Institute 3: Should Children Participate in Family Law Processes? Consider the Brain
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted by every country except the US, states, “Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child.” This program will examine current research on child and adolescent brain development and its impact on decision making, and the effects of substance use on adolescent brains, to improve participants’ understanding of when and how a child can express their views for consideration in juvenile and family law matters. Sponsored by the Massachusetts Chapter of AFCC.

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* 1. Based on the content of this session, I am able to: (1=Strongly disagree, 5=Strongly agree)

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1. Describe 3 things about normal child neurodevelopment and identify how it is reflected in children’s perceptions, appraisals, and decision-making at different developmental stages.
2. Identify three ways that substance use can impact adolescent development and functioning.
3. Identify three ways a family court professional can use information about children’s neurodevelopment in a court process.
4. Identify the legal implications and limitations of a child's participation in a family law case from the perspective of a trial judge and an appellate judge.
5. Apply information about children’s neurodevelopment to a hypothetical case.

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* 2. Please rate presenter: Hon. Amy Lyn Blake (1=Poor, 5=Excellent)

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Level of knowledge and expertise
Teaching ability
Maintained my interest
Was responsive to questions, comments and opinions

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* 3. Please rate presenter: Robin M. Deutsch, PhD, ABPP (1=Poor, 5=Excellent)

  1 2 3 4 5
Level of knowledge and expertise
Teaching ability
Maintained my interest
Was responsive to questions, comments and opinions

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* 4. Please rate presenter: Robert Kinscherff, PhD, JD (1=Poor, 5=Excellent)

  1 2 3 4 5
Level of knowledge and expertise
Teaching ability
Maintained my interest
Was responsive to questions, comments and opinions

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* 5. Please rate presenter: Stephanie Tabashneck, PsyD, JD (1=Poor, 5=Excellent)

  1 2 3 4 5
Level of knowledge and expertise
Teaching ability
Maintained my interest
Was responsive to questions, comments and opinions

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* 6. The content of the presentation was consistent with the abstract in the conference brochure

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* 7. Please rate this session presentation overall (1=Poor, 5=Excellent)

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* 8. How much did you learn as a result of this CE program? (1=Very little, 5=Great deal)

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* 9. Information presented in this session reflected the most current evidence on this topic (1=Disagree, 5=Agree)

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* 10. How useful was the content of this CE program for your practice or other professional development (1=Not useful, 5=Extremely useful)

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* 11. Additional Comments

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