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Collaborative Connection

Spring 2020 | Volume 32 | Issue 1

We are pleased to bring you another issue of the Collaborative Connection, the electronic newsletter of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals.

-IACP Team

HIGHLIGHTS...

• A Message From the IACP's Board President, Francesca King

• Collaborative Review Announcement

• Collaborative Check-Ins

• Training Opportunities

• April and May Webinars

• Collaborative Practice in the news

• IACP Blog & Request for Submissions

• Our Happy Divorce - an interview with former Collaborative clients

• Tip of the Month

• Announcement Regarding the 2020 Forum

• Forum 2020 Host Committee Invitation

I hope you are all well, healthy, and safe. Wherever you are, you are facing new challenges and concerns, and once again, many of these challenges look very much the same all around the world. 

We are all looking, with some degree of fear, to our future and how this crisis will affect our lives. And however positive we can be, I think we all know things will change for most of us, personally and professionally. And some of us will be hit harder than others.

I have been moved by seeing how the Collaborative community has been pulling together, to understand how to better meet the needs of clients and to support one another. IACP has been eager to offer regular spaces and opportunities to connect and share our challenges. The Check-In calls (on Tuesdays and Thursdays) have allowed many of us to have a candid chat with other Collaborative professionals from around the world and they have given us the opportunity to take care of ourselves as we navigate these challenging times.

In this regard, I am truly excited we will hear from Stu Webb and Ron Ousky on April 29. I am sure they will help to boost our spirits and push us forward in facing the future.

This world crisis tells us we were right and ahead of time in understanding the power of collaboration. The crisis is teaching everybody (or at least attempting to), including governments and citizens, that the only way to solve this problem is to do it together.

As my friend, Olivia Furst, from Brazil, told me a couple of weeks ago, collaboration is not an option anymore; it's a necessity! 

In this perspective, what is happening becomes an opportunity for us to put our knowledge and expertise in action. As courts shut down in many places and we are invited to stay at home as much as we can, we can use the experience IACP and many Collaborative groups around the world have built in the past few years.

We already know that meetings and gatherings can be held in different ways, and we are equipped to do that. We are ready to work from that and bring this confidence in our cases when we are trying to settle out of court, be it mediation or Collaborative practice or a good negotiation. Maybe being alternative dispute resolution experts also means finding alternatives in the means we use!

I really look forward to when we will be able to meet again in person. For the moment, let me say goodbye with the wish we are exchanging here in Milan, "Andrà tutto bene!"

Sincerely,

Francesca King 

IACP Board President 
 
IACP's Collaborative Review
 

The next edition of the Collaborative Review, an exclusive benefit for IACP members only, will be in your inboxes next week 

The semi-annual Collaborative Review examines Collaborative Practice through the lens of professionals from around the world.

A listing of the articles and authors is in the image above. 

Not an IACP member yet?

Learn about membership benefits or renew your membership by clicking the button below. 
 
IACP MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
 
Collaborative Check-Ins

In recent weeks, we've introduced  "Collaborative Check-Ins" as a way to provide our members with an opportunity to join people from around the world who are also experiencing the same challenges.

The floor is open to everyone to provide comments and questions in this Zoom meeting format. 

We host the Check-Ins twice a week in different time zones to accomodate our international membership base. 

Click the button below to find infomation about the next Check-In. 
ACCESS THE CALENDAR
 

We will be focused in the coming weeks on creating more webinars and online resources to help you cope with this new challenge that COVID-19 has created. Please reach out with your ideas and questions.

Many thanks to those whose membership dues, donations, and countless volunteer hours have made it possible for us to provide these timely resources.

Recent webinars include:

* The Paycheck Protection Program Explained (Watch the replay for FREE)

* Divorce Professionals' Guide to Working at Home

If you have ideas for webinar topics or if you would like to present, please let us know by sending an email to info@collaborativepractice.com.

