MO-AFCC Spring Conference

The Missouri Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (MO-AFCC)
​Co-Sponsored by MARCH Mediation
Each year MO-AFCC members and other interested professionals gather for an outstanding training and networking event - the spring conference!

20th Annual MO-AFCC Spring Conference:


​The Tiger is in the Details:
​Exploring Decision-Making Processes in Family Law Cases
March 28-29, 2019, St. Louis Zoo, ​St. Louis, MO
Speaker: Dr. Phillip Stahl, PhD
and welcoming Honorable Dianna Gould-Saltman, ​President, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts

Schedule

At-a-Glance
  • Pre-conference Institute - Thursday March 28, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. - "When a Child Resists and Refuses Contact with a Parent" presented by Dr. Phillip Stahl
  • Conference plenary panel - Thursday, March 28, 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. - "Ethical and Practical Considerations When Helping Clients Make Decisions"
  • Cocktail Social - Thursday, March 28, 8 p.m. - 10 p.m.
  • Conference session - Friday, March 29, 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. - "The Tiger is in the Details: Exploring Decision Making Processes in Family Law Cases" presented by Dr. Phillip Stahl, with Judge Panel from 2:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
March 28, 2019 (Thursday)
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
(registration opens 12:30 p.m.)

​
Preconference Institute - St. Louis Zoo, River Camp 
When a Child Resists and Refuses Contact with a Parent
(Additional fees apply, must be registered for Friday conference to attend.)
Description: Professionals and the courts are often perplexed when a child refuses to visit or have contact with a parent.  Terms like “alienation” and “gate-keeping” are often applied casually when a child has become estranged, and some professionals may rely on a linear explanation that attempts to link alienating behavior of the custodial parent to the change in relationship of a child and the other parent. When we focus on the “alienating” behavior of a parent, we may fall into the trap of presuming only one probable cause and overlook parent issues and family dynamics that contributed to the estrangement.  If we understand and consider the other factors that lead to a child refusing contact with a parent, we can create better interventions to help.  This program will tackle the common misconceptions about alienation, discuss the multifaceted problem of an alienated child, and suggest new ways to think about those factors that brought the child to that point in order to design more creative interventions.  

​Speaker: Phillip Stahl, PhD
March 28, 2019 (Thursday)
6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
​(registration opens at 6:00 p.m.)
Plenary Panel - St Louis Zoo, Living World
Ethical and Practical Considerations when Helping Clients make Decisions
(Qualifies for 1.8 Attorney Ethics Hours, 1.5 hours for Social Workers -pending)
Description: The panel will consider and discuss the real-life experiences of parties, including audio interviews, who have engaged in litigation, mediation, co-parenting counseling and other processes used to solve problems and reach agreements, and the practical and ethical considerations and dilemmas posed for professionals when clients are challenged in their decision-making process.
 
Panelists: Dr. Phillip Stahl, Ph.D., Judge Dianna Gould-Saltman; Kevin Chafin LPC (Kansas City); Elaine Pudlowski JD (St. Louis); Chris Stiegemeyer JD (St. Louis); Jennifer Rench, JD (St. Louis)

Moderator: Simone Haberstock
March 28, 2019 (Thursday)
8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
​Cocktail Social - St Louis Zoo, Living World
Cocktail Social 
Description: Enjoy time to socialize and network with your fellow conference attendees.
March 29, 2019 (Friday)
8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m
(registration continental breakfast and lunch provided)
Plenary Presentation - ​St. Louis Zoo, River Camp  
The Tiger is in the Details: Exploring Decision-Making Processes in Family Law Cases
Description: Family law practitioners, including judges, attorneys for parents, children’s representatives, child custody evaluators, mediators, and others make decisions daily, but rarely think about the process of doing so.  The presenter will deconstruct the process of decision-making in our work, both our own decision-making and the decision making of others - litigants and professionals (in litigation, mediation, and counseling), using a variety of teaching methods, including videos and case discussions. The presenter will guide participants to be curious, avoid oversimplification, manage their personal feelings and projected ideas, and understand critical components in decision-making.

Speaker:   Phillip Stahl, PhD

​Judge Panel (2:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.):  Honorable Dianna Gould-Saltman, Honorable Bruce Hilton (St. Louis Co), Honorable Erin Burlison (St. Charles Co), Honorable Sherrill Roberts (Clay Co)

About Our Speaker

PicturePhillip Stahl, PhD
We are pleased to welcome Dr. Phillip Stahl, PhD, as the presenter at our 2019 annual conference. Dr. Stahl is a licensed forensic psychologist based in Maricopa County, Arizona, who is a practitioner, teacher, and author.  He specializes in high conflict divorce and has conducted continuing education for psychologists, attorneys, mental health professionals, judges and evaluators around the world.  He has written extensively in the area of custody evaluation and divorce and he is one of the preeminent custody evaluators in the country. Learn more about Dr. Stahl on his website at ​https://parentingafterdivorce.com/. 

Registration Information

​  *Early Bird (extended through 2/28/19)
 Members:        
  • Conference only (Thursday evening, March 28 - Friday, March 29) -  $175
  • Conference & Preconference (Thursday, March 28- Friday, March 29) -  $215
 
 Non-Members:
JOIN NOW!  Save $50.00 on conference plus benefits! Go to afccnet.org. (AFCC membership $160.00; Missouri Chapter membership $30.00)
  • Conference only (Thursday evening, March 28 - Friday, March 29) - $225
  • Conference & Preconference (Thursday, March 28- Friday, March 29) - $265

Students:
  • Regular Conference (does not include Thursday Pre-Conference) - $60

 *Regular Registration (starting 3/1/19)
Members:        
  • Conference only (Thursday evening, March 28 - Friday, March 29) -  $215
  • Conference & Preconference (Thursday, March 28- Friday, March 29) -  $240

Non-Member:
  • Conference only (Thursday evening, March 28 - Friday, March 29) - $265
  • Conference & Preconference (Thursday, March 28- Friday, March 29) - $290
 
Students:
  • Regular Conference (does not include Thursday Preconference) - $60

Cancellation Policy

​Cancellations received more than 30 days before the date of the program  will be issued  a credit which can be applied to  next year's program.  ​NO REFUNDS WILL BE ISSUED. 

Continuing Education Credit

​The Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) International is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. AFCC maintains responsibility for the program and its content.  

Thursday Preconference Institute:  3.3 CLEs for Missouri Attorneys; 3.0 Continuing Education hours for Social Workers and psychologists-pending.  See Thursday evening above for Ethics hours.
​
​Conference: 8.2 CLEs for Missouri Attorneys (including 1.8 ethics hours) (approved); total 10.25 CEU Credits for both days for Psychologists (approved); 7.25 hours Continuing Education hours for Missouri Social Worker’s, LPCs and LMFTs (including 1.5 ethics hours for Social Workers) (Pending). Meets advanced training requirements for Missouri GALs and mediators.

Hotel

Blocked rooms will be available at Hampton Inn & Suites at Forest Park, 5650 Oakland Ave, St. Louis, MO (314) 655-3993.
​ Reservations available now at : hamptoninn.hilton.com/en/hp/groups/personalized/S/STLHLHX-FCC-20190327/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG