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12 PM
THURS
✅ Registration/Check-In Stop by the registration desk located in the DOUGLAS Ballroom lobby to grab your name tag and say hello! Our friendly Utah AFCC volunteers will be there to greet you and provide your event materials and schedule. We look forward to welcoming you!
12 PM
ThurS
🥪 Grab ‘n Go LunchKick off the conference with a convenient Grab-and-Go lunch in the lobby of the Douglas Ballroom at noon on October 10. Enjoy a selection of delicious boxed lunches, perfect for mingling and networking with fellow attendees before the afternoon sessions begin. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect and fuel up for an exciting day ahead!
12:45 PM
Thurs
🎤📢 Welcome & AnnouncementsJoin us in the Douglas Ballroom for the official welcome and important announcements. This session will set the stage for the conference, providing key updates and an overview. We’re excited to kick things off and look forward to an engaging afternoon!
DOUGLAS BALLROOM
1:15 PM
Thurs






🏠 Identifying Interpersonal Violence and Risks to Children and ParentsDr. Kyle Hancock will equip participants with an increased understanding of the many variables related to interpersonal violence, including its etiology, maintenance, and prognosis.  Among other things, participants will learn to distinguish among types of interpersonal violence, including situational couples violence, coercive control, violent resistance, and separation-instigated violence.  Participants will learn to identify their own belief systems and evaluate how these belief systems likely influence the evaluation and intervention of children and parents whose lives are affected by interpersonal violence.  They will also learn how the nature, intensity, frequency, and duration of violence are critical variables in identifying the risks to children and parents whose lives are affected by interpersonal violence.  Additionally, specific methods to gather, analyze, synthesize, and integrate data to formulate conclusions will be presented.  Finally, specific methods to communicate findings to other professionals will also be discussed.

Workshop Presenter: Kyle Hancock, Ph.D.
DOUGLAS BALLROOM
1:15 PM
THURS
⚖️ Family Law 102 for Mental Health Professionals: FAQs As a follow-up to Family Law 101 for Mental Health Professionals, this ALWAYS POPULAR workshop will continue exploring frequently asked questions in the areas of family law, including legal custody implications, how to navigate Xchange, testifying at hearings, hearsay and declarations, subpoenas, and other frequently asked questions surrounding common issues mental health professionals face as they venture into the exciting world of family law. 

Workshop Presenters: Anna Trupp, LCSW & Clay Randle, JD
GRANITE BALLROOM
2:45 PM
Thurs
☕ AFTERNOON BREAK ☕
3 PM
Thurs
🧒👦 Cases with Child Abuse Allegations: The Child’s Perspective 🧒👦This workshop will explore the complexities of handling cases involving child abuse allegations, with a focus on understanding the child’s perspective. Participants will learn to identify biases that can impact decision-making, recognize the co-occurrence of various types of abuse, and understand the psychological and behavioral effects on children. The session will provide best practices for conducting forensic interviews, assessing credibility, and supporting children through these difficult situations. Attendees will gain insights into why children may or may not disclose abuse and strategies to accurately evaluate allegations while maintaining a child-centered approach.

Workshop Presenter: Mindy Mitnick, Ed.M.
DOUGLAS BALLROOM
3 PM
Thurs
🤷‍♀️ Attorneys: We Love You, But We Hate It When You Do This: What MEDIATORS wish (some) attorneys would change when preparing for and engaging in MEDIATION
Unlock the secrets to success in mediation with this can’t-miss workshop designed specifically for attorneys who want to elevate their practice! While much of legal education focuses on winning in court, mediation requires a whole new set of strategies to be truly effective. In this dynamic session, you’ll gain invaluable tips and knowledge that will prepare you to represent your clients in mediation with confidence, efficiency, and expertise—ensuring the best possible outcomes. Learn from two master mediators who bring over 40 years of combined experience to the table. This is your chance to transform how you approach mediation!

Workshop Presenters: Carolynn Clark, J.D., & Velvet Rodriguez, J.D.
ALPINE ROOM
3 PM
Thurs
🛠️ Navigating the Storm: A Multi-Disciplinary Toolkit for Diffusing High-Conflict FamiliesA multidisciplinary approach can turn adversarial dynamics into collaborative co-parenting partnerships in high-conflict divorces. This must-attend workshop reveals the powerful synergy between four key family law professionals: the Special Master, Private Guardian ad litem, Co-Parent Coach, and Family Systems Therapist.

