CURRICULUM VITAE
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An experienced clinician with over 35 years in various children's service agencies.
Excellent track record in effectively resolving high conflict situations.
EDUCATION
Master of Social Work: 1983, University of Toronto
Bachelor of Social Work/Bachelor of Arts: 1979, McMaster University.
Certificate in Family Mediation, Level 2, 1996, University of Toronto, Continuing Education Studies
Parenting Co-ordination Training, 2006, Dr. Barbara Fidler/Linda Chodos, Toronto, Ont.
Domestic Violence Course, 2008, Dr. Barbara Landau, Toronto, Ont.
Domestic Violence (updated course), 2014, Phil Epstein, Toronto, Ontario
Family Arbitration Course, 2008, Dr. Barbara Landau and Lorne Wolfson, Toronto, Ont.
Bachelor of Social Work/Bachelor of Arts: 1979, McMaster University.
Certificate in Family Mediation, Level 2, 1996, University of Toronto, Continuing Education Studies
Parenting Co-ordination Training, 2006, Dr. Barbara Fidler/Linda Chodos, Toronto, Ont.
Domestic Violence Course, 2008, Dr. Barbara Landau, Toronto, Ont.
Domestic Violence (updated course), 2014, Phil Epstein, Toronto, Ontario
Family Arbitration Course, 2008, Dr. Barbara Landau and Lorne Wolfson, Toronto, Ont.
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Private Practice
2004 - present
Director of Child Welfare Services
Jewish Child and Family Service, Toronto
July 1997 - March 2013
Clinical Investigator
Ministry of the Attorney General, Office of the Children's Lawyer, Toronto, ON
2004 - present
Director of Services
Children's Aid Society of the Region of Durham
1989 - 1997
Faculty - part time
York University
1990 - 1996
Supervisor of Children's Services
Children's Aid Society of the Region of Peel
1986 - 1989
Group Therapist - part time
Family Services Program (York Region): Woman Abuse Program
1987 - 1992
Clinical Social Worker
Adventure Place, Toronto, ON
1984 - 1986
Social Worker
Children's Aid Society of Toronto
January 1981 - September 1982
July 1983 - August 1984
Family Services Worker
June 1979 - December 1980
2004 - present
- Working exclusively with parents and children going through a separation/divorce.
- Services provided include:
- Parenting Co-ordination Services
- Custody and Access assessments under Section 30 of the Children's Law Reform Act
- Mediation of Parenting Plans
- Mediation/Arbitration
- Counseling for high conflict parents going through a separation and/or divorce
- Counseling for couples contemplating separation or divorce
Director of Child Welfare Services
Jewish Child and Family Service, Toronto
July 1997 - March 2013
- Responsible for all child welfare services provided by this multi-service agency
- Acted as assistant executive director
Clinical Investigator
Ministry of the Attorney General, Office of the Children's Lawyer, Toronto, ON
2004 - present
- Prepared clinical assessments
- Conducted mobility assessments
- Specialized in resolving high conflict situations
Director of Services
Children's Aid Society of the Region of Durham
1989 - 1997
- Responsible for all social work services and programs within the agency (i.e. residential, family services, child abuse treatment)
- Managed a staff of 72 persons (9 supervisors, 63 social workers) and functioned as assistant executive director
- Accountable for the provision of all services related to child abuse investigations, treatment, and prevention programs.
Faculty - part time
York University
1990 - 1996
- Taught eight social work courses related to social policy and social work practice issues
Supervisor of Children's Services
Children's Aid Society of the Region of Peel
1986 - 1989
- Program manager for 6 residential treatment homes
- Supervised a staff of 7 social workers & 18 child and youth workers
Group Therapist - part time
Family Services Program (York Region): Woman Abuse Program
1987 - 1992
- Co-lead weekly therapeutic groups for men who assault their partners
Clinical Social Worker
Adventure Place, Toronto, ON
1984 - 1986
- Provided individual, marital and family counseling services
Social Worker
Children's Aid Society of Toronto
January 1981 - September 1982
July 1983 - August 1984
- Provided case management services for emotionally disturbed children in residential treatment settings
Family Services Worker
June 1979 - December 1980
- Casework services to families where children were at risk of physical, emotional and sexual abuse
ORGANIZATIONAL INVOLVEMENT
- Chairperson, High Conflict Forum: A network of mental health, child welfare and legal professionals working with high conflict families undergoing a separation/divorce (2003-present).
