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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

AFCC-MN Community, In accordance with the by-laws and traditions of AFCC-MN, below you will find the candidates for the open Board of Director positions, as well as the position of President-Elect. I am happy to report that these names, which were put forth by current President-Elect Carlo Faccini and the Nominating Committee, were presented to the current Board of Directors at the May meeting and were unanimously approved by the Board. These names will now be put forth for a general membership vote at the Chapter Annual Conference on July 25th: New Directors: Carrie Crockford, MA LMFT The Honorable Jason T. Hutchison Courtney Latcham, Esq. Bethany Hurd, Esq. Amy Krupinski, Esq. (to a two-year term) President-Elect: Racheal Howitz A special thanks to Deb Link, Peggy Cottrell, and Jim Street who are at the end of their two terms. We appreciate their commitment to serving on the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors and Annual Conference Planning Committee hope to see many of you in person at the Annual Conference in July. We anticipate an exciting and educational day to learn and connect. If you have not registered yet, here is the link again https://www.afccmn.org/2024-annual-conference. Also, while I do hope to see many of you in person, we do have a remote option as well. AFCC-MN Chapter President Zak Chesson

AFCC-MN Members, It is with both sadness and excitement that I share the following message with you all. Our President-Elect, Racheal Howitz, is stepping down from her position. Racheal is expecting a child in late May and understandably wants to focus her attention on her family. While we were looking forward to Racheal’s term as President, we are not losing her completely. Racheal will continue to be an active member of AFCC-MN and continue to serve on committees. We wish Racheal and her family the best. This news obviously necessitates some changes at the Board level. On April 17th, the Executive Committee met to discuss next steps, pursuant to our Chapter bylaws. The Executive Committee recommended to the full Board of Directors that our current Secretary, Carlo Faccini, fulfill the remainder of Racheal’s term and then assume the Presidency at the AFCC-MN Annual Conference in July. The BOD approved Carlo’s nomination unanimously. Of course, Carlo’s move to President-Elect necessitated that the Secretary position be filled. The Executive Committee recommended to the BOD that current Board Member, Kate Stevens, be elevated to fulfill the rest of Carlo’s term as Secretary. The BOD approved Kate’s nomination unanimously. While that leaves an open BOD position to be filled, the BOD determined that the position will remain vacant until the next slate of nominations is presented to membership at the Annual Conference in July. I would like to thank the Board of Directors for addressing these matters in a thoughtful and efficient manner. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Regards, Zak Chesson President, AFCC-MN

AFCC-MN Members, I’d like to take a moment to acknowledge members of both the Values Committee and the Education Committee who planned and presented a wonderful breakout session at the 2024 Family Law Institute. Debra Bulluck, Racheal Howitz, Erin Guyette, Carol Hornbeck, Kate Stevens, Mary Madden, and Jim Street all provided great input and ideas into a very well received session titled: An Interactive Approach to Confronting Bias and Conflict in Family Court Matters. Lambers Fisher provided an informative presentation before the panel discussion. To dispel any potential rumors that may be circulating out there, Jim’s role as a ”heckler” and my role as an “intervenor” were all planned ahead of time to illustrate the message of the complex topic. Please do not get upset with Jim for his award worthy performance. Both the Values and Education Committees are determined to continue to provide opportunities for trainings on challenging topics not only for our members but also the greater Family Law Community. Regards, Zak Chesson President, AFCC-MN

Coping with Transition: Individual, Family, and Beyond Boston, Massachusetts June 5-8, 2024 Link to portal/registration: https://www.afccnet.org/61stannualconference

Dear AFCC-MN community, Jeff Krenner, the husband of our Chapter’s Vice-President, Eileen Krenner, was recently diagnosed with cancer. Below is a link to Jeff’s CaringBridge site with more detailed information. Please keep the family in mind and support them however you can. Jeff | CaringBridge

Schedule: Monday, April 29, 2024 11:30: CHECK-IN BEGINS: Check-in and material pick-up.12:00: PROGRAM AND LUNCH: Welcome and Legislative Briefing. Boxed lunches and soda/water provided at no cost.12:45 to 4:00 PM: LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS (will be scheduled with your specific senator and representative as a constituent, as well as with House/Senate committee and caucus leaders).4:00 PM: RECEPTION: Optional off-site gathering at a location TBD. Location: We will meet in the beautifully renovated Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul, in the L'Etoile du Nord Vault. (This is the same location as 2023.) Details: Additional logistics will be sent to registered attendees. We will provide handouts, a policy agenda and political briefing, lunch, and make appointments to meet with your legislators. There is no cost to attend, and all AFCC-MN members and other industry professionals are welcome! Thank you! Click here to register: https://bit.ly/AFCC2024

As many of you know, Mary Madden is retiring from the Bench. Please join us in celebration and recognition of her tireless and outstanding work. Please RSVP by using the link below. http://evite.me/hQ5v3bMvwq

To AFCC-MN Membership and all MN Family Law community persons and organizations: The murder of George Floyd and the devastation from COVID-19, especially in our most underserved communities, prompted AFCC-MN to create the Values Committee. The Values Committee strives to engage directly with our membership, community organizations, providers, and other stakeholders not only to offer education and resources but also to be educated ourselves. We aim to be partners, active listeners, and stewards when it comes to our engagement with marginalized communities. Since the creation of the Values Committee, AFCC-MN and our members have taken the opportunity not only to provide but also to participate in extensive trainings to learn about social injustices, history, and paths to racial equity. Progress does not end there. It is imperative that we all take the next step and put our knowledge, beliefs, and understanding into practice in a way that benefits both our members and the family law community at large. Unfortunately, the Minnesota family law community was confronted with a racist trope during a social event at the Annual AAML Divorce Camp. Subsequent to the event, AAML generated ideas and steps to address what occurred in a way that will bring benefit both to their membership and to future Divorce Camp attendees. While Divorce Camp is not an AFCC-MN event, a number of our members were present, and we want to take this time to address our membership in an intentional way, as AAML has done. The racist comments made during the social event serve as a reminder that we are not free from the toxic ideas that continue to plague our society. It serves our community strongest when we each take action in our allyship. Participating in training on why we should be an ally is important, but our responsibility does not end there. We also need to act. Because we want our organization to be truly inclusive and we want all members to feel as though we support them no matter their background, the ability to create meaningful change as an ally when situations/opportunities arise becomes even more crucial. This statement serves as a call to all to implement what we learn in trainings and to live our values. When you either hear or see something that is harming anyone in our community, we encourage you to say something about it. Be an in-the-moment advocate. Maintain the values that we established for our organization. With privilege comes responsibility. We strive for our members to be actively engaged if and when our clients, friends, colleagues, co-workers, and peers become the subject of words or actions that are antithetical to our ideals/values statement. We hope this message will serve as an opportunity to remind you to be a true ally, to move from being an observer to becoming an advocate, and to become an upstander - opposite of a bystander - and push back on comments/actions even if no one within earshot may be offended or hurt. In our commitment to providing resources and opportunities for education, AFCC-MN is pledging the following action steps: COMMITTEE NEXT STEPS: Annual Allyship Training - free of charge to all members. Creating a statement that will be shared prior to AFCC events which will reaffirm our commitment to our Values. Identify persons at each event who can be approached with problem/concerns. Co-sponsor training with AAML and/or other community organizations. List of available trainings and resources on our website.

The new Rule 114 requires ENE providers to obtain continuing education and ENE advanced trainings. The upcoming Advanced ENE Training will give team members an in-depth session on child development issues in the SENE process. There will be an in depth look at financial issues to be addressed at a FENE. ENE Trainers Jim Goetz and Susan Chambers will lead a interactive discussion on what works and doesn't work in ENE sessions and there will be interactive information on domestic violence. This training is focused on Early Neutral Evaluators and aiding evaluators in their assessments, but anyone is welcome to attend. Seating is limited and a preference will be made for those who are currently serving on Minnesota ENE rosters. Register for this training

THE MINNEAPOLIS FOUNDATION; MINNESOTA HUMANITIES CENTER Please support our friends at the Minneapolis Association of Black Lawyers by attending this free event: Arc Toward Justice 2023 MAY 20, 2023 | FORUM 6:00PM | MUSIC 5:30 PM Westminster Town Hall Forum 1200 Marquette Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55403 This event is free and open to all, both in-person at Westminster Presbyterian in Downtown Minneapolis, and as a livestream right here on this webpage. There is no ticketing or registration. Seating at Westminster is on a first-come, first seated basis. Doors will open at 5 p.m. The livestream video will be on this page on May 20. Speakers: CORNEL WEST AND IFEOMA IKE See more at: https://westminsterforum.org/forum/a-conversation-with-cornel-west-and-ifeoma-ike/