediation and the conflict resolution model can help parents shift away from an adversarial position and towards resolving differences that are in the best interests of their children.
This program is being offered Monday, May 4, 2015, 7:00 - 8:30 pm.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Families: Parenting through Separation, Transition & Divorce
For parents and professionals - (CEUs available pending approval)
Presenters: Frank Brooks, Ph.D. & Susan Wiggin, LMSW
Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender parents and their families face a unique set of issues when going through separation & divorce in addition to the difficult process that all separating families experience.
This program is being offered Thursday, April 9, 2015 from 5:30 - 7:00 pm.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Separation, Divorce & the Very Young Child
For Parents and Professionals - (CEUs available pending approval)
Presenters: Betsy Van Betuw, LCSW & Elizabeth Stout, Esq./GAL
This workshop examines developmental needs of infants, toddlers and preschoolers, their expected responses to separation and divorce and best co-parenting practices.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Living Through Divorce: Calming The Storm
For Parents & Professionals
Presenter: Elizabeth Young, creator of "Meditations for Everyone"
Through this intentional, self-care meditative program, learn to let go of the harmful feelings of guilt and self-doubt that often result from divorce and find the calm within you. Help your family the most by reducing stress and being present and healthy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2013 ANNUAL FALL CONFERENCE FOR PROFESSIONALS
GETTING FROM "NO WAY" TO "OK:" Divorce Professionals Share Their Secrets For Successfully Working With Families In Conflict
Friday, October 25, 2013 8:30 - 3:30 (lunch provided)
Harraseeket Inn, Freeport, Maine
$175 ($165 if registered before 10/1/13)
Kids First will gather respected judges, therapists, attorneys, guardians ad litem and mediators to provide practical tools and techniques for getting familles to agree on important issues that impact their children's present and future well being, moving their clients from "No Way!" to "OK." ("I may not like it, but I can live with it for the sake of our kids.")
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER FAMILIES: PARENTING THROUGH SEPARATION, TRANSITION & DIVORCE
(for parents and professionals)
Presenters: Frank Brooks, Ph.D., and Susan Wiggin, LMSW
Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender parents and their families face a unique set of issues when experiencing separation and divorce. In addition, these family members must cope with the difficult processes that all families face when family upheaval occurs. Please participate in a discussion that will help expand your thinking about the effects of family transition and dissolution with GLBT parents and their children.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ZEALOUS ADVOCACY THE KIDS FIRST WAY
(for professionals only)
Presenters: Jed French, Esq. & Pamela Waite, Esq.
Unresolved parental conflict is detrimental to children of divorce and separation. This workshop is designed for professionals and intended to provide attorneys with tools to help their clients understand the benefits and importance of learning how to co-parent, thereby advocating for a client who is putting his or her kids first.
FREE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
KIDS FIRST INTENSIVE CO-PARENTING STRATEGIES FOR THE PROFESSIONAL:
How to Effectively Work with Divorced Parents in Conflict
(for professionals only)
Presenters: Susan Wiggin, LMSW, GAL; Steve Young, LCSW; Elizabeth Stout, Esq., GAL
This half day workshop is intended for clinicians who would like to increase their skills when working iwth clients experiencing high conflict divorce. Other professionals are welcome.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Social Cognitive Connection: A Workshop for Parents of Divorce with Children Who Have Social Learning Challenges
Kids with special needs such as ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Asperger's Syndrome, and exceptionally bright kids, often have difficulty making friends and succeeding in school due to their underdeveloped social cognitive skills. This workshop will focus on ways parents can help build problem solving abilities through activities suited for the home.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2012 ANNUAL FALL CONFERENCE
The Perils of Virtual Venom: Latest Issues in Electronic Discovery
Annette T. Burns, Esq.
Online communications are often unclear, ambiguous and hinder positive co-parenting. Parents' use of Facebook, Twitter, texting and other social media is easily accessed by children, co-parents and their attorneys. Parents are often unaware that information gained through social media is fair game in the courtroom. This conference will help professionals learn strategies for online discovery, use of electronic records, social media in the courtroom, and ways to manage and advise clients on technology. We will discuss the benefits technology provides for parents and their children (i.e. Skype, and the use of OurFamilyWizard website as a tool for communicating and exchanging child information). There will be a morning presentation by our Keynote Speaker, and an afternoon panel of professionals and a teen to discuss the use of social media and the positive and negative impact on children of divorce.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2011 ANNUAL FALL CONFERENCE
Stepfamily Dynamics & Child Custody Disputes
Leslie Todd, LCSW, ACSW
A new stepfamily often raises the anxiety level between high conflict houses. Attendees of this workshop will learn to help families understand the stages of stepfamily formation, the role that stress plays, boundary issues and the most common issues which provoke litigation: ambiguous parenting roles, competitive parenting, and children's loss of one-on-one time with their biological parents and loyalty bonds. Inter-household genograms will be used to illustrate enlisting family participation in problem solving and managing expectations of the expanded family.