- Developed a Training Curriculum for lawyers, judges, mental health and child welfare professionals in working with high conflict families (2009).
- Chairperson of High Conflict Symposia Committee: Four annual conferences for legal and mental health professionals on various topics pertaining to:' Best Practice Approaches' (2005) 'alienation of children and parents' with Dr. Richard Warshak (2006); 'Parenting Co-ordination' with Dr. Matthew Sullivan (2007); 'Sexual abuse allegations in the context of separating/ divorcing parents' (2008); 'Domestic violence allegations in the context of separating/divorcing parents' (2008); Bill Eddy,'Treatment intervention model for working with high conflict families (2010).
- Chairperson of the Best Practices Work Group of the High Conflict Forum; produced the book for professionals entitled 'Best Practice Guide for Families Experiencing High Conflict Separation and Divorce' (2008)
- Chairperson of the Research Group Sub-Committee of the High Conflict Forum on developing the research tool 'Dimensions of Conflict Guide in Parents Experiencing a Separation/ Divorce' (2006-present)
- Chairperson, Child Protection Standards Review, Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies (2004)
- Chairperson, Provincial Directors of Service Group, Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies (1997-2001)
- "Making Services Work For People" Chairperson, Quadrant (2000-2001)
- Chairperson and Founder, Provincial Resource Managers Network, Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies (1994 – 1996)
- Chairperson, Developmental Services Committee, Children's Services Council (Durham) (1991-1995)
- Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies: A member of the accreditation panel to measure compliance with the child welfare accreditation standards (1993-present)
- Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies: Committee member for developing accreditation standards on foster care and group care (1991)
- Chairperson of the Mental Health Committee for the Durham Children's Services Council (1990-1993)
- Theatre Management Committee of the Leah Posluns Theatre (1984-1994)
PUBLICATIONS
- "Emotional Harm and Parent-Child Problems in High Conflict Separations", Produced by the High Conflict Forum (Toronto), 2013, Co-Written with Dr. Barbara Jo Fidler and Professor Nick Bala
- Best Practices Work Group of the High Conflict Forum; produced the book for professionals entitled 'Best Practice Guide for Families Experiencing High Conflict Separation and Divorce' (2008)
- "The Workload Measurement Project: Phase 3 Results", Child Welfare League of Canada Journal, July 2002
- "The Workload Measurement Project: Project Results" Journal of Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies, February 2001
- "Reshaping Our Foster Care System: A Collaborative Approach by Foster Parents and Staff", Journal of Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies, October 1993
- "Anatomy of an Adoption Reunion: A Casework Sequence and Analytical Perspective"; 1981, Unpublished paper
PRESENTATIONS
- 'Roller coasters, Carousels and Bombs': What We Know about High Conflict Divorce. Keynote Speaker at A Major Conference, Utrecht, The Netherlands, February 5, 2016
- 'Working Effectively with High Conflict Families', 2 day training for lawyers, judges and mental health professionals in Tilburg, The Netherlands, February 2 - 3, 2016
- 'Developing a Community Based Approach to Working with High Conflict Families', Maastricht University, Tilburg, The Netherlands, February 1, 2016
- 'Best Practices, Best Outcomes': AFCC Ontario Conference, Toronto, ON, October 2015
- 'Working Effectively With High Conflict Families', Presentation for Warren Sheppel and Associates: Provider of Employee Assistance Programs, Toronto, ON, October 2015
- 'Effective Strategies in Managing Aggressive and Hostile Personalities', Rainy River Child and Family Services, Dryden, ON, October 2015
- 'Working Effectively With High Conflict Families', Simcoe County Children's Aid Society, Barrie, ON, October 2015
- 'Emotional Harm For Children of Separation and Divorce', Lanark, Leeds and Grenville Children's Aid Society, Brockville, ON, March, April, May 2015
- 'Emotional Harm For Children of Separation and Divorce', Haldimand-Norfolk Children's Aid Society, Simcoe, ON, February 2015
