NYACP NEWS ~ Winter 2025

Volume 7, Issue 1

In this Issue

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

FINAL MESSAGE FROM OUR 2024 NYACP PRESIDENT

By Melissa Goodstein, Esq.

As I reflect on my time as NYACP President, I am filled with gratitude for this community. I want to take a moment to reflect on a challenging year, a year marked by the profound loss of my mom and deep gratitude for the support of my family and friends including my NYACP family because together, we are more than just a network of professionals; we are a family. We are a community of colleagues who share a common purpose and support each other professionally and personally. Collaboration and trust are the cornerstones that allow us to lean into uncomfortable spaces.

NYACP has the unique power to promote collaborative divorce as a path to dignity and cooperation. My goal has been to create an inclusive environment where every member feels valued, advancing our mission of excellence in Collaborative practice. From our diversity statement to our mentorship programs, we’ve made strides in fostering a compassionate, innovative community.

Thank you to our board, committees, and every member who has contributed to our success. Your dedication helps families navigate challenges with hope and grace, and I’m proud of the difference we make together.

As I close this chapter my last recipe as President to share is Challah which is from Jake Cohen’s Jew’ish cookbook. My mom loved challah and loved this challah. I bake this on holidays and on the Sabbath in her memory. Making this bread is meditative and gives me the opportunity to reflect on the love I have for my mom and all those who I love. Bake this for your loved ones!

Thank you for the privilege of serving as your President.

Ingredients

• 1 cup warm water (115°F)
• 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar, divided
• 1 packet (2¼ tsp) active dry yeast
• 6 tbsp vegetable oil, divided
• 1/4 cup honey
• 4 large eggs, divided
• 5 1/2–6 cups (745g–810g) all-purpose or bread flour
• 2 tsp kosher salt
• 1 1/2 tsp assorted seeds (e.g., sesame, poppy)
• Flaky sea salt

Instructions

• Activate Yeast: Dissolve 2 tbsp sugar in warm water, sprinkle yeast, and let foam (5–10 min). Mix in remaining sugar, 4 tbsp oil, honey, and 3 eggs.
• Make Dough: Using a dough hook, mix flour (start with 5½ cups) and salt. Knead until tacky but not sticky (3–4 min). Adjust flour as needed. Hand-knead on a floured surface (3–5 min). Oil a bowl, place dough inside, cover, and let rise until doubled (1½–2 hours).
• Shape: Divide dough into 6 equal pieces. Roll each into an 18-inch rope. Braid the ropes (refer to braiding instructions). Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Proof: Brush with 1 beaten egg and let rise, uncovered, for 1 hour.
• Bake: Preheat oven to 350°F. Brush with egg, sprinkle seeds and flaky salt, and bake for 35–40 minutes (rotate pan halfway). Cool completely before serving.

To Braid

• Pinch ropes together at the top.
• Cross outer ropes over each other, alternating sides, until fully braided. Tuck and pinch ends to seal.

I know I speak for our entire membership as we send our heartfelt gratitude to our outgoing President, Melissa Goodstein. Melissa, you have been a stellar leader, and have facilitated the growth and connections within our organization, amongst our membership, and the community at large. You are the epitome of a peacemaker and have modeled the best of inclusivity as well as peaceful and positive interactions between all of us. You will be missed in this role. We will look forward to our continued work with you on the Board. 

NYACP Board of Directors

We would like to welcome Ellen Jancko-Baken as our incoming President, and Marcos Fernandez as our  incoming Vice President.

Our Executive Committee also includes Meg Sussman as Secretary and Nancy Kaye as Treasurer.

Marcos Fernandez Elected Vice President and Membership Committee Chair

The NYACP is excited to announce that Marcos Fernandez has been elected Vice President of the Board of Directors and will serve as Chair of the Membership Committee.

Marcos brings a unique perspective to this leadership role, having successfully transitioned from litigation to practicing exclusively non-adversarial family law. His experience as both a litigator and a Collaborative professional gives him a deep understanding of what it takes to guide clients toward meaningful, respectful solutions.

In this new role, Marcos is committed to building a stronger collaborative community by creating opportunities for connection, mentorship, and growth among members.

“As Vice President, I aim to support and expand our collaborative community by helping members maximize their impact, not only in their own practices but in shaping how families resolve conflicts in New York,” Marcos shared. “Together, we can continue to transform family law into a process that prioritizes respect, innovation, and lasting solutions.”

Nancy Kaye is the Treasurer for NYACP. In that capacity she works on the annual budget and approves expenses as incurred for payment. She has been instrumental in investing our reserves in CD’s in order to increase our earnings and to offset expenses. Nancy is diligent in insuring the financial health of the organization.

Meg Sussman is the Secretary for NYACP. Meg works diligently to capture all of the discussion and decisions that the Board and the executive Committee make by drafting minutes during our meetings. Meg is also an active member of the Education & Training committee, and an experienced clinician and family Specialist.

Melissa Goodstein continues to highlight NYACP members in the NYACP Collaborative Chat video series! Check out the series on the website and get to know our professional family. Reach out to Melissa if you'd like a chance to be featured! 

We thank all of you for your service and for leading the NYACP in all of its efforts!

YOUR BOARD AT WORK

Your NYACP Board meets every two months on the Second Thursday. We just had our first in person meeting in Manhattan since COVID. We are excited to report that our membership is continually expanding! Please welcome our newest Board Member Kristen Lyndaker. We look forward to getting to know all of you. Please get involved with our many committees, and contribute to making your membership count.

Your Board persistently works to develop educational and social programming that will encourage and enable you to become actively involved in networking and developing relationships that will foster the development of your Collaborative practice. Read on to learn more about what is happening.

Kristen G. Lyndaker, Esq, LMSW, is beginning her new role as a member of the Board of Directors of the NYACP with great enthusiasm. She looks forward to working with the board members to further foster a sense of community and shared goals, and to get the word out to the public about the many benefits of Collaborative Law. She wishes peace, joy, health, and prosperity to the entire NYACP family. 

AWARDS, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, ACCOMPLISHMENTS, CERTIFICATIONS

It is part of the intention of this newsletter to identify and honor our members who are out in the community doing great things and spreading the word about peaceful resolution for family and other legal matters! Knowing who our members are and what they are involved in can enhance your knowledge base when seeking referrals, and developing Collaborative Teams. Congratulations to all of you!

Helene Bernstein recently received her Advanced Accreditation in Mediation from the New York State Council on Divorce Mediation.

Dr. Lauren Behrman The National Register of Health Service Psychologists is proud to present the 2024 Alfred M. Wellner Lifetime Achievement Award for Practice to Dr. Lauren Behrman in independent practice. The Wellner awards, offered for research and practice, are the highest honors bestowed by the National Register. The practice award is presented to a National Register credentialed psychologist who has demonstrated—via clinical innovation, outreach, legislation, community engagement, or policy and social advocacy—that they have advanced the standing of health service psychology.

Dr. Behrman served on the Board of Directors of the New York Association of Collaborative Professionals and is past co-president, Board Member and founding member of the Association for Family and Conciliation Courts-New York Chapter. She currently sits on the advisory Board of FamilyKind, and the Board of Directors of Gould Farm, a farm community vocationally based treatment center for recovery from psychiatric disorders. 

Andrea Hirshman, Esq. completed the AFCC Parenting Coordination training in early December and am now offering Parenting Coordination Services. Andrea also completed the 2024 Teacher Training Program offered by the Center for Understanding in Conflict.

Our own Elena Katz, LCSW has written a book chapter called, "Notes from a Diary: Does Jewish Experience with Discrimination Cloud or Clarify an Understanding of Race?" and it is coming out early in 2025 in a book entitled On Becoming a Racially Sensitive Therapist, edited by Dr. Kenneth Hardy.

Michele Kern Rappy retired from her position of 35 years as the Senior Mediator for the NYS Unified Court System in the Mediation Program she created and founded that still continues on today, where she has mentored over 200 law interns and has recently been appointed to 3 chair positions: 2 in NYSBA and WWBA; NYSBA Trial Lawyers Section; Mediation and Arbitration Committee, Dispute Resolution Section; Insurance Committee. Michelle looks forward to getting more involved with this NYCAP group and community.

Carmen Rodriguz was one of three mediators honored by receiving the James Duane Award on behalf of the 220 member Mediation Panel of the United States District Court, Southern District of New York on November 19, 2024. In selecting Carmen, the District Court highlighted her mediation of a very contentious cross-border dispute conducted entirely in Spanish with pro se litigants on both sides.James Duane was the first judge to sit in the Southern District of New York. He was appointed by George Washington."

Andrea Vacca – What a great way to spread the word about Collaborative Practice!

NYACP PODS

POD Meetings are monthly. 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. That said