-IACP Team
 
Coming Soon...

A Four-Session Online Training for Intermediate and Advanced Practitioners with Kate Scharff, MSW.

"Beyond Competence: The Art and Science of Multidisciplinary Collaborative Teamwork"

The training will apply lessons from psychodynamic and attachment theory, mindfulness and conflict resolution concepts to describe a comprehensive model for enlightened team practice.

Active IACP members are asked to complete the attached application form. Admission will be limited to 20 participants.

Keep an eye on your inbox in the coming weeks for the application announcement. 
 
 
April 29 - Virtual Town Hall with Stu Webb & Ron Ousky 

Our April webinar will be a virtual town hall with Collaborative Practice pioneers Stu Webb and Ron Ousky with a timely and candid conversation about Collaborative Practice including:

* Navigating the current challenges, as well as
* Taking care of yourself as a service provider

Stu and Ron have graciously offered their time  as a fundraiser for the 2020 Forum Scholarship Fund.

Save 90 minutes on your calendar on April 29, 2020, at 1:00p. 
REGISTER
 
MAY 28 - Get Your YouTube Videos Seen

Join us as we learn the best tips and tricks to creating a following on YouTube with unique video content that catches the eye of potential clients, potential referrals, media, and others. 

The "How to Get Your YouTube Videos Seen" seminar covers how to best optimize your YouTube channel and its videos in order to get your videos viewed. Some of the areas covered are:

- Key YouTube stats and why YouTube is a preferred promotional channel

- How to research the YouTube searches and subjects that you can compete for

- How to create your content to satisfy the 4 main results that YouTube wants to see

This webinar will be led by seasoned media producer, Tony Rockliff.
REGISTER
 
COLLABORATIVE PRACTICE IN THE NEWS

Recently, we shared a plug & play press release exclusively for IACP members to send to their local media outlets including newspapers, radio stations, and television news outlets.

Here's feedback from an IACP Member who took advantage of the opportunity to market herself by landing a local news story. 

"I sent the press release to various tv stations and a couple of radio stations and was contacted back by WFAE, my local NPR station, for an interview, so I was thrilled! The interview aired last Wednesday. I really appreciated the email and the resources provided about doing the press release, it was perfect timing, so thank you!"

If you haven't sent your release out to your local media outlets, there is still time. 

Please share your coverage links with Nikki Jones, IACP's Communications Coordinator at nikki@collaborativepractice.com.

RECENT MEDIA COVERAGE FEATURING IACP MEMBERS

Jeffrey Pollock was quoted in a local newspaper. Read the article HERE. 

Jennifer Davis was quoted in an online newspaper. Read the article HERE.

Courtney Smith was interviewed by a local radio station. Listen HERE.   

Melissa Sulkowski was interviewed by a local television station. Watch HERE.

Zach Kafoglis was interviewed by a local online news show. Watch HERE.  

Tonya Smith was quoted in a local newspaper. Read the article HERE. 

Joryn Jenkins was interviewed for a television piece. Watch HERE.
 
Taking Divorce Virtual

Be sure to check out the new blog post written by IACP Member, Alisa Peskin-Shepherd. 

This case began in the typical in-person format in the state of Michigan. The husband met with me several times over the course of nine months as he contemplated filing for divorce. Shortly after it became clear that ending the marriage was, indeed, his next step, he and his wife also decided to sell their home and move out of state, where two of their married children live.

Click HERE to read the blog post.
 
Promote Collaborative Practice (Use Social Media to Promote IACP)

Be sure to check out the new blog post written by IACP Member, Joryn Jenkins. 

I'm not an active Facebook user. In fact, my generation tends to stay away from it altogether. Baby Boomers are a bit put off by all these social media choices. And Millennials tend to use Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. But, nonetheless, most of us (my husband excluded; go figure!) do have a Facebook account, and sometimes I give in to the temptation to scroll.

Click HERE to read the blog post.