- 'Emotional Harm For Children of Separation and Divorce', Essex County Children's Aid Society, Windsor, ON, November 2014
- 'High Conflict Families', Angila Ruskin University, Cambridge, England, June 2014
- "A Better Approach: Working with Communities to Help High Conflict Families", Association of Family and Concilliation Courts (AFCC), 51st Anniversary Conference, Toronto, May 2014
- "Mobilizing Communities in Providing Services to High Conflict Families", Presentation to The London Child Abuse Council, London, Ontario, May 2014
- "Parenting Co-ordination with High Conflict Parents", The Ontario Bar Association, Family Law Section, Toronto, Ontario, April 2014
- "The Courts and High Conflict Families", Presentation to Family Court Judges at the National Judicial Institute, Toronto, January 2014
- "Parent-Child Contact Problems in Divorce", Presentation to Jewish Family Services of South Florida, December 2013
- "Working with High Conflict Families", Grey Bruce Children's Aid Society, Owen Sound, Ontario, December 2013
- "Emotional Harm and Parent-Child Contact Problems in High Conflict Separations", a webinar for Children's Mental Health Ontario, November 2013
- National Judicial Institute, Presentation to Family Court Judges on High Conflict Families, Ottawa, ON, May 2013
- "Clinical and Legal Challenges in Separation/Divorce", Panel Moderator for 2013 Annual High Conflict Symposium, Toronto, Ontario, April 2013
- TV show guest on "Family Matters with Justice Harvey Brownstone", February 2013
- Institute for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, "Emotional Harm in Children in High Conflict Families", Istanbul, Turkey, September 2012
- Ontario Association of Mental Health Professionals, "What Therapists Need to Know About Working with High Conflict Families", Toronto, September 2012
- Keynote Speaker Muskoka Children and Family Services, Annual Meeting, Huntsville, ON, June 2012
- Children's Aid Society of Hamilton, "High Conflict Families", Hamilton, ON, April 2012
- Ontario Bar Association, Family Law Bar, "What Lawyers Need to Know About Participating in Custody Assessments", Toronto, Ontario, February 2012
- Windsor Children's Aid Society, "Two day workshop on "Working Effectively with High Conflict Families", Windsor, Ontario, January 2012
- York Region High Conflict Forum, Two day workshop on "Working Effectively with High Conflict Families", Richmond Hill, Ontario, October 2011
- Ottawa High Conflict Forum, Keynote Speaker on "Community Development of a High Conflict Forum", Ottawa, Ontario, May 2011
- "Make Room For Daddy", Panel Moderator for 2011 Annual High Conflict Symposium, Toronto, Ontario, April 2011
- Catholic Family Services, "Working with High Conflict Families", Toronto, Ontario, March 2011
- Jewish Family Services of Miami, "High Conflict Families", Miami, Florida, December 2010
- Jeanne Sauve Children"s Centre, "Treatment Approaches in Working with High Conflict Families", Kapuskasing, Ontario, September 2010
- Vancouver Jewish Family Services, "Working with High Conflict Families", Vancouver, British Columbia, July 2010
- Calgary Jewish Family Services, "A Community Development Approach in Working with High Conflict Families", Calgary, Alberta, July 2010
- Catholic Children's Aid Society of Toronto, "Working with High Conflict Families", Toronto, Ontario, June 2010
- Sudbury Children's Aid Society, "High Conflict Families and the Child Welfare System", Sudbury, Ontario, May 2010
- Hamilton Law Association, 'What Lawyers Need to Know About High Conflict Families" Hamilton, Ontario, May 2010
- 2010 High Conflict Symposium with Bill Eddy, Moderator, Toronto, April 2010
- Youthdale Treatment Centres Annual Conference, "Best Practice Approaches in Working with High Conflict Families": April 2010
- Association of Jewish Family Services Agencies (AJFSA), "The High Conflict Forum": A Community Development Approach to working with high conflict families. Annual Conference, Los Angeles, California, April 2010
- "Children Caught in the Crossfire", Chief trainer of a multi-disciplinary 2 day training course for judges, lawyers, mental health professionals and child welfare staff, conducted 9 training courses in 2009 in Toronto, Ottawa, St. Catherines, Sault Ste. Marie, London, Kingston; Conducted 3 courses in Montreal and Toronto in 2010.
