2017 News and Events
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December 23, 2017 - CFCC delivers over 30 holiday baskets in annual food drive.
Annually CFCC has raised donations to deliver holiday baskets to the Truancy Court Program’s neediest families. This year CFCC was able to deliver over 30 baskets. Each basket contained a turkey and all of the fixings for a holiday meal. CFCC thanks the many generous donors who made the gift basket drive possible and wishes everyone a healthy and happy holiday season! Learn more about CFCC’s Truancy Court Program.
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December 8, 2017 – CFCC receives grant funds of $40,000 to support the Truancy Court Program
CFCC has received a grant of $40,000 from the Charles Crane Family Foundation to support the operation of CFCC's Truancy Court Program in 2018-2019. The Charles Crane Family Foundation was CFCC's first donor in 2004 and has been a consistent donor since that time. We thank the Charles Crane Family Foundation for their unwavering support.
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December 2017 – CFCC Holds Graduation Ceremonies for Students of the Truancy Court Program
Each semester CFCC holds graduation for the Truancy Court Program students who demonstrate at least a 65% decrease in absences and/or tardies. This year 90% of students graduated from the program. Graduation ceremonies were led by Baltimore City District Court Judge Miriam Hutchins (Ret.) at Reginald F. Lewis High School; Baltimore City Circuit Judge Yvette Bryant at Mt. Royal Elementary/Middle School; Assistant Public Defender Mark Friedenthal at Furley Elementary; Baltimore City Circuit Judge Charles Peters at Highlandtown Elementary/Middle School; and, TCP staff at The REACH! Partnership School. CFCC congratulates all of the TCP students on their achievements this semester! Learn more about CFCC’s Truancy Court Program.
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October 2017 - CFCC Introduces Faculty for the Spring 2018 Semester of the Post-J.D. Certificate in Family Law Program.
The University of Baltimore School of Law is accepting applications for spring enrollment in its Post-J.D. Certificate in Family Law program. CFCC introduces Joan Little, Esq., who will be instructing The Craft of Problem-Solving and Advocacy in Family Law and Leslie Billman, Esq., who will be instructing Understanding the Business of Practicing Family Law. The application deadline for spring is January 1, 2018, with applications reviewed on a rolling basis until courses are filled.
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September 2017- Truancy Court Program Starts Operating in Five Baltimore City Public Schools.
The TCP is excited to be operating in Furley Elementary School, Highlandtown Elementary/Middle School (#215), Mt. Royal Elementary/Middle School, REACH! Partnership High School, and Reginald F. Lewis School of Business & Law for the 2017-2018 school year. Our volunteer judges include: Judge Charles Peters, Judge Yvette Bryant, Asst. Public Defender Mark Friendenthal, Asst. Public Defender Krystal Williams, and Magistrate Miriam Hutchins.
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September 12, 2017 – CFCC receives contract for $170,632 from the Nebraska Administrative Office of the Courts.
CFCC has received a contract for $170,632 from the Nebraska Administrative Office of the Courts to conduct an evaluation of Nebraska’s family justice system and to design an appropriate unified family court.
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July 27, 2017 - CFCC Receives Grant of $10,000 from State Farm Good Neighbor Citizenship Program
CFCC is excited to announce that the State Farm Good Neighbor Citizenship Program has continued its support of the Truancy Court Program for the 2017-2018 school year. The $10,000 grant enables CFCC to provide financial literacy workshops at Reginald F. Lewis High School of Business and Law and The REACH! Partnership School. T his is the fourth year that State Farm has supported the workshops, which cover issues such as saving and applying for college, starting a business, and defining career goal
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July 10, 2017 - CFCC Receives Grant of $180,132 from the Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention
The Governor's Office of Crime Control & Prevention has awarded CFCC a grant in the amount of $180,132. This funding supports the operation of our Truancy Court Program, designed to assist Baltimore City Public School students. We are very grateful to GOCCP, as they have been a consistent funder of our work.
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June 5, 2017 - CFCC Student Fellow Taylor LoSchiavo's blog was published on the International Therapeutic Jurisprudence in the Mainstream project.