IACP Members are enouraged to submit blog posts. View the guidelines at the top of the blog page HERE. (login required)
 

Our Happy Divorce authors, Nikki DeBartolo and Ben Heldfond, chatted with IACP Board Member, Anne Lucas, about their journey to becoming happily divorced.

The interview includes insights about why people choose Collaboratively trained professionals, who can create a customized plan for their family instead of a one-size-fits-all courtroom divorce that overlooks the unique needs of the parents and children involved.

Click the button below to watch the interview on IACP's Facebook page. 
 
WATCH THE INTERVIEW
 
EDUCATE THE EDUCATED

How do you grow your Collaborative practice? One important way is you educate the educated.

The Academy of Northern Kentucky Collaborative Professionals (ANKCP) has spent the last two years focusing on educating the legal community about Collaborative family law.

Why? While many lawyers know and understand what our group does, there are still many who do not. Not only have we grown our membership and the number of cases we handle, but we have also grown closer as a collaborating group of professionals.

Here are just a few ways to educate your local bar:

· Write an article for your local bar association publication or state bar publication. This may seem overwhelming at first, but an article can be educational and provide statistics about the group and can serve as a refresher for the legal community and a reminder of the Collaborative practice. This past year, the ANKCP was given a two-page article in the local bar publication, and two of our members were quoted in the statewide bar publication.

· Write a blog. A blog post is short and may be quite timely. During the recent COVID-19 crisis, I created a blog post reminding clients that, although the courts were closed, we were still open for business and we're there to help them resolve their parenting issues.

· Speak. In 2018, three members of our group traveled across the state speaking at the Kentucky Law Update (free CLE to state bar members) about the Collaborative practice as a form of ADR. It's a great way to spread the message.

· Network with lawyers who focus their practice in other areas. Many local bars have practice groups. By speaking at their meetings (i.e., the bankruptcy section or estate planning section) you are reminding other lawyers (potential referral sources) of the many benefits of Collaborative practice.

There are many opportunities to educate lawyers who don't practice family law about the benefits of Collaborative practice. Although some of these opportunities may seem time-consuming, the many potential benefits are worthwhile.

Contributed by IACP Member, Stephanie Dietz, from Edgewood Kentucky

Do you have questions about practice group management or tips for other groups?  Write to our Practice Group Development Committee at lgephart@nhpa.com.
 
 

ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING OUR ANNUAL FORUM:

At the current time, there is no change of plans. 

As we proceed with planning for Forum, we are working to ensure that appropriate precautions will be in place to promote a healthy environment for the meeting. We will continue to monitor new developments and will keep you all updated in the coming weeks and months. 

Cick HERE to find updates. 
 
Want to maximize your CEU/CLE credits at October's Forum in Toronto?
 

The CEU/CLE Subcommittee is working hard to obtain continuing education credits for as many professions and jurisdictions as possible at the 2020 Forum. This is largely a volunteer effort, and we need all hands on deck to make it work.

We welcome volunteers from anywhere, and are particularly seeking volunteers to help:

- Secure CLE’s and MHP CEUs in the Great Lakes region of the U.S.

- Secure APA CEU's

- Secure certifications for Financial professionals in Ontario and the U.S.

This is a fairly independent subcommittee with minimal meetings, as each member will be committing to submit an application for credit for their own jurisdiction/profession. We will offer help and guidance, so don’t worry if you've never done it before. 

If you want to be sure that the Forum offers credit in your jurisdiction, volunteering for this subcommittee is a great way to help make that happen! 

If you are interested in helping to make the 2020 Forum the best ever, email atm@collaborativepractice.com to sign up. 

International Academy of
Collaborative Professionals

IACP is paperless organization. Our preffered method of communication is electronic. Our new mailing address is 2661 Santa Rosa Ave #130
Santa Rosa, CA 954075 Santa Rosa Ave. #130Santa Rosa, CA 95407

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