- "How High Conflict Behaviors Impact on Children" A presentation at Jewish Adoption and Foster Care Options (JAFCO), Fort Lauderdale, Florida, December 2009
- "The Many Faces of Child Abuse and Neglect", Conference Moderator and Speaker at the Child Psychotherapy Foundation of Canada conference, Toronto, Ontario, November 6, 2009
- "Enriching Collaborative Service To Families in Conflict", Presentation at the Peel Family Mediation Services, Brampton, Ontario, September 2009
- "High Conflict Families: Mediation, Arbitration or A Little of Both?", Presentation at the Ontario Association of Family Mediators (OAFM), Toronto, June 2009
- "Testifying in Court" Presentation at the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts Annual Conference May 2009, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Moderator for panel discussion of Judges, lawyers, mental health professionals, at AFCC Ontario Chapter Conference 'Improving the Lives of Children and Families in Conflict', Toronto, April 2009
- Facilitator for training of professional staff at 'Family Services of Las Vegas', on 'High Conflict Families', March 2009
- Presenter at in-service training for professional staff at the Jewish Communal Services of the Greater Miami Area, on 'Working with High Conflict Families', December 2008
- Presenter and moderator at the 'Smokescreen or Fire: Allegations of Domestic Violence and Child Sexual Abuse in High Conflict Divorcing Families': Toronto, November 2008
- Presenter at the Special Issues in Child Maltreatment Conference, on "Effective Practices in Working with High Conflict Families", June 2008, The Hospital For Sick Children, June 2008
- Presenter at a meeting of the Ontario Bar Association, Family Law Division, on 'Effective Practices in Working with High Conflict Families', May 2008
- Presenter at the (AFCC) Association of Family and Conciliation Courts Conference, on "High Conflict Families", Vancouver, British Columbia, May 2008
- Moderator at the "Child Alienation" Conference with Dr. Matthew Sullivan, psychologist at the High Conflict Forum Conference, November 2007, Toronto, Ontario
- Moderator at the "Divorce Poison" Conference with Dr. Richard Warshak, psychologist, at the High Conflict Forum Conference, April 2006, Toronto, Ontario
- "The High Conflict Forum: A Community Development Approach", Paper presented to the World Forum on Child Welfare, Vancouver, British Columbia, November 2006
- Presenter at "Best Practice Approaches in Working with High Conflict Families", Paper presented at conference organized by the High Conflict Forum, The Old Mill Conference Centre, Toronto, Ontario, April 2005
- "Involving Foster Parents in the Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect", Paper presented to the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect Conference, Brisbane, Australia, September 2004
- "Measuring Workload in Child Welfare", Paper presented to The Child Welfare League of America Conference, November 2003, Miami, Florida
- "The Workload Measurement Project", Presented to The Detroit Children’s Aid Society Annual Conference, November 2001
- "Workload Measurement Project: Phase 2 Research Results", Presented to OACAS Consultation, February, 2001
- "Social Problems Within the Jewish Community", Presented to a community forum, January, 1999
- "The Sandwich Generation": Presented to Shaar Shalom Synagogue, Thornhill, December 1997
- Child Abuse: Reporting Requirements For Professionals: Presented to staff at the Integra Foundation, Toronto, October 1997
- Child Abuse: Implications for Treatment presented for the Ontario Association of Professional Occupational Therapists, Guelph, November 1995
- "Meeting the Residential Needs of Hard to Serve Youth" paper presented at The Best of Care Symposium on Residential Care, Ottawa, March 1990