Congratulations to CFCC Student Fellow (2016-2017) Taylor LoSchiavo, whose blog was published by the International Therapeutic Jurisprudence in the Mainstream project! In her blog, "Therapeutic Jurisprudence for the family lawyer," Taylor writes about the pivotal role of family law attorneys and the impact they have on shaping families. Given the critical nature of their work, Taylor urges family law attorneys to practice therapeutic jurisprudence and conduct their work with compassion, respect, and active listening. Post a comment to Taylor’s blog and please share!
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May 20, 2017- CFCC Student Fellow (2016-2017) Kathleen Seifert's blog was published on the International Therapeutic Jurisprudence in the Mainstream project.
Congratulations to CFCC Student Fellow (2016-2017) Kathleen Seifert, whose blog was published by the International Therapeutic Jurisprudence in the Mainstream project! In her blog, “Snapshot: Problem-solving courts in Maryland USA,” Kathleen writes about therapeutic jurisprudence and preventive law. She discusses how these legal concepts are used by various problem-solving courts in Maryland which are operated in connection with the Office of Problem-Solving Courts at the Maryland Administrative Office of the Courts. Please read Kathleen’s blog to learn more about these problem-solving courts. Do you think they are a good idea? Please comment and share the blog.
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May 20, 2017- CFCC Student Fellow (2016-2017) Andrew Siske's blog was published on the International Therapeutic Jurisprudence in the Mainstream project.
Congratulations to CFCC Student Fellow (2016-2017) Andrew Siske, whose blog was published on the International Therapeutic Jurisprudence in the Mainstream project ! In his blog, “From Therapeutic Jurisprudence to Roper: When Social Science Serves as Authority in Law,” Andrew examines the interplay between social science and judicial decision-making. Andrew analyzes the Supreme Court’s controversial 5:4 decision in Roper v. Simmons, which held that it is unconstitutional to impose capital punishment for crimes committed while the offender was under the age of 18. Please comment and share the blog.
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May 17, 2017- CFCC Receives Grant of $117,025 from the Maryland Judiciary
The Maryland Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) Judiciary, Department of Family Administration (DFA), has awarded CFCC a grant of $117,025 to support operation of CFCC's Truancy Court Program. This is the tenth consecutive year that the AOC has provided funding to CFCC. We are most grateful for their continued and generous support.
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May 2017- Associate Professor of Law Barbara Babb Named Director of Nation’s First Post-J.D. Certificate in Family Law
The founder and director of UBalt School of Law’s Sayra and Neil Meyerhoff Center of Families, Children and the Courts is a national leader and advocate for family justice system reform.
Baltimore, May 11, 2017 – University of Baltimore School of Law Dean Ronald Weich announced yesterday that Associate Professor of Law Barbara Babb will serve as director of the nation’s first Post-J.D. Certificate in Family Law, set to launch in Fall 2017 at UBalt. This innovative program is designed to meet a critical need for an enhanced and in-depth family law curriculum. It exemplifies the UBalt School of Law’s commitment to cutting-edge offerings in family law and to family law education reform.
Professor Babb, director of the Sayra and Neil Meyerhoff Center for Families, Children and the Courts (CFCC), joined the faculty in 1989. Her scholarship focuses on an interdisciplinary approach to family law through the application of therapeutic jurisprudence and an ecological/holistic perspective and to court reform in family law through the creation of unified family courts. She has served in numerous roles in the development of unified family courts across the country and in Maryland. Professor Babb has published and spoken extensively on family law issues. In 2016 she was named by the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) editor-in-chief of the Family Court Review , on whose editorial board she has served since 1999.
The Post-J.D. Certificate in Family Law was developed to address a growing demand for a family law curriculum that offers a holistic blend of theory and practice, as described in a recent Family Court Review article by Professor Babb. Appreciating the need for additional professional development opportunities for family law attorneys, CFCC assembled a Practitioners' Advisory Workgroup comprised of UBalt law professors, CFCC staff, judges, attorneys and other professionals who are experts in the field of family law. The workgroup examined the feasibility of the program and collaborated with UBalt law faculty to design the curriculum.
The certificate program is intended both for new attorneys beginning to practice family law and for attorneys seeking to add family law expertise to their practice areas. Students can complete the 16-credit program over 12 months or at their own pace. Faculty include UBalt law professors, attorneys and judges, who bring decades of real-world insights and experience to the classroom.
The University of Baltimore School of Law is recognized for its commitment to supplement student learning with the practical application of family law through clinical courses and experiential offerings, as well as through interdisciplinary requirements for its Family Law Area of Concentration within the J.D. program.
For more information about the Post-J.D. Certificate in Family Law or to apply online, visit the program’s website at ubalt.edu/familylawcert.
Learn more about the Sayra and Neil Meyerhoff Center for Families, Children and the Courts
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April 2017- Post-J.D. Certificate in Family Law featured twice in the Daily Record
Check out the latest issue of the Daily Record, where University of Baltimore School of Law (UBalt Law) alumnus and former CFCC Student Fellow Evan Koslow highlights UBalt Law’s Post-J.D. Certificate in Family Law. This innovative program is designed to meet a pressing need for the professional development of new attorneys who are beginning to practice family law or for those experienced attorneys who seek to add family law to their practice areas. To read the second Daily Record article on the nation's first Post-J.D. Certificate in Family Law please click here.
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Nation’s First Post-J.D. Certificate in Family Law Launched at University of Baltimore School of Law.
Innovative, practice-based program developed with significant input from leading family law attorneys and judges reflects the UBalt School of Law’s commitment to family law education reform.
The University of Baltimore School of Law and the Sayra and Neil Meyerhoff Center for Families, Children and the Courts (CFCC) have launched the nation’s first Post-J.D. Certificate in Family Law, with classes starting in the fall 2017 semester. This innovative program is designed to meet a critical need for an enhanced and in-depth family law curriculum. The program exemplifies the UBalt School of Law’s commitment to cutting-edge offerings in family law and to family law education reform.
The Post-J.D. Certificate in Family Law addresses a growing demand for a family law curriculum that offers a holistic blend of theory and practice, as described in a recent Family Court Review article by Prof. Barbara Babb. In the last few decades, the volume of family law cases has increased dramatically in jurisdictions nationwide. In 2015, nearly half—43 percent—of trial court filings in Maryland consisted of family law cases, exceeding the proportion of other civil and criminal cases. With a rise in self-represented litigants, and taking into consideration the multi-dimensional health and social issues experienced by families in crisis, family law cases have become more complex and more impactful. In addition, the present shift away from family law litigation toward alternative dispute resolution requires that family law attorneys gain an interdisciplinary education.
The Post-J.D. Certificate in Family Law is intended for both new attorneys beginning to practice family law and for attorneys seeking to add family law expertise to their practice areas.
The 16-credit program can be completed over 12 months or at the student’s own pace. Faculty include UBalt law professors, attorneys and judges, who bring decades of real-world insights and experience to the classroom. The coursework includes:
- Fall 2017 classes: Psychology, Child Development and Mental Health in Family Law Matters (3 credits), Financial Foundations for Family Lawyers (3 credits)
- Spring 2018 classes: The Craft of Problem-Solving and Advocacy in Family Law (3 credits), Understanding the Business of Practicing Family Law (3 credits)
- Summer 2018 capstone: Working Through a Family Law Case—Start to Finish (4 credits)
The University of Baltimore School of Law is recognized for its commitment to supplementing student learning with the practical application of family law through clinical courses and experiential offerings, as well as through interdisciplinary requirements for its Family Law Area of Concentration. Appreciating the need for additional professional development opportunities for family law attorneys, CFCC assembled a Practitioners' Advisory Workgroup comprised of UBalt law professors, CFCC staff, judges, attorneys and other professionals who are experts in the field of family law. The workgroup examined the feasibility of the program and collaborated with UBalt law faculty to design the curriculum.
For more information about the Post-J.D. Certificate in Family Law or to apply online, visit the program’s website at ubalt.edu/familylawcert.
Learn more about the Sayra and Neil Meyerhoff Center for Families, Children and the Courts .
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January 2017- CFCC Founder & Director Barbara Babb publishes journal entries as Editor-in-Chief of the Family Court Review
In the January issue of the Family Court Review, a quarterly journal published by Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, CFCC Founder & Director Barbara Babb writes her first “Editorial Notes” as Editor-in-Chief of the publication. In addition, Professor Babb has published an article in the January issue, “Another Look at the Need for Family Law Education Reform: One Law School’s Innovations.” The piece examines how the University of Baltimore School of Law has implemented many reforms in family law education, including the development of its new Post-J.D. Certificate in Family Lawtwo trainings for professionals who work with families and children.
Events
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December 4-5, 2017: “Parenting Coordination: Essential Tools for Conflict Resolution” with Debra K. Carter, PhD. The attendees of this two day training included parenting coordinators, mediators, custody evaluators, lawyers, judges, therapists, parent educators, and other professionals who work with high conflict families.
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November 8, 2017 - CFCC presented a full day workshop for the UMBC Choice Program focused on truancy
CFCC’s Truancy Court Program (TCP) presented a full day workshop for the University of Maryland- Baltimore County (UMBC) Choice Program on November 8th. The workshops trained Choice mentors about effective ways to address the reasons why students are truant. The UMBC Choice Program provides family-focused strategies and mentoring services to youth in order to promote positive life choices and expand their opportunities.
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September 2017 - The Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) announces Family Law Writing Competition
The Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) and the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University, in cooperation with the editorial staff of the Family Court Review (FCR), have announced the ninth annual Family Law Writing Competition. The Editor-in-Chief of FCR, CFCC’s Founder and Director Professor Barbara Babb, encourages all interested University of Baltimore School of Law students to submit an entry to the competition. Please view the website for more information including entry requirements and prizes. Entry forms must be received by February 1, 2018.
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September 13, 2017- Presentation to the Task Force to Combat Habitual Truancy
CFCC's Truancy Court Program team gave a presentation to the Task Force to Combat Habitual Truancy. Created pursuant to House Bill 429, the Task Force is charged with studying Truancy Court programs across the state and submitting a report to the state legislature, making recommendations for addressing the truancy problem in Maryland.
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June 28, 2017- Truancy Court Program Trauma Training
With funding provided by the Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention (GOCCP), CFCC hosted a training workshop on trauma-informed care practices. The Upside Down Organization President Frank Kros, MSW, JD facilitated the workshop. Mr. Kros is a career child advocate who has served as a childcare worker, child abuse investigator, children’s home administrator, consultant, college professor, attorney, writer and speaker. CFCC is grateful to GOCCP for making this opportunity available.
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June 6, 2017- Truancy Court Program Principals' Workshop
Frank Kros, MSW, JD, presented “Childhood Trauma: A Workshop on the Impact of Trauma on School Attendance” at yesterday’s Truancy Court Program (TCP) Principals’ Workshop. TCP staff and current TCP school contacts explained the program’s operation and invited schools to apply for the TCP for the 2017-2018 school year. For more information or to apply, contact Spencer Hall (shall@ubalt.edu).
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June 2017- CFCC Founder and Director Professor Barbara Babb and CFCC Senior Fellow Gloria Danziger presented a workshop at the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts 54th Annual Conference
CFCC Founder and Director Professor Barbara Babb and CFCC Senior Fellow Gloria Danziger, along with Risa J. Garon, Founder and Director of the National Family Resiliency Center, and The Honorable Cathy H. Serrette, Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, presented a workshop this week at the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts 54th Annual Conference in Boston, Massachusetts. The workshop examined how Unified Family Courts (UFCs) provide a framework for an interdisciplinary service-oriented approach to high conflict custody cases.
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April 6, 2017- Ninth Annual Urban Child Symposium, “Addiction and the Urban Child”
In its ninth Urban Child Symposium, the Sayra and Neil Meyerhoff Center for Families, Children and the Courts brought together experts at the front lines of this critical national issue to examine the science of addiction, as well as the connections between substance use disorders and the legal, social, and economic problems faced by urban families. The symposium also explored ways in which our communities can help address the problems faced by families and children whose lives are affected by substance use disorders and dependence. Visit the event website for more detail about the symposium and the panelists.