Discover how these experts join forces to create a solid support network that defuses conflict, strengthens co-parenting relationships, and provides comprehensive interventions. Learn practical, game-changing strategies that harness the combined expertise of these professionals to reduce conflict and improve the co-parenting experience.

Unlock the secrets of a coordinated approach that leads to more harmonious and stable co-parenting arrangements, ultimately benefiting the most important stakeholders: the children. Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your understanding and approach to high-conflict divorce cases!

Workshop Presenters: Kenny Levine, LCSW, Todd Wetsel, JD, Jody Sargent, LCSW, Del Dickson, JD
GRANITE BALLROOM
4:30 PM
ThurS
👏 DAY ONE – CONFERENCE ADJOURNEDWe look forward to seeing you tomorrow!
8 AM
FRI
BREAKFAST – Brought to You By: SimpleEnding.com 🥞☕ Kick off DAY TWO of the conference with a convenient Grab-and-Go breakfast, perfect for mingling and networking with fellow attendees before the morning session begins. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect and fuel up for an exciting day ahead!
8:30 AM
FRI
📢🎤 Welcome & AnnouncementsJoin us in the Douglas Ballroom for the official welcome and important announcements.
DOUGLAS BALLROOM
8:45 AM
FRI
📢 Note Address: Improving Services in Family Law Cases: Trauma-Informed PracticeThe keynote address will focus on incorporating trauma-informed practices into family law cases to better support clients. Participants will learn the differences between stress and trauma, understand the psychological and physiological effects of trauma, and explore how these experiences impact client behavior in legal settings. The session will cover strategies for recognizing trauma responses, adjusting professional-client interactions, and adapting case management to prevent re-traumatization. Attendees will gain practical tools for using a trauma-informed lens in their work, enhancing their ability to serve families affected by complex and high-conflict situations.

Guest Speaker: Mindy Mitnick, Ed.M
DOUGLAS BALLROOM
10:15 AM
FRI
☕ MORNING BREAK
10:30 AM
FRI
🧭 HB 272: How to Navigate it to Help Kids and FamiliesThis presentation will explore the impact of HB 272 on family law in Utah. The session will cover the inspiration behind the bill, the problems it aims to address, and its current application in the Utah Code. Topics include changes to custody factors, qualifications for court-involved mental health experts, supervised visitation, and reunification therapies. The panel will provide case examples and discuss best practices for professionals to ensure the effective implementation of HB 272 while addressing challenges that arise in custody and parent time cases.

Workshop Presenters: Erin Byington, JD, Jess Couser, JD, Marina Money, PhD & Michelle Jones, LCSW.
DOUGLAS BALLROOM
10:30 AM
FRI
💼 Mental Health 101 for Family Law ProfessionalsThis workshop will explore the various therapy services available for families involved in family court cases. Attendees will gain an understanding of different therapeutic modalities, such as trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and family systems therapy, as well as specialized approaches like parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT) and attachment-based therapies. The session will address common myths about therapy, the importance of comprehensive assessments, and how professionals can effectively utilize these services to support families and improve outcomes in high-conflict situations.

Workshop Presenter: Brittany Randall, L.C.S.W.
GRANITE BALLROOM
10:30 AM
FRI
👂💬 Improving Co-Parent CommunicationThis workshop will introduce family law and mental health professionals to the communication technology provided by OurFamilyWizard, designed specifically for divorced and separated families to reduce conflict and improve co-parenting. Attendees will receive practical examples of how these tools are incorporated into parenting agreements and court orders, and a full demonstration of features like secure messaging, shared calendars, expense tracking, and new voice and video calling capabilities. The session will also cover how professionals can use these tools to enhance outcomes for families they work with and recognize electronically stored information (ESI) that may be presented as evidence in court.

Workshop Presenters: Tracy Krall, JD & Kori Wetsel, MPA
ALPINE ROOM
12 PM
FRI
🍽️ LUNCH Lunch – A Culinary Experience to Savor
Keeping with Utah AFCC tradition, prepare your taste buds for a delightful hot lunch from Gourmandise Deli. We’ll serve Rosemary Chicken, Fresh Citrus Salmon, and for our vegetarians, Butternut Pasta. To complete the meal, you’ll enjoy a variety of fresh salads, including strawberry Walnut and Hearty Cobb.

Bon appétit!
DOUGLAS BALLROOM
1:15 PM
FRI
🚫 Ethics: Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself
Deep dive into common ethical blunders that attorneys and mental health professionals make, and contrast that with ethical best practices, utilizing the applicable Rules, as well as stories of woe. Learn ways to approach ethical best practices from a multidisciplinary perspective as well as a helpful 3-Factor Model for Ethical Reasoning.

Workshop Presenters: Kayla Quam, JD & Nicole Herway, LCSW
DOUGLAS BALLROOM
1:15 PM
FRI
🤫  Invisible Scars: Recognizing and Treating Emotional Abuse This workshop delves into the often overlooked but devastating effects of emotional abuse. Using insights from leading experts like Dr. Ramani Durvasula, the session will define emotional abuse, explore its manifestations, and discuss its long-term impact on mental health. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how emotional abuse is portrayed in society, how legal systems reinforce it, and how to work effectively with both survivors and perpetrators. Join us for an eye-opening discussion that provides practical tools and strategies to support those affected by emotional abuse and challenge its perpetuation.

Workshop Presenter: Christine Hubbard, LCSW
GRANITE BALLROOM
2:30 PM
☕ AFTERNOON BREAK
2:45 PM
FRI
🧒 Disrupted Children vs. Abused Children Dr. Christy Kane will explore the differences between disrupted and abused children in high-conflict custody cases, highlighting how misinterpretations of children’s behaviors can lead to harmful legal decisions. Research shows that alienated children often express anger toward the rejected parent at levels four times greater than other children, while abused children are three times more likely to experience severe anxiety and withdrawal. Through compelling case studies, Dr. Kane will illustrate these dynamics, comparing the behaviors of an abused child and an alienated child, showcasing a case where confusion between abuse and alienation resulted in an inappropriate legal decision, and presenting an example of a successful intervention that led to a healthy parent-child relationship.

In addition, Dr. Kane will discuss how family dynamics can significantly influence a child’s behavior and how understanding these dynamics can help professionals identify signs of abuse or alienation. The workshop will provide practical strategies, such as using clear checklists to distinguish between abuse and alienation and considering family therapy as a tool for resolving issues in high-conflict cases. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of how to better identify and differentiate between abuse and alienation, ultimately leading to more effective custody evaluations and legal outcomes.

Workshop Presenter: Christy Kane, PsyD, CMHC
DOUGLAS BALLROOM
2:45 PM
FRI
Ensuring Consistency and Clarity: Best Practices for Private Guardians ad Litem in Custody Proceedingsad litem (Latin: “for the suit”[1]) is a term used in law to refer to the appointment by a court of one party to act in a lawsuit on behalf of another party such as a child. An attorney who acts in this capacity is generally called a guardian ad litem in such legal proceedings. 

In this session we will discuss the standards for best practices and consistency for PGALS in their efforts to represent the child. The purpose of these standards is to provide clarity amongst PGALs, family law attorneys, and courts in understanding the PGAL’s roles, duties, powers and limitations in the legal proceedings. 

This presentation will help courts and attorneys know precisely what a PGAL should and should not do in court proceedings as the “guardian of the case.” 

Workshop Presenters: Kacy Crandall, JD & Ron Wilkinson, JD
GRANITE BALLROOM
2:45 PM
FRI
📝 Custody Evaluations: Are They Well-Grounded and Beneficial to Family Courts? Join us for an exciting deep dive with the renowned Dr. Valerie (“Val”) Hale as she unpacks the essential elements of custody evaluations based on the latest 2022 AFCC guidelines. This interactive session will illuminate how custody evaluations can be a powerful tool for settling custody disputes and for family court judges, helping them make more informed decisions in children’s best interest. Dr. Hale will also explore how custody evaluations play a crucial role in addressing the complexities of Om’s Law (H.B. 272). Don’t miss this unique opportunity to gain insights from one of the top experts in the field! 

Workshop Presenter: Valerie Hale, PhD
ALPINE ROOM
4 PM
☕ AFTERNOON BREAK
4:15 PM
FRI
📦 AFCC Guidelines for Court-Involved Therapy: Staying Inside the Lines, Thinking Outside the Box

Workshop Presenter: Chelsy Phelps, LCSW
GRANITE BALLROOM
4:15 PM
FRI
⚖️ Court Commissioner Panel An informal Q&A with Court Commissiones from the 2nd 3rd and 4th District Courts.

Workshop Presenters: Hon. Marian Ito,Hon., Hon. Michelle Tack. Moderator: Erin Byington, JD
DOUGLAS BALLROOM
5:30 PM
FRI
CONFERENCE ADJOURNED – THANK YOU!Thank you for joining us! 🎉 We hope you gained valuable insights and made meaningful connections. Safe travels, and we look forward to seeing you at future events! 👋✨