CEUs available.
more information
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Co-Parenting with Addiction
This workshop is designed for both separating and divorcing parents and professionals who support children exposed to the effects of a parent with addiction issues. The focus of this workshop is on the child's experience, struggles and challenges, as well as offering useful tools for the adults involved.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Using Collaborative Problem Solving to Co-Parent the Special Needs Child
this workshop is designed for separating or divorcing parents who have children with learning disabilities, attention deficits or hyperactivity, autism spectrum disorders, explosive noncompliant behaviors and/or sensory integration problems. The Collaborative Problem Solving Model, as developed by Ross Greene, PhD, will be discussed as an effective means of working through issues that arise. Barbara Baum Freethy, M.Ed. is an educational therapist at Touchstone Associates who has received intensive training from Dr. Greene and has been using the model for the past ten years
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SEPARATION, DIVORCE & THE VERY YOUNG CHILD
This evening workshop for parents and professionals examines the specific and unique development needs of infants, toddlers and preschoolers and their expected responses to separation and divorce. Led by a mental health professional and a guardian ad litem, discussion explores best co-parenting or parallel parenting practices, latest research on residency and ways of keeping communication open and productive.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FORGIVENESS & LETTING GO OF THE PAST
This evening workshop is designed for professionals and parents to attend. So often the process of separation and divorce is clogged with guilt, fault, blame, resentment or rage. Exploring forgiveness, what it is and what it is not, can often clear the path to heal ourselves and our children from these harmful emotions. This workshop will provide a practical look at the why and how of letting go. Family members touched by the effects of separation and divorce as well as any adults looking for tools in this area are welcome to attend.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SEPARATION, DIVORCE & THE ADOLESCENT
This evening workshop is designed for professionals and parents to attend, and iis appropriate for all those faced with the various challenges of supporting an adolescent through a separation or divorce. The mission of this program is to provide new insights into guiding this populatin through this transitional time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FINANCIAL FITNESS THROUGH SEPARATION, DIVORCE & REMARRIAGE
Separation and Divorce can take a huge financial toll on families. This workshop provides tools and information to help you get your financial life back on track and, if needed, begin to restore your personal credit. Join us for a nuts and bolts session on how to survive financially during this transitional time. (Non-solicitous presentation).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
IMPACT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON CHILDREN
(for professionals only)
This workshop is designed for professionals working with separating and divorcing parents who are coping with the impact of domestic abuse, including physical, emotional and verbal, and its effects on their children. This workshop will be a forum for hearing your experiences working with this population.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2010 ANNUAL FALL CONFERENCE
TROUBLE WITH TEENS: CO-PARENTING CHALLENGES WITH ADOLESCENT BRAINS
Presented by Karen Williams, MSSW
Parenting an adolescent is hard enough, but imagine what it's like to co-parent one. Our annual Fall Conference will look at the major differences between co-parenting teens andyounger children. We'll review the latest in research on adolescent brain development and its influence on co-parenting, contact schedules and custody arrangements. Suggested Audience: Judges, magistrates, family law attorneys, guardians ad litem and mental health professionals. Applications for 6 CLEs and CEUs will be submitted.
see brochure
see major sponsors
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CO-PARENTING THE SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD
The Collaborative Problem Solving Model, as developed by Ross Greene, PhD., will be presented as an effective means of working through the unique co-parenting issues that arise in these families. Barbara Baum Freethy, M.Ed. is an educational therapist at Touchstone Associates and a former KFC board member.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FINANCIALLY NAVIGATING THROUGH DIVORCE
A team of four professionals from the fields of finance advising, mortgage lending, real estate and accounting will join together to present clients with an overview of helpful steps for separation and division of assets, refinancing, selling and/or buying a home, financial planning and the tax impact on both parties. This informative evening will enlighten parents as to some ofthe choices available in order to streamline the financial
aspect of the process during this transitional time. (This is a non-solicitous presentation)
This workshop is free (please call ahead to let us know you're interested)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2009 ANNUAL FALL CONFERENCE: (professionals only)
Tools for Working with Divided Parents: An Interdisciplinary Conference on Parental Alienation, Relocation and High Conflict
A Conversation Among Colleagues With Robert Kinscherff, Ph.D., Esq.
This conference will provide tools found to be effective and successful during the nine-week, court-mandated program for parents in high conflict. The techniques used in the model such as the "hot seat," conflict resolution and weekly phone calls between co-parenting partners will translate into a variety of settings. Professionals will come away with creative and "common sense" methods to help parents ease out of co-parenting conflict. Panel of graduates of the High Conflict program will be present. Legal and mental health professionals welcome. Applications have been approved for 6 CLEs and CEUs
Friday, October 30, 2009 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Harraseeket Inn, Freeport
FEE: $175.00/pp (includes gourmet lunch)register online
see brochure
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2008 ANNUAL CONFERENCE (professionals only)
TOOLS FOR WORKING WITH HIGHLY CHALLENGING CLIENTS:
AXIS II - WHAT DO YOU DO?
speaker: Nancy Williams OlesEn, PhD (for professionals only)
This workshop will provide professionals with the tools needed to identify clients who have characteristics of personality disorders and how best to help them as they navigate and parent through the separation, divorce and post divorce. Suggested audience:
judges, magistrates, family law attorneys, guardians ad litem and mental health professionals. CEU and CLEs will be awarded.
Harraseeket Inn, Freeport
Friday, October 3, 2008 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
FEE: $175.00/pp (included gourmet lunch)
Register online
see brochure
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
INTRODUCTORY INTERDISCIPLINARY TRAINING FOR COLLABORATIVE DIVORCE
A Two-Day Workshop Providing Training for Financial, Legal and Mental Health Professionals on the Collaborative Divorce Process
Friday March 28 and Saturday, March 29, 2008 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Woodlands Club, 39 Woods Road, Falmouth, ME cost: $275
see brochure
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2007 ANNUAL CONFERENCE (professionals only)
THE TEAM APPROACH TO COLLABORATIVE DIVORCE
An Interdisciplinary Workshop Providing Strategies for Financial, Legal and Mental Health Professionals (presented by Marsha Schechtman, LCSW, and Stuart G. Webb, Esq.)
Friday, November 2, 2007, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Harraseeket Inn, 162 Main Street,Freeport, ME cost: $165.00 (see brochure)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SECOND CIRCLE a.k.a. RELATIVES GONE WILD!
This evening workshop by a mental health and legal professional is open to any grandparents, aunts,uncles, sibling, or other family members or close friends who are touched by separation or divorce. The role of the extended fmaily or friends can be quite challenging due to allegiances and alliances; this evening will help illustrate helpful boundaries, appropriate "Kids First" language and ways in which the "second circle" can provide meaningful and positive support.
This is a FREE workshop (please call ahead 761-2709 to let us know you're interested)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER FAMILIES: PARENTING THROUGH SEPARATION, TRANSITION AND DIVORCE
description
This is a FREE workshop open to both parents and professionals in the field (please call ahead 761-2709 to let us know if you'd like to attend)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2006 ANNUAL CONFERENCE (professionals only)
Busting the Myths About High Conflict Divorce: An Interdisciplinary Workshop Providing Strategies for Legal and Mental Health Professionals
Friday, November 3, 2006 8:00 am- 4:00 pm, Harraseeket Inn, Freeport, Maine see brochure
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2005 ANNUAL CONFERENCE (professionals only)
SAME SEX PARENTING - THE CREATION AND SEPARATION OF FAMILY, LEGAL AND SOCIAL ISSUES FOR PARTNERS AND THEIR CHILDREN
Friday, November 4, 2005, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Harraseeket Inn, Freeport, ME.
