Mental health and legal professionals will be speaking on the topic of "Blended Families" and providing relevant and pertinent information for matrimonial and family law professionals. The focus of the program is to educate the various disciplines on forming relationships within wider and diverse familial units and the rights of the parents, step-parents and children. Each speaker will address different aspects of treatment including analytic issues, familial reconfiguration and systemic family therapy. Practical considerations within the actual practice of law will be discussed as will the concept of "blended families" as it relates to unmarried individuals in a "quasi-step parent" situation. There will also be discussion on relevant and recent case law and current trends within the law and the Courts.

Moderator: Andrew Schepard, Professor of Law at Hofstra University, Maurice A. Deane School of Law

Speakers: Elana Katz, LCSW, LMFT; Brenda Rodstrom, LCSW; Irene M. Wineman-Marcus, PhD.; Andrew Schephard, Professor of Law at Hofstra University, Maurice A. Deane School of Law; Solangel Maldonado, Professor of Law at Seton Hall University School of Law; Lawrence Braunstein

Sponsored by: Committee on Matrimonial Law, Jenifer Foley, Chair

Co-sponsored by: AFCC-NY (Association of the Family and Conciliation Courts)