MO-AFCC August 2024 Lunch and Learn
The Missouri Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (MO-AFCC)
Join the MO-AFCC for this FREE lunch-and-learn session, being offered via Zoom Webinar.
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Appointing a Parenting Coordinator: Getting It Right for Families
Friday, August 16, 2024, 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
via Zoom Webinar
CLE: 1.8 hours - Approved
CEU: 1.5 hours - Approved
via Zoom Webinar
CLE: 1.8 hours - Approved
CEU: 1.5 hours - Approved
Brought to you in part through the generous support of our sponsors:
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About the Session
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Parenting coordination is an alternative dispute resolution process combining assessment, education, case management, conflict resolution and, sometimes, decision-making functions.
This Lunch and Learn will cover new procedures and forms for appointing Parenting Coordinators, the work of the Parenting Coordinator and scope of the role, and the steps to selecting and appointing a PC in a case appropriately. When children are exposed to ongoing conflict between their parents, they are at significant risk for social, academic and mental health problems, and may experience more difficulty with their own intimate relationships in the long term. Parenting coordination can help to reduce parents’ conflict and may shield children from exposure to their parents’ disagreements. The parenting coordinator can help parents resolve child-related issues in a timely manner without court involvement and can protect and sustain safe, healthy and meaningful parent-child relationships. Most importantly, the parenting coordinator can help parents focus on the best interests of their children, rather than on their anger toward one another. |
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Our Presenters
Hon. Jason D. Dodson - Jason D. Dodson was appointed circuit judge on January 31, 2020 by Governor Mike Parson and was retained in 2022. He previously served as an associate circuit judge following his appointment in 2016 by Governor Jeremiah W. “Jay” Nixon.
Presiding Judge Mary Ott appointed Judge Dodson to the position of Administrative Judge of the Family Court of St. Louis County, and his 4-year term began January 1, 2022. The Family Court consists of five Juvenile Divisions and ten Domestic Relations Divisions. It also includes the Domestic Violence Court which the U.S. Department of Justice currently recognizes as a national model to serve as a mentor court. Judge Dodson presides over cases in juvenile court and a domestic violence contempt docket.
In May 2024, the Missouri Supreme Court appointed Judge Dodson as the chair of its Family Court Committee. He also currently heads up the Child Support Guidelines Review Subcommittee which is currently engaged updating Missouri's child support instructions and the Form 14. Judge Dodson serves as a co-chair of Missouri's Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence Commission and leads the Risk Assessment and Accountability subcommittee. He is also a member of the Supreme Court’s Committee on Access to Family Courts. He serves on the board of directors for the St. Louis Bar Foundation and belongs to several legal associations including the Missouri Bar, the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (“BAMSL”), the St. Louis County Bar Association and the American Bar Association.
Judge Dodson received his Bachelor of Arts with honors in philosophy from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine in 1992, and his law degree from Washington University School of Law in 1996, where he received The Order of Barristers and Pro Bono Bronze Medal commendations.
Judge Dodson lives in St. Louis County with his family.
Presiding Judge Mary Ott appointed Judge Dodson to the position of Administrative Judge of the Family Court of St. Louis County, and his 4-year term began January 1, 2022. The Family Court consists of five Juvenile Divisions and ten Domestic Relations Divisions. It also includes the Domestic Violence Court which the U.S. Department of Justice currently recognizes as a national model to serve as a mentor court. Judge Dodson presides over cases in juvenile court and a domestic violence contempt docket.
In May 2024, the Missouri Supreme Court appointed Judge Dodson as the chair of its Family Court Committee. He also currently heads up the Child Support Guidelines Review Subcommittee which is currently engaged updating Missouri's child support instructions and the Form 14. Judge Dodson serves as a co-chair of Missouri's Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence Commission and leads the Risk Assessment and Accountability subcommittee. He is also a member of the Supreme Court’s Committee on Access to Family Courts. He serves on the board of directors for the St. Louis Bar Foundation and belongs to several legal associations including the Missouri Bar, the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (“BAMSL”), the St. Louis County Bar Association and the American Bar Association.