Registration fee: $145.00, includes lunch. (see brochure)
2015 Kids First Gala Spring for Kids
Thursday May 7th, 2015 6:00-10:00 PM
PORTLAND HARBORVIEW (The Westin)
Located at 157 High Street, Portland, ME
View the Sponsors of the 2015 Gala
Featured:
- Live Music
- Cocktails and Heavy Hors d'Oeuvres
- Select Beer and Wine Complimentary from 6:00-9:00 PM
- Silent and Live Auctions
- Raffle Drawing
Master of Ceremony - Lee Goldberg
Auctioneer - Tom Saturley
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Conflict Resolution
For parents and professionals - (CEUs available pending approval)
Presenters: M. Thomasine Burke, Esq., Pamela Waite, Esq., & Steve Young, LCSW
This workshop explores conflict resolution both in the legal and practical context. Learn how mediation and the conflict resolution model can help parents shift away from an adversarial position and towards resolving differences that are in the best interests of their children.
This program is being offered Monday, May 4, 2015, 7:00 - 8:30 pm.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Families: Parenting through Separation, Transition & Divorce
For parents and professionals - (CEUs available pending approval)
Presenters: Frank Brooks, Ph.D. & Susan Wiggin, LMSW
Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender parents and their families face a unique set of issues when going through separation & divorce in addition to the difficult process that all separating families experience.
This program is being offered Thursday, April 9, 2015 from 5:30 - 7:00 pm.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Separation, Divorce & the Very Young Child
For Parents and Professionals - (CEUs available pending approval)
Presenters: Betsy Van Betuw, LCSW & Elizabeth Stout, Esq./GAL
This workshop examines developmental needs of infants, toddlers and preschoolers, their expected responses to separation and divorce and best co-parenting practices.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Living Through Divorce: Calming The Storm
For Parents & Professionals
Presenter: Elizabeth Young, creator of "Meditations for Everyone"
Through this intentional, self-care meditative program, learn to let go of the harmful feelings of guilt and self-doubt that often result from divorce and find the calm within you. Help your family the most by reducing stress and being present and healthy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2013 ANNUAL FALL CONFERENCE FOR PROFESSIONALS
GETTING FROM "NO WAY" TO "OK:" Divorce Professionals Share Their Secrets For Successfully Working With Families In Conflict
Friday, October 25, 2013 8:30 - 3:30 (lunch provided)
Harraseeket Inn, Freeport, Maine
$175 ($165 if registered before 10/1/13)
Kids First will gather respected judges, therapists, attorneys, guardians ad litem and mediators to provide practical tools and techniques for getting familles to agree on important issues that impact their children's present and future well being, moving their clients from "No Way!" to "OK." ("I may not like it, but I can live with it for the sake of our kids.")
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER FAMILIES: PARENTING THROUGH SEPARATION, TRANSITION & DIVORCE
(for parents and professionals)
Presenters: Frank Brooks, Ph.D., and Susan Wiggin, LMSW
Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender parents and their families face a unique set of issues when experiencing separation and divorce. In addition, these family members must cope with the difficult processes that all families face when family upheaval occurs. Please participate in a discussion that will help expand your thinking about the effects of family transition and dissolution with GLBT parents and their children.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ZEALOUS ADVOCACY THE KIDS FIRST WAY
(for professionals only)
Presenters: Jed French, Esq. & Pamela Waite, Esq.
Unresolved parental conflict is detrimental to children of divorce and separation. This workshop is designed for professionals and intended to provide attorneys with tools to help their clients understand the benefits and importance of learning how to co-parent, thereby advocating for a client who is putting his or her kids first.
FREE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
KIDS FIRST INTENSIVE CO-PARENTING STRATEGIES FOR THE PROFESSIONAL:
How to Effectively Work with Divorced Parents in Conflict
(for professionals only)
Presenters: Susan Wiggin, LMSW, GAL; Steve Young, LCSW; Elizabeth Stout, Esq., GAL
This half day workshop is intended for clinicians who would like to increase their skills when working iwth clients experiencing high conflict divorce. Other professionals are welcome.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Social Cognitive Connection: A Workshop for Parents of Divorce with Children Who Have Social Learning Challenges
Kids with special needs such as ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Asperger's Syndrome, and exceptionally bright kids, often have difficulty making friends and succeeding in school due to their underdeveloped social cognitive skills. This workshop will focus on ways parents can help build problem solving abilities through activities suited for the home.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2012 ANNUAL FALL CONFERENCE
The Perils of Virtual Venom: Latest Issues in Electronic Discovery
Annette T. Burns, Esq.
Online communications are often unclear, ambiguous and hinder positive co-parenting. Parents' use of Facebook, Twitter, texting and other social media is easily accessed by children, co-parents and their attorneys. Parents are often unaware that information gained through social media is fair game in the courtroom. This conference will help professionals learn strategies for online discovery, use of electronic records, social media in the courtroom, and ways to manage and advise clients on technology. We will discuss the benefits technology provides for parents and their children (i.e. Skype, and the use of OurFamilyWizard website as a tool for communicating and exchanging child information). There will be a morning presentation by our Keynote Speaker, and an afternoon panel of professionals and a teen to discuss the use of social media and the positive and negative impact on children of divorce.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2011 ANNUAL FALL CONFERENCE
Stepfamily Dynamics & Child Custody Disputes
Leslie Todd, LCSW, ACSW
A new stepfamily often raises the anxiety level between high conflict houses. Attendees of this workshop will learn to help families understand the stages of stepfamily formation, the role that stress plays, boundary issues and the most common issues which provoke litigation: ambiguous parenting roles, competitive parenting, and children's loss of one-on-one time with their biological parents and loyalty bonds. Inter-household genograms will be used to illustrate enlisting family participation in problem solving and managing expectations of the expanded family.
CEUs available.
more information
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Co-Parenting with Addiction
This workshop is designed for both separating and divorcing parents and professionals who support children exposed to the effects of a parent with addiction issues. The focus of this workshop is on the child's experience, struggles and challenges, as well as offering useful tools for the adults involved.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Using Collaborative Problem Solving to Co-Parent the Special Needs Child
this workshop is designed for separating or divorcing parents who have children with learning disabilities, attention deficits or hyperactivity, autism spectrum disorders, explosive noncompliant behaviors and/or sensory integration problems. The Collaborative Problem Solving Model, as developed by Ross Greene, PhD, will be discussed as an effective means of working through issues that arise. Barbara Baum Freethy, M.Ed. is an educational therapist at Touchstone Associates who has received intensive training from Dr. Greene and has been using the model for the past ten years
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SEPARATION, DIVORCE & THE VERY YOUNG CHILD
This evening workshop for parents and professionals examines the specific and unique development needs of infants, toddlers and preschoolers and their expected responses to separation and divorce. Led by a mental health professional and a guardian ad litem, discussion explores best co-parenting or parallel parenting practices, latest research on residency and ways of keeping communication open and productive.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FORGIVENESS & LETTING GO OF THE PAST
This evening workshop is designed for professionals and parents to attend. So often the process of separation and divorce is clogged with guilt, fault, blame, resentment or rage. Exploring forgiveness, what it is and what it is not, can often clear the path to heal ourselves and our children from these harmful emotions. This workshop will provide a practical look at the why and how of letting go. Family members touched by the effects of separation and divorce as well as any adults looking for tools in this area are welcome to attend.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SEPARATION, DIVORCE & THE ADOLESCENT
This evening workshop is designed for professionals and parents to attend, and iis appropriate for all those faced with the various challenges of supporting an adolescent through a separation or divorce. The mission of this program is to provide new insights into guiding this populatin through this transitional time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FINANCIAL FITNESS THROUGH SEPARATION, DIVORCE & REMARRIAGE
Separation and Divorce can take a huge financial toll on families. This workshop provides tools and information to help you get your financial life back on track and, if needed, begin to restore your personal credit. Join us for a nuts and bolts session on how to survive financially during this transitional time. (Non-solicitous presentation).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
IMPACT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON CHILDREN
(for professionals only)
This workshop is designed for professionals working with separating and divorcing parents who are coping with the impact of domestic abuse, including physical, emotional and verbal, and its effects on their children. This workshop will be a forum for hearing your experiences working with this population.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2010 ANNUAL FALL CONFERENCE
TROUBLE WITH TEENS: CO-PARENTING CHALLENGES WITH ADOLESCENT BRAINS
Presented by Karen Williams, MSSW
Parenting an adolescent is hard enough, but imagine what it's like to co-parent one. Our annual Fall Conference will look at the major differences between co-parenting teens andyounger children. We'll review the latest in research on adolescent brain development and its influence on co-parenting, contact schedules and custody arrangements. Suggested Audience: Judges, magistrates, family law attorneys, guardians ad litem and mental health professionals. Applications for 6 CLEs and CEUs will be submitted.
see brochure
see major sponsors
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CO-PARENTING THE SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD
The Collaborative Problem Solving Model, as developed by Ross Greene, PhD., will be presented as an effective means of working through the unique co-parenting issues that arise in these families. Barbara Baum Freethy, M.Ed. is an educational therapist at Touchstone Associates and a former KFC board member.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FINANCIALLY NAVIGATING THROUGH DIVORCE
A team of four professionals from the fields of finance advising, mortgage lending, real estate and accounting will join together to present clients with an overview of helpful steps for separation and division of assets, refinancing, selling and/or buying a home, financial planning and the tax impact on both parties. This informative evening will enlighten parents as to some ofthe choices available in order to streamline the financial
aspect of the process during this transitional time. (This is a non-solicitous presentation)
This workshop is free (please call ahead to let us know you're interested)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2009 ANNUAL FALL CONFERENCE: (professionals only)
Tools for Working with Divided Parents: An Interdisciplinary Conference on Parental Alienation, Relocation and High Conflict
A Conversation Among Colleagues With Robert Kinscherff, Ph.D., Esq.
This conference will provide tools found to be effective and successful during the nine-week, court-mandated program for parents in high conflict. The techniques used in the model such as the "hot seat," conflict resolution and weekly phone calls between co-parenting partners will translate into a variety of settings. Professionals will come away with creative and "common sense" methods to help parents ease out of co-parenting conflict. Panel of graduates of the High Conflict program will be present. Legal and mental health professionals welcome. Applications have been approved for 6 CLEs and CEUs
Friday, October 30, 2009 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Harraseeket Inn, Freeport
FEE: $175.00/pp (includes gourmet lunch)register online
see brochure
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2008 ANNUAL CONFERENCE (professionals only)
TOOLS FOR WORKING WITH HIGHLY CHALLENGING CLIENTS:
AXIS II - WHAT DO YOU DO?
speaker: Nancy Williams OlesEn, PhD (for professionals only)
This workshop will provide professionals with the tools needed to identify clients who have characteristics of personality disorders and how best to help them as they navigate and parent through the separation, divorce and post divorce. Suggested audience:
judges, magistrates, family law attorneys, guardians ad litem and mental health professionals. CEU and CLEs will be awarded.
Harraseeket Inn, Freeport
Friday, October 3, 2008 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
FEE: $175.00/pp (included gourmet lunch)
Register online
see brochure
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
INTRODUCTORY INTERDISCIPLINARY TRAINING FOR COLLABORATIVE DIVORCE
A Two-Day Workshop Providing Training for Financial, Legal and Mental Health Professionals on the Collaborative Divorce Process
Friday March 28 and Saturday, March 29, 2008 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Woodlands Club, 39 Woods Road, Falmouth, ME cost: $275
see brochure
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2007 ANNUAL CONFERENCE (professionals only)
THE TEAM APPROACH TO COLLABORATIVE DIVORCE
An Interdisciplinary Workshop Providing Strategies for Financial, Legal and Mental Health Professionals (presented by Marsha Schechtman, LCSW, and Stuart G. Webb, Esq.)
Friday, November 2, 2007, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Harraseeket Inn, 162 Main Street,Freeport, ME cost: $165.00 (see brochure)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SECOND CIRCLE a.k.a. RELATIVES GONE WILD!
This evening workshop by a mental health and legal professional is open to any grandparents, aunts,uncles, sibling, or other family members or close friends who are touched by separation or divorce. The role of the extended fmaily or friends can be quite challenging due to allegiances and alliances; this evening will help illustrate helpful boundaries, appropriate "Kids First" language and ways in which the "second circle" can provide meaningful and positive support.
This is a FREE workshop (please call ahead 761-2709 to let us know you're interested)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER FAMILIES: PARENTING THROUGH SEPARATION, TRANSITION AND DIVORCE
description
This is a FREE workshop open to both parents and professionals in the field (please call ahead 761-2709 to let us know if you'd like to attend)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2006 ANNUAL CONFERENCE (professionals only)
Busting the Myths About High Conflict Divorce: An Interdisciplinary Workshop Providing Strategies for Legal and Mental Health Professionals
Friday, November 3, 2006 8:00 am- 4:00 pm, Harraseeket Inn, Freeport, Maine see brochure
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2005 ANNUAL CONFERENCE (professionals only)
SAME SEX PARENTING - THE CREATION AND SEPARATION OF FAMILY, LEGAL AND SOCIAL ISSUES FOR PARTNERS AND THEIR CHILDREN
Friday, November 4, 2005, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Harraseeket Inn, Freeport, ME.
Registration fee: $145.00, includes lunch. (see brochure)
