NYACP NEWS ~ July 2026

Volume 7, Issue 6

In this Issue

President's Message
NYACP Board of Directors
Member Spotlights
NYACP Pods
Support Groups for Collaborative Practice (SGCP)
Committees

MESSAGE FROM OUR 2026 NYACP PRESIDENT

By Ellen Jancko-Baken

 As summer is in full swing, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on everything we've accomplished together so far this year.

It's been a busy and exciting few months for NYACP! We kicked off the spring with a successful Basic Collaborative Interdisciplinary Training (BCIT), hosted educational programs like "The DV Cybersecurity Toolkit for Collaborative Practice", continued bringing members together through our POD meetings and Collaborative Connections, and made great progress on many of the goals outlined in our strategic plan. None of this would be possible without the time, energy, and enthusiasm of our members and volunteers, thank you for being such an important part of our community.

I'm also excited about what's coming next: the launch of the "NYACP Seal of Advanced Training." This new program recognizes members who are committed to continuing their professional growth and advancing their Collaborative Practice skills. I hope you'll take a look at the program and consider earning the Seal as another way to demonstrate your commitment to excellence.

As much as I love seeing everything our organization is accomplishing, I also know how important it is to take time to recharge. I hope you have the opportunity to enjoy some sunshine, spend time with family and friends, and make the most of the summer, however that looks for you.

We'll be back this fall with more opportunities to learn, connect, and continue growing together. Until then, enjoy the season, stay safe, and thank you for everything you do to support NYACP and the Collaborative Practice community.

Have a wonderful summer!

Ellen Jancko-Baken
President, NYACP

 NYACP Board of Directors

From the NYACP Board

The NYACP Board of Directors meets every other month on the second Thursday to advance programs that strengthen Collaborative Practice throughout New York. Through education, networking, leadership opportunities, and member engagement, we remain committed to supporting our collaborative community. 

At our July Board meeting, we talked about how important it is to better understand what matters most to our members. We want to learn more about what motivates you to attend our events, what you enjoy most, and what challenges might make it difficult for you to join us.

We also spent time reviewing our budget to ensure we can continue offering programs and events that are meaningful, engaging, and worth your time.

Keep an eye out for our upcoming member survey. Your feedback will help us plan future programs and create experiences that better meet your needs and interests.

Building the Future of Collaborative Practice Together by Building the Future of NYACP

Our Strategic Priorities

Over the next several years, NYACP will be focused on five key initiatives:

Public Awareness- Expanding public awareness of Collaborative Practice and increasing recognition of NYACP as a trusted resource.

Affordability & Accessibility- Developing innovative models that make Collaborative Practice available to more families across New York.

Consistent Protocols- Creating shared standards, forms, and best practices across all collaborative disciplines.

Statewide & National Reach- Strengthening NYACP's presence throughout New York while expanding our influence nationally.

Inclusion & Integration- Promoting diversity, interdisciplinary collaboration, leadership development, and an inclusive professional community.

Looking Ahead: Our Vision for 2027–2029

Our strategic goals include:

• Becoming New York's recognized media resource for Collaborative Divorce.

• Expanding affordable collaborative service options.

• Promoting greater consistency in collaborative practice statewide.

• Increasing NYACP's visibility throughout New York and beyond.

• Building a more diverse, inclusive, and engaged leadership community.

Working Group Updates

Public Awareness
Chair: Jackie Caputo

This group held its inaugural meeting in May and now meets on the first Wednesday of every month via Zoom. Members interested in increasing public awareness of Collaborative Practice are encouraged to participate.

Affordability & Accessibility
Co-Chairs: Catherine Canadé & Marcos Fernandez

This team is developing innovative approaches to make Collaborative Practice more affordable and accessible for families throughout New York.

Consistent Protocols
Co-Chairs: Ivan Alter (Attorney), Randy Heller (Mental Health), Nancy Kaye (Financial)

Current initiatives include:

• Reviewing and updating the Protocols of Practice

• Updating the Collaborative Map

• Creating standardized practice forms

• Developing best practices for using neutral professionals

Member participation and ideas are welcome.

Statewide & National Reach
Co-Chairs: Kathleen Donelli & Tony Marcus

The inaugural meeting generated exciting conversations about expanding NYACP's presence across New York while strengthening national partnerships.

Inclusion & Integration
Co-Chairs: Melissa Goodstein & Ellen Jancko-Baken

This working group is focused on creating a more inclusive collaborative community while cultivating future NYACP leaders.

Get Involved

Whether you have a few hours each month or are interested in a leadership role, your experience and perspective are valuable. Together, we are building a stronger Collaborative Practice community across New York.

INTRODUCING THE ADVANCED SEAL OF EXCELLENCE - Coming Fall 2026! 

Earning the NYACP Advanced Seal of Excellence

Earning the Advanced Seal of Excellence through the New York Association of Collaborative Professionals (NYACP) reflects an advanced level of training, experience, and commitment to the principles of Collaborative Practice. The Advanced Seal of Excellence recognizes attorneys, financial professionals, mental health professionals, and allied professionals who have demonstrated exceptional knowledge, skill, and dedication to helping individuals and families resolve disputes respectfully—without the adversarial nature of litigation.

The NYACP Advanced Seal of Excellence distinguishes professionals who are committed to the highest standards of Collaborative Practice and to providing clients with an effective, respectful, and client-centered approach to conflict resolution.

What the NYACP Advanced Seal of Excellence Represents

Commitment to Excellence

The Advanced Seal of Excellence recognizes professionals who have met rigorous standards through advanced collaborative training beyond the foundational level and who have demonstrated substantial experience applying Collaborative Practice to successfully resolve conflict.

High Ethical Standards

Professionals who have earned the Advanced Seal of Excellence are committed to the core values of Collaborative Practice, including transparency, integrity, respect, and client empowerment. They uphold the highest ethical standards while guiding clients through challenging personal and family transitions.

Ongoing Professional Development

Earning and maintaining the Advanced Seal of Excellence requires continuing education and advanced training, ensuring that professionals remain current with evolving best practices, emerging research, and innovative approaches to collaborative dispute resolution.

Interdisciplinary Team Expertise

Collaborative Practice is built on a team approach. Professionals who have earned the Advanced Seal of Excellence are experienced in working alongside attorneys, financial professionals, mental health professionals, and other allied specialists to provide clients with comprehensive, coordinated support throughout the collaborative process.

Benefits of Earning the NYACP Advanced Seal of Excellence

Professional Recognition

The Advanced Seal of Excellence enhances professional credibility and distinguishes recipients as leaders in Collaborative Practice. It demonstrates a commitment to excellence that inspires confidence among clients and professional colleagues while strengthening referral relationships.

Better Client Outcomes

Through advanced education in communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution, professionals who have earned the Advanced Seal of Excellence are equipped to help clients achieve durable, mutually beneficial agreements while preserving relationships whenever possible.

A Strong Professional Network

Recipients of the Advanced Seal of Excellence become part of a distinguished community of collaborative practitioners across New York who are committed to advancing Collaborative Practice. This network provides valuable opportunities for mentorship, continuing education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and professional growth.

A Distinctive Professional Credential

The NYACP Advanced Seal of Excellence differentiates professionals in an increasingly competitive marketplace by demonstrating advanced expertise, ongoing professional development, and a commitment to resolving disputes in a respectful, efficient, and client-centered manner.

Advancing Collaborative Practice in New York

By earning the Advanced Seal of Excellence, professionals help strengthen and expand the Collaborative Practice movement throughout New York. Their leadership contributes to greater public awareness of Collaborative Practice and promotes a more constructive, dignified, and effective way to resolve conflict.

A Commitment to Leadership and Excellence

Earning the NYACP Advanced Seal of Excellence is more than receiving a professional distinction—it is a commitment to leadership, ethical practice, and lifelong professional development. It reflects a dedication to the highest standards of Collaborative Practice while enhancing professional credibility, strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration, and improving outcomes for the individuals and families served throughout New York.

 MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS

Our NYACP members continue to make an extraordinary impact by helping families resolve conflicts with dignity, respect, and compassion. Look for future editions featuring member accomplishments, publications, presentations, and community contributions.

NEW MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS

NYACP welcomes our new members. 
Please look out for them and welcome them to our community!

Led by Natalia Gourari, a seasoned attorney with over 20 years of experience, Gourari Law is a boutique practice known for its calm, strategic approach to emotionally and financially complex separations.

Natalia brings a distinctive blend of legal expertise, economic fluency, and cultural understanding to every case. With an additional degree in economics and a forensic mindset, she helps clients illuminate the full financial picture while offering steady guidance through turbulent emotional terrain.

Her clients include professionals, business owners, and individuals managing intergenerational wealth, as well as parents navigating sensitive custody matters or divorcing high-conflict personalities. Across all cases, her mission remains the same: to provide a steady hand, a clear plan, and unwavering advocacy for your future. 

 

Todd Neuhaus is the Managing Associate of Moore Family Law, P.C. in New York City, where he practices all areas of matrimonial and family law and serves as a neutral mediator for divorcing couples and co-parents. He began his career as a litigator and trial lawyer and remains a passionate advocate — but above all, he's in this work to truly help people. That conviction led him to expand his practice beyond the courtroom to include mediation and, now, collaborative practice. Driven by a passion for guiding people through life's most important conflicts and transitions, Todd is grateful to join the NYACP community and looks forward to connecting with its members.

 

Robin S. Rosenberg is a clinical psychologist, treating individuals, couples, and families. She is certified in discernment counseling (helping couples considering divorce gain clarity and confidence in whichever path they choose), received training in collaborative divorce, and is board certified in clinical psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Clinical Psychology, and Assistant Clinical Professor-Volunteer at the University of California, San Francisco. She writes textbooks for college students, and has also written for a general audience, typically using fictional characters in popular culture to illustrate psychological concepts and phenomena. 

 NYACP PODS

POD Meetings are monthly, but are on a summer hiatus until September! Please check the full calendar on our website for topics, dates and times. PODS, which meet monthly via a virtual format, make this opportunity accessible to all of our members regardless of where you reside. To look back at previous POD Presentations visit the Video Library. That said, PODS are a wonderful way to learn, grow, and develop relationships with your fellow Collaborative Colleagues. Looking forward to seeing all of you taking advantage of this great member benefit. Thank you to all of our Pod leaders!

 NEW YORK CITY POD

As Collaborative Professionals, we all work to create a process that is respectful, balanced, and effective for our clients. But it's worth asking: in what subtle—and not-so-subtle—ways do we, as professionals, sometimes shift that balance ourselves? How do our own roles, assumptions, and power dynamics influence the collaborative process?

On May 12th, at our NYC Pod meeting, we had an informal conversation about power and control within the collaborative team. We explored questions like:

• When does advocacy begin to cross the line into control?
• How does working in the shadow of the law—and the lingering influence of litigation—shape the collaborative process? How do you recognize and manage those dynamics
• How have issues of power and control shown up on your collaborative teams, and how have you addressed them?

On June 9th, Dr. Judie Stein, Micki McWade, LMSW, and Dr. Barbara Rothberg, presented: The Child Who Wouldn't Go Home: Presented by Dr. Judie Stein, Micki McWade, LMSW, and Dr. Barbara Rothberg

The presenters explored one of the most challenging situations separated parents can face: when a child refused to go to one parent's home. Drawing on their experience as Family Specialists, they examined the issue through multiple lenses, including child development, parental characteristics, and the unique dynamics of each family. Participants discussed difficult cases, shared creative solutions, and considered practical ways to better understand and support families facing this challenge.

The NYC POD meets the second Tuesday of each month at 8:30 a.m.If you have questions, or have an area of expertise you would like to showcase,  contact Judie Stein at [email protected]

 NORTHERN WESTCHESTER POD

The NW Pod meets the third Wednesday of every month from 9:00 to 10:00 AM for informal discussions and presentations to support our collaborative practices. 

 LONG ISLAND POD

On May 9, A session led by Tracy A. Hawkes, Esq. explored some of the more challenging questions surrounding the use of 529 plans for college expenses. The discussion focused on situations that often arise in collaborative matters, including whether a custodial parent can require 529 funds to be used for room and board when a child lives at home while attending college, whether one parent can charge the other "rent" for a child living in that parent's home, and how those issues may differ when the home is jointly owned but one parent has exclusive occupancy.

Tracy A. Hawkes facilitated an engaging discussion, drawing on her experience as a collaborative attorney and mediator to examine the practical and legal considerations surrounding these common but often unresolved issues.

On May 20, and June 17, Alan Dubow, Esq. and Steven Kaplan, CPA/ABV, MBA led a joint presentation on Child-Related Tax Credits and Filing Status in Collaborative Cases. This combined effort of the LI and Westchester Pods facilitated a practical discussion on the child-related tax benefits and filing status options that often come up in our collaborative cases. We'll cover topics like the Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit, education tax credits, and Head of Household status, with a focus on how these rules can impact our clients and inform our work together.

 NYACP SUPPORT GROUPS

Northern Westchester Support Group – Meeting since 2011, this confidential peer consultation group meets every other month to strengthen collaborative skills through discussion, reflection, and shared learning. Members interested in joining should contact Executive Director Sarah Sheehan.

Mental Health Support Group - Facilitated by Jeffrey Steiger and Bob Raymond, this quarterly support group continues to grow alongside NYACP's expanding Family Specialist community.The June meeting focused on post-divorce involvement of Mental Health Professionals/Family Specialists/Parenting Coordinators and explored protocols that will continue through the Consistent Protocols Working Group. Mental Health Professionals—whether new or experienced—are encouraged to join these thoughtful and engaging discussions.

 Welcoming Diversity in Culture and Practice Support Group - Meeting every other month, this group provides members with opportunities to explore culture, identity, and inclusion within Collaborative Practice. In addition to discussion meetings, members participate in field trips and community experiences that deepen cultural understanding. All NYACP members are welcome.

 NYACP COMMITTEES – All are welcome – Please join a committee. We need YOU!

NYACP TRAINING AND EDUCATION COMMITTEE

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

The Membership Committee continues strengthening member engagement and professional connections throughout NYACP.

The committee extends sincere appreciation to Marcos Fernandez for his outstanding leadership and years of dedication guiding membership initiatives.

As Marcos assumes the role of NYACP President, members are encouraged to become involved through committees, events, and leadership opportunities.

Membership Committee Sub-committees

Growing the Collaborative Circle (GCC)

This initiative builds relationships with organizations that share an interest in Collaborative Practice, expanding awareness through partnerships and community engagement.

I encourage you to stay informed about our upcoming events and make every effort to attend. These gatherings are intentionally designed to help members build meaningful relationships with one another. Strong connections don't just make our community more enjoyable—they also matter professionally. Research shows that when you develop strong relationships with your colleagues, you're more likely to be top of mind when referral opportunities arise. And as an added bonus, you'll have a great time doing it!

The Events Sub-Committees

Randy Heller, Chair - hosts networking opportunities throughout theyear. Following a full day of learning on June 11, a gathering for a lively Happy Hour at Brasserie Grand Central was organized by the Events Committee and subsidized by NYACP. It was a great opportunity to relax, connect, and continue the conversations that started during the day's sessions.

Our next event in the Fall will be a collaborative effort between the Training and Education Committee and the Events Committee. Keep an eye out for the NYACP Mindfulness Training! Focusing on how to Work Smart, Stress Less, Live Well. Mindfulness for all disciplines; Attorneys, Mental Health, and Financial Professionals.

Collaborative Connections – It’s Not Just Lunch

The NYACP Membership Committee also organizes lunch gatherings in Westchester, Long Island and Manhattan to offer an easy way to get to know your collaborative counterparts better with a simple RSVP.  These small group (eight person) meet ups will offer a wonderful opportunity to connect with collaborative colleagues you might not already know, share experiences and insights, and learn more about one another both personally and professionally. Making these ‘connections’ provide valuable opportunities to build relationships and exchange ideas. See the NYACP calendar for dates and venues beginning again in the Fall.  

The first eight NYACP members to register will reserve a spot!  Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with your peers and get more involved in the NYACP.  

Manhattan- Organized by Randy Heller

Long Island – Organized by Jackie Caputo and Nancy Kaye (two different groups – everyone welcome from any region!)

UPCOMING - Westchester – Organized by Michelle Lewis- NYACP Collaborative Connections in Westchester

What: Collaborative Connections - Westchester

When: Thursday, July 23, 2026 12:30PM

Where: LILLY’S  169 Mamaroneck Ave
White Plains, New York

Mentorship Program

Led by Shara Goldfarb and Teresa Ombres, the Mentorship Program connects experienced and newer collaborative professionals.

Both mentors and mentees benefit through shared learning, increased confidence, and lasting professional relationships.

NEW – Member Engagement Buddy Program

Every new NYACP member is paired with a Board member who serves as their first connection within the organization.

Board Buddies:

• Welcome new members personally

• Offer introductory virtual meetings

• Help members navigate NYACP resources

• Answer questions

• Encourage involvement

Sunshine Committee

The goal is simple: every member should feel welcomed, informed, and connected. The Sunshine Committee was created to strengthen the sense of community throughout NYACP.

Whether celebrating milestones or offering support during illness, bereavement, or other significant life events, the committee reflects the collaborative values of compassion, dignity, respect, and human connection.

Committee leaders include: Adam Halper, Randy Heller, Michelle Lewis, and Teresa Ombres

Modest Means Committee

Formerly known as the Flat Fee Collaborative Working Group, this committee is developing protocols and best practices for providing affordable Collaborative Practice services.

Co-Chairs:

• Catherine Canadé

• Randy Heller

• Sallie Mullins-Thompson

Members interested in participating are encouraged to reach out.

UPCOMING TRAINING AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY

IACP FORUM IS BACK – OCTOBER  2026 – DON’T MISS OUT!!

October 29 – November 1, 2026

Vancouver, British Columbia

The International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP) Forum is the premier annual gathering for Collaborative professionals worldwide.

Highlights include:

• Pre-Forum Institutes

• National and international workshops

• Keynote presentations

• Networking events

• Member Awards Ceremony

• Silent Disco Halloween Celebration

• Closing reflection session

Registration is now open.

Kevin Scudder Higher Education Scholarship Fund

Do you know a law student or graduate student in mental health or business who is interested in Collaborative Practice?

The Kevin Scudder Higher Education Scholarship Fund helps offset training costs for future collaborative professionals.

For referrals or additional information, please contact Randy Heller

The NYACP Newsletter is more than an update on organizational activities—it is an open invitation for members to engage, contribute, and strengthen their Collaborative relationships and professional practices. We encourage you to share updates about your work, initiatives, and successes. Submissions and inquiries can be sent to Randy Heller at [email protected].

The NYACP Newsletter is intended to inform you not only about what is going on in your organization. It is an invitation and opportunity for our members to get involved as you strengthen your Collaborative relationships and your practice. Please send information about you, your practice, your activities, and your success to Randy Heller.

[email protected]