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AFCC-MN Members, As the situation in Minnesota continues to change in uncertain and unexpected ways, many of us are feeling its weight acutely. We have also witnessed the impact of compassion, unity, and care shown by our communities in the face of fear, confusion, and concern. The strength we find in one another is both comforting and inspiring. As an organization focused on the well-being of children and families, AFCC-MN and its membership are profoundly aware of the physical, emotional, and financial toll that recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities are having on our communities. Supporting family well-being and upholding human dignity has always been the mission of our organization. During this time of uncertainty, we stand with families most affected, particularly those whose safety and stability are at risk. AFCC-MN also denounces all violent acts inflicted on our fellow Minnesotans, as these actions further traumatize the families and communities our membership supports throughout the state. AFCC-MN recognizes the critical work being done by nonprofit organizations, advocates, attorneys, mental health providers, and community leaders to support healing and protect vulnerable families. The challenges are significant, but our organization’s experience shows that when family professionals collaborate with respect and a shared commitment, we can make a meaningful, positive impact. Our chapter is committed to supporting our members and partners in their efforts. We know that those working directly with families are closest to the immediate challenges and long-term impact of these actions. As many of us know, community violence is deeply connected to adverse childhood experiences, as repeated exposure to unsafe environments can shape a child’s sense of security, impact emotional development, and increase the risk of long-term mental and physical health challenges. While members of AFCC-MN fulfill varied roles all of our work is ultimately rooted in listening, connecting and providing the tools and support needed to help people respond to adversity and crisis thoughtfully and effectively. AFCC-MN also recognizes the toll such work takes on practitioners themselves, as exposure to trauma, whether direct or secondarily through those we support, can lead to burnout, compassion fatigue, and moral distress. In these moments, mutual support within our family law community is essential to maintaining our ability to provide compassionate care. We encourage family professionals to lead with care and responsibility by: Listening to and centering the voices of affected families and communities Supporting both immediate relief and long-term family stability Upholding dignity, safety, and trust in all interactions Practicing ongoing collaboration Practicing self-care AFCC-MN remains dedicated to strengthening the interdisciplinary community of family professionals, ensuring that together we can continue to provide resolution, resilience, and healing for children and families throughout Minnesota. We are also committed to addressing the issues children and family are facing in our community through education, resources, and outreach. We have attached a working list of resources and will be reinstating our Community Chats for members to gather and discuss. We will also be working with our Education and Values committees to offer special educational Lunch & Learns that are timely and topic specific. Resources and Education AFCC-MN Community Chats Friday February 6th, 10am – Carol Hornbeck, LMFT and Racheal Howitz, President leading an open forum. With more dates to follow, watch your email and our website. Here is a resource list of organizations - a resource list of organizations providing services or mutual aid to affected families, if you wish to volunteer your time or provide financial support. Additional list of resources included here Click for Resources AFCC-MN Board of Directors AFCC-MN Values Committee

COMMUNITY QUEST You are receiving this message because AAML, AFCC-MN, and the Family Law League have all come together to support a major initiative for our community. Community Quest is a unique growth opportunity for members of the family law community in Minnesota to develop and deepen intercultural competence - both personally and professionally. We believe that ongoing growth and skill development can better support our ability to navigate conflicts and unintended impact, and to proactively create an even more inclusive professional environment for people who work in this field. You may have heard a bit about Community Quest from members of our Pilot Group, or at Divorce Camp. Registration is now open, and we encourage you to sign up as soon as possible. If you're ready to register, CLICK HERE  Keep reading to learn more...  What is the Quest? To help ensure our community of family law professionals in Minnesota is welcoming, respectful, and safe for practitioners from different disciplines, cultures, and perspectives. To support introspection and self-awareness within individuals and organizations in our professional community, and to encourage awareness of how our own actions, attitudes and beliefs affect others and affect our community overall To continue to develop individual and institutional skills to engage curiosity about ourselves and others to be more intentional and effective our work with one another as well as with our clients To promote ongoing exploration of ways to improve our collective ability to bridge difference, and to enhance a sense of dignity and belonging within the family law community. Who should participate? You! Particularly if you are: Invested in helping make our professional community better Curious about how to be more effective at bridging differences of all kinds Ready to learn more about yourself and how you show up for others Eager to build new skills to support better outcomes with people who have experiences and perspectives that are different than yours. Why is this program different than other DEI things I've done? Here's what members of the pilot group have to say: “After so many trainings/presentations I left with the feeling of wow that's amazing and insightful, but now what? What can/should I do to change me/things? This didn't leave me that way, I had actions to do.”  “This has something to offer no matter where you are in your journey. It has actionable content. It gives you ways to advance your skills no matter where you are in your skill building.” “Because sometimes it’s rare to have an opportunity to be genuinely part of the solution.” “We have done work around implicit and explicit bias, and this takes us to the next level – a deeper dive, another way to understand, a new perspective on your implicit bias.” What is the commitment? Short answer: You complete the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), and participate in a confidential 1-on-1 debrief to review the results and discuss strategies for ongoing development, about 1 hour Option to join a Peer Accountability Learning group (PAL) to support individual learning and application, varies Participate in four 1/2-day experiential learning seminars, about 16 hours What is it going to cost me? Short answer: $310.00, and about 17 hours of your time That's it. This covers the cost of the IDI and the one-on-one confidential debrief. AAML, AFCC-MN, Family Law League and Our Family Wizard have all made generous contributions to cover all other program costs. This curriculum has been offered by another sponsoring agency, and has been approved for 11 general CLE credits, and 4.5 Elimination of Bias credits. We are also investigating the process to be approved for continuing education credits for mental health providers. Dates to Remember #1: November 22,2024, 8am-12:30pm Foundations of Intercultural Competence This workshop will introduce participants to cultural self-awareness frameworks and models to deeply explore the complexity of their identity and the ways that can have unintentional impacts on intercultural competence and inclusion and belonging goals. #2: January 10, 2025, 8am-12:30 pm Intercultural Communication Tools to Support Belonging and Inclusion Having tools to be curious and rebound across cultural differences is vital to effectively engage and communicate in multicultural settings. Participants will gain intercultural communication tools and practices to approach challenging topics. Additionally, participants will learn how to take responsibility when intentions do not equal the intended impact. February 7, 2025, 9-10am (Virtual) Launch of Intercultural Development Plan Peer Accountability and Learning (PALs) 60 minute virtual session to formally set up trios, quad to work through their Intercultural Development Plan (IDP) that is received during their IDI debrief. #3: March 7, 2025, 8am-12:30 pm Intercultural Conflict Dimensions and Styles Participants will gain a deeper understanding of judgments made in their culture and how those differences may manifest in other cultures, within and across racial and national groups. Additionally, stereotyping and bias will be addressed. #4: April 25, 2025, 8am-12:30 pm Power, Privilege, and Adaptation Participants will explore concepts of power and privilege to more deeply understand how their lived experience may implicitly perpetuate dominant cultural values at the individual and systems levels of racial equity. Additionally, participants will better understand the impact of assimilation and the distinction of adaptation. On behalf of AAML, AFCC-MN, Family Law League, and our community as a whole, we ask you to join us in Community Quest to help ensure our family law community continues to do the work of co-creating a safe, inclusive and nurturing environment for everyone who practices in this area. Registration closes on Friday October 18, 11:59 pm. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER  for Community Quest CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION  about the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI)

Dear AFCC-MN Members: Our neighbors to the East at  AFCC-Wisconsin  have graciously invited us to join a webinar that they are having on June 27th. Please see below for details. Thanks! What might be learned through comparing two divorce movies released 40 years apart? AFCC Wisconsin will host a free webinar on June 27, 2024 from 12 Noon to 1:30 PM CDT entitled Child Custody Cases Drama Then & Now: AFCC Takes on Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) and Marriage Story (2019). Kramer vs. Kramer became an iconic story of divorce with children and an inspiration for family law "no fault" reforms. Marriage Story is arguably a Kramer vs. Kramer remake, The drama of both center on what happens to a young child whose parents respect each other as parents— until they feel drawn into a litigated custody battle. Join us for a panel discussion on the enduring lure of litigation and challenges of parental hostilities. The panelists are prominent AFCC members: Shely Polak, Ph.D, Peter Salem, MA, Chioma Ajoku, JD, Ph.D., ABPP, Don Saposnek, Ph.D, Andrew Schepard, JD, and Carlton Stansbury, JD Moderator for this webinar will be Alexandra Crampton, Ph.D.,an Associate Professor of Social and Cultural Studies at Marquette University and AFCC Wisconsin Board Member. This event will start with brief movie synopses for those new or rusty on Kramer vs. Kramer and Marriage Story details, and then will open to panel discussion by 3 AFCC members whose careers were forged during the Kramer vs. Kramer era and 3 whose careers are arguably more of a Marriage Story era. Participants are encouraged to download and read this article for movie synopsis in the context of analyzing real cases and how today's parents may resist invitation to avoid competition and litigation. For more information about the session and the panelists, visit the AFCC WI website at this special webinar post. This is a free webinar hosted by AFCC-WI and is open to all AFCC members. Registration is required however and you may do so at this link. You will receive your personalized link via email.

Address and Directions: 701 Washington Ave N, #700, Minneapolis MN 55401 Loose-Wiles Building Paid parking is available and accessed on N 3rd St in the Nordic Ramp/Sable building, you will see a small P for parking sign and driveway off of 3rd St. Attendees can park here, however it is around $20-25 per day. There is also street parking and several other cheaper ramps/lots in the area. (Itasca Lot , North Loop Ramp and Designers Guild Ramp ) We are in the same building as the Freehouse, 701 Washington Ave N. Please go into our building through the front, off of Washington Ave. The elevator inside is adjacent to the security desk, take elevator to the 7th floor. The door will say “In Tandem” (this is our newly formed parent company ) please push the call button for the doorbell to the right of the door and someone will let you in.

Become a Sponsor Why not AFCC? BECOME A SPONSOR PAST SPONSORS - 2022 AJW FInancial Baker Tilly US, LLP Bonnie S Westlin, Esq LLC Bell Bank Mortgage Best & Flanagan Chestnut Cambronne PA Collins, Buckley, Sauntry & Haugh PLLP CrossCountry Mortgage DeWalt, Chawla + Saksena, LLC Family Law Software, a Centerbase Company Gallagher Law Office, LLC Gapen Larson & Johnson, LLC Gay Rosenthal, M.A., Licensed Psychologist Guyette Family Guidance Heimerl & Lammers Henson Efron, PA Honsa & Mara Jane K. McNaught, Ph.D., L.P. Jennifer E Joseph, LLC Jordan Hart, Ph.D. Kent Kodalen PhD, LP, LLC Lear Appraisals, LLC Linder, Dittberner & McSweeney, Ltd. Meier Schack, LLC Michelle Klisanich, Financially Wise Divorce Minnesota Monitoring, Inc. Moss & Barnett Moxie Inc. Nancy Zalusky Berg, LLC Novelli Law Office, P.A. OurFamilyWizard ProParenting Services Rachel Sibley and James Street Soberlink Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP Tanja K. Manrique LLC The Bridging Center Tuft, Lach, Jerabek, & O'Connell, PLLC Sponsorship Levels ( see grap hic above for details ) Family Mediation Training - Sept. 7, 8, 9, 21, 22 & 23 Price $1,600.00 Add to Cart Platinum Sponsor Price $1,750.00 Add to Cart Diamond Sponsor Price $1,000.00 Add to Cart Gold Sponsor Price $750.00 Add to Cart Silver Sponsor Price $500.00 Add to Cart Bronze Sponsor Price $250.00 Add to Cart 2026 Spring Half-Day Sponsor Price $500.00 Add to Cart Fall Half-Day Sponsor Price $500.00 Add to Cart Friends of AFCC MN Price $100.00 Add to Cart Click arrows on either end to view more.

AFCC-MN ADMIN NOTE: calendar at bottom of this page, to see if event is already up on website. EVENT/TRAINING SAVE THE DATE Use this form for save the date emails and social media. Click for save the date form ADD TO WEBSITE Use this form for posting news or other website info. i.e. typos or missing info, etc. Click for website form GOOGLE DRIVE Us this link to access the AFCC Google Drive files pertaining to all committees or events. Click for Google Drive EVENT/TRAINING MARKETING FORM CLE REQUEST FORM Use this form for emails, social media, requesting CLE creditsand publishing in the event calendar. Click for marketing form EMAIL REQUEST Use this form for general emails, updates, etc. One time emails, not for event marketing. Click for email request form UPCOMING EVENTS If you don't see your event, its not setup. Fri, Apr 10 Personality Disorders: Lunch & Learn Series Part 4/4 / View Details Apr 10, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:20 PM Virtual Event Providing ADR Services When Personality Disorders Are a Factor Tue, Apr 14 Day at the Capitol 4/14/26 / RSVP Apr 14, 2026, 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM L'Etoile du Nord Vault, Minnesota State Capitol, 75 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard., St Paul, MN 55155, USA Thu, Sep 17 Family Mediation Training Sep 17-19 & Oct 1-3 / View Details Sep 17, 2026, 8:00 AM – Oct 03, 2026, 5:00 PM Minneapolis, Minneapolis, MN, USA Mon, Oct 12 Parenting Consultant (PC) Training 2026 / View Details Oct 12, 2026, 9:00 AM – Oct 15, 2026, 5:00 PM Location is TBD Hybrid Event - Attend Live or Virtually Thu, Dec 03 Basic ENE Training (SENE & FENE) 2026 / View Details Dec 03, 2026, 8:00 AM – Dec 07, 2026, 4:30 PM Tuft, Lach, Jerabeck, & O’Connell Law, 505 US-169, Plymouth, MN 55441, USA Hybrid Event - Live or Virtual SENE - December 3rd & 4th from 8 am - 5 pm FENE - December 7th from 8 am -5 pm Check your registration carefully, SENE and FENE are separate trainings, priced differently. Date and time is TBD AFCC-MN Fall 1/2 Day / Details Date and time is TBD Location is TBD Date and time is TBD AFCC-MN Annual Conference / Details Date and time is TBD Location is TBD