Judge Dodson received his Bachelor of Arts with honors in philosophy from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine in 1992, and his law degree from Washington University School of Law in 1996, where he received The Order of Barristers and Pro Bono Bronze Medal commendations.
Judge Dodson lives in St. Louis County with his family.
Simone Haberstock, JD, LLM - Simone started her own law firm over twenty-three years ago with a specific mission – to provide competent, strong legal representation that is affordable and supports the individual, not only in making the legal decisions required, but in moving through an often confusing and difficult transition. In order to accomplish that mission, Simone, a certified public accountant and a mediator, has pursued not only trial practice training at the esteemed ABA Trial Advocacy Institute, but has also invested hundreds of hours learning more about family systems and child development; high conflict families; domestic violence; negotiation and settlement advocacy; and mediation. She added financial planning tools to her practice several years ago to help clients develop a more concrete idea of how their financial options will affect their future.
She received the ABA Young Lawyers Certificate of Merit for her advocacy work for children. She has served for many years on the Missouri Bar Committee for the annual Family Law Conference. In September 2019, Simone concluded her role as President of the Missouri Chapter of AFCC and is now a past president of the statewide chapter. She has presented at both the international AFCC and International Association of Collaborative Professionals (IACP) conferences. She regularly speaks both in the St. Louis area and in Missouri on topics related to family conflict; mediation; parenting coordination and financial decision-making in family matters.
Simone served for over ten years on the Board of Governors for the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis. She is a board member for Confluence Missouri, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing alternate dispute resolution and mediation training to professionals and free and low cost mediation services to litigants in the St. Louis Metropolitan area. Simone teaches as an adjunct professor at Saint Louis University School of Law and provides training for other civil and family mediators, parenting coordinators, and, more recently, the St. Louis City Police Public Safety Department. She serves the Mediation and Parenting Coordination Oversight Committee for St. Louis County Circuit Court and has participated in the development, design and implementation of several court-connected conflict resolution programs. In fall 2023, Missouri Lawyers Media named her to the 2023 Power List for family law lawyers. She is a 2024 Women’s Justice Award Honoree and the 2024 Missouri Chapter of Association of Family and Conciliation Courts Ellen Cowell Leadership Award Winner. Simone was born and raised in St. Louis. When not in the office or pursuing professional activities, Simone enjoys spending time with family and her dog “Ruthie,” hiking, photography, reading and music.
She received the ABA Young Lawyers Certificate of Merit for her advocacy work for children. She has served for many years on the Missouri Bar Committee for the annual Family Law Conference. In September 2019, Simone concluded her role as President of the Missouri Chapter of AFCC and is now a past president of the statewide chapter. She has presented at both the international AFCC and International Association of Collaborative Professionals (IACP) conferences. She regularly speaks both in the St. Louis area and in Missouri on topics related to family conflict; mediation; parenting coordination and financial decision-making in family matters.
Simone served for over ten years on the Board of Governors for the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis. She is a board member for Confluence Missouri, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing alternate dispute resolution and mediation training to professionals and free and low cost mediation services to litigants in the St. Louis Metropolitan area. Simone teaches as an adjunct professor at Saint Louis University School of Law and provides training for other civil and family mediators, parenting coordinators, and, more recently, the St. Louis City Police Public Safety Department. She serves the Mediation and Parenting Coordination Oversight Committee for St. Louis County Circuit Court and has participated in the development, design and implementation of several court-connected conflict resolution programs. In fall 2023, Missouri Lawyers Media named her to the 2023 Power List for family law lawyers. She is a 2024 Women’s Justice Award Honoree and the 2024 Missouri Chapter of Association of Family and Conciliation Courts Ellen Cowell Leadership Award Winner. Simone was born and raised in St. Louis. When not in the office or pursuing professional activities, Simone enjoys spending time with family and her dog “Ruthie,” hiking, photography, reading and music.
Jennifer R. Piper, JD - Jennifer attended the University of Missouri-Columbia where she earned a B.A. in political science and then went on to receive her law degree from Saint Louis University School of Law. As an attorney, Jennifer has been distinguished by Missouri Lawyers Weekly as a Rising Star, Up and Coming Lawyer; she has been named to The Best Lawyers in America® 2017-2023 in the practice area of Family Law. Ms. Piper also recently received a Woman’s Justice Award from Missouri Lawyers Weekly in 2019 and recognized by Missouri Super Lawyers for 2021-2023.
Jennifer has practiced law in the St. Louis County Metropolitan area where she has exclusively handled family law matters for over 20 years. She currently serves as the Chair of the Family and Juvenile Law Section for the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis and the Parenting Coordination and Mediation Committee for the St. Louis County Circuit Court.
As a member and Past President of The St. Louis County Bar Association, Jennifer is still actively involved in the organization and helps organize Continuing Legal Education Seminars. Jennifer previously served as a member of the 2010 and 2011 inaugural class of Barristers in The Theodore McMillian American Inn of Court.
Jennifer was appointed and served on a special committee of the Missouri Bar Association dealing with issues involving juvenile cases and immigration. She was appointed by St. Louis County Circuit Court, Judge Burton, to serve on a special committee to improve the Family Court of St. Louis County that developed and implemented new local rules and procedures. She served on the Board of Directors for Caring for Kids, an organization developed and designed to provide essential resources to meet the urgent needs of children in foster care in St. Louis County.
Certified as a Guardian Ad Litem, Jennifer is regularly appointed to represent and protect children by Judges and Commissioners in St. Louis County and St. Louis City. She volunteers as a Guardian Ad Litem for the St. Louis County Domestic Violence Court Docket. She is certified as a Mediator for civil and family law matters. Jennifer is also a certified Parenting Coordinator and is regularly appointed by the Court to assist families with the most difficult custody matters.
Jennifer has practiced law in the St. Louis County Metropolitan area where she has exclusively handled family law matters for over 20 years. She currently serves as the Chair of the Family and Juvenile Law Section for the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis and the Parenting Coordination and Mediation Committee for the St. Louis County Circuit Court.
As a member and Past President of The St. Louis County Bar Association, Jennifer is still actively involved in the organization and helps organize Continuing Legal Education Seminars. Jennifer previously served as a member of the 2010 and 2011 inaugural class of Barristers in The Theodore McMillian American Inn of Court.
Jennifer was appointed and served on a special committee of the Missouri Bar Association dealing with issues involving juvenile cases and immigration. She was appointed by St. Louis County Circuit Court, Judge Burton, to serve on a special committee to improve the Family Court of St. Louis County that developed and implemented new local rules and procedures. She served on the Board of Directors for Caring for Kids, an organization developed and designed to provide essential resources to meet the urgent needs of children in foster care in St. Louis County.
Certified as a Guardian Ad Litem, Jennifer is regularly appointed to represent and protect children by Judges and Commissioners in St. Louis County and St. Louis City. She volunteers as a Guardian Ad Litem for the St. Louis County Domestic Violence Court Docket. She is certified as a Mediator for civil and family law matters. Jennifer is also a certified Parenting Coordinator and is regularly appointed by the Court to assist families with the most difficult custody matters.
Learning Objectives
In this workshop, attendees will:
- Learn how to identify the need for a Parenting Coordinator in a case, what a PC can offer, and if an appointment is appropriate;
- Discuss appropriate steps for appointing a Parenting Coordinator;
- Learn what a Parenting Coordinator can and cannot do;
- Learn how the Parenting Coordinator process works; and
- Learn how and when Parenting Coordinators interface and coordinate with other professionals providing services to the family.
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