Child Abuse Solutions, Inc., Advanced Education for Court Professionals

Conducting Custody Evaluations in the Best Interest of the Child: Techniques, New Legal and Ethical Requirements, and Child Sexual Abuse Issues

8-HOUR ANNUAL UPDATE TRAINING

Saturday, Saturday, September 13, 2008, 8:00 am to 5:30 pm
Town and Country Hotel, 500 Hotel Circle N., San Diego, CA 92108.

Presented by Child Abuse Solutions, Inc., in collaboration with Alliant International University’s Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma.

Focusing on recent developments in the field, this workshop offers presentations by professionals experienced in the investigation, assessment and evaluation of child custody, child maltreatment and domestic violence cases from mental health, criminal justice, and legal perspectives. Participants will learn new techniques and improve their skills.

Topics covered include:

Best practices in conducting custody evaluations
Legal and ethical requirements for Family Court evaluators and mediators
Child development and children's psychological reactions to divorce
The effects of sexual abuse on children, children’s patterns of hiding and disclosing incest
Evidence, investigation, and evaluation procedures when allegations of domestic violence and child sexual abuse arise in custody disputes
The paradigm of Parental Alienation Syndrome
Evaluation techniques and testing measures
Preparing for court testimony

Presenters will be:

Megan Lehmer, Ph.D., President, San Francisco Psychological Association
Geraldine Butts Stahly, Ph.D., Professor, Cal State University, San Bernardino
Joyanna Silberg, Ph.D., Coordinator, Trauma Disorder Services for Children at Sheppard Pratt Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
Seth Goldstein, Esq., Executive Director, Child Abuse Forensic Institute
Richard Ducote, Esq., Litigator for Protective Parents of sexually abused children
Stephanie Dallam, R.N., M.S. F.N.P., Research Associate, Leadership Council for Mental Health, Justice & The Media
Robert Geffner, Ph.D., A.P.B.N., President, Alliant International University's Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma
Vincent Felitti, M.D., Executive Director, CA Institutes of Preventive Medicine
Karen Hawthorne, Ph.D., Professor, California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University, San Diego
Meera Fox, Esq., Executive Director, Child Abuse Solutions, Inc.

This course satisfies CA State requirements for 8-hour annual training updates for all Custody Evaluators [C.R.C. # 5.220(g), 5.225(h)(2), & F.C. 3110.5 (b)(2)]; 8 Hours Continuing Education Credits (includes ethics) for Psychologists, Counselors, Nurses, LCSWs and MFTs;
8 Hours MCLEs for Attorneys.

Conducting Custody Evaluations in the Best Interest of the Child: Techniques, New Legal and Ethical Requirements, and Child Sexual Abuse Issues

20-HOUR CUSTODY EVALUATOR TRAINING

Friday, September 12, 2008, 8:00 am to 12:00 noon,
Saturday, September 13, 2008, 8:00 am to 5:30 pm,
and Sunday, September 14, 2008, 8:00 am to 5:30 pm,
Town and Country Hotel, 500 Hotel Circle N., San Diego, CA 92108.

Presented by Child Abuse Solutions, Inc., in collaboration with Alliant International University’s Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma.

This workshop offers presentations by professionals experienced in the investigation, assessment and evaluation of child custody, child maltreatment and domestic violence cases from mental health, criminal justice, and legal perspectives. Case examples, videos, demonstrations and role-play will be utilized to help participants learn new techniques and improve their skills.

Topics covered include:

Best practices in conducting custody evaluations
Qualifications and roles of child custody evaluators
Legal and ethical requirements for Family Court evaluators and mediators
Child development and children's psychological reactions to divorce
Domestic violence prevalence and effects on children
The effects of sexual abuse on children, children's patterns of hiding and disclosing incest
Evidence, investigation, and evaluation procedures when allegations of domestic violence and child sexual abuse arise in custody disputes
Assessing parenting capacity
The paradigm of Parental Alienation Syndrome
Evaluation techniques and testing measures
Preparing for court testimony
Developing recommendations for custody, visitation, and compelled counseling orders
Writing child custody evaluation reports
Designing parenting plans that work for families

Presenters will be:

Megan Lehmer, Ph.D., President, San Francisco Psychological Association
Hon. Sol Gothard, J.D., M.S.W., A.C.S.W., Judge of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeal, Louisiana
Meera Fox, Esq., Executive Director, Child Abuse Solutions, Inc.
Geraldine Butts Stahly, Ph.D., Professor, Cal State University, San Bernardino
Joyanna Silberg, Ph.D., Coordinator, Trauma Disorder Services for Children at Sheppard Pratt Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
Seth Goldstein, Esq., Executive Director, Child Abuse Forensic Institute
Richard Ducote, Esq., Litigator for Protective Parents of sexually abused children
Karen Hawthorne, Ph.D., Professor, California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University, San Diego
Stephanie Dallam, R.N., M.S. F.N.P., Research Associate, Leadership Council for Mental Health, Justice & The Media
Robert Geffner, Ph.D., A.P.B.N., President, Alliant International University's Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma
Vincent Felitti, M.D., Executive Director, CA Institutes of Preventive Medicine

This course satisfies CA State requirements for 20 of the 40-hour initial training for all Custody Evaluators [C.R.C. # 5.220(g), 5.225(d), & F.C. 3110.5 (b)(2)]; 20 Hours Continuing Education Credits (includes ethics) for Psychologists, Counselors, Nurses, LCSWs and MFTs;
20 Hours MCLEs for Attorneys.

Domestic Violence in Custody Evaluations: Keeping Children Safe

4-HOUR ANNUAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE UPDATE TRAINING

Friday, September 12, 2008, 1:30 pm to 5:30 pm,
Town and Country Hotel, 500 Hotel Circle N., San Diego, CA 92108.

Presented by Child Abuse Solutions, Inc., in collaboration with Alliant International University’s Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma.

California Rules of Court # 5.215 (j)(2), 5.225 (h)(1), and 5.230 (d)(2) and (g) require that all court-related mediators and court-appointed child custody evaluators receive four hours of annual update training in domestic violence. Recently amended Family Code Section 1816 (d) defines the curriculum for this course.

Topics will include:

Update of legislation regarding domestic violence
Update of current research and literature particularly related to the impact of exposure to domestic violence on children
Review of national guidelines for judges in assessing custody evaluations in cases with domestic violence
Assessment tools, resources, and information appropriate for evaluations
Case studies
New trends in the field of domestic violence and batterer treatment
Ethical issues and guidelines

This training will be presented by Linda Barnard, Ph.D., a nationally recognized expert in domestic violence and its effects. 4 Hours CE Credits (includes ethics) for Psychologists, Counselors, Nurses, LCSWs and MFTs; 4 Hours MCLEs for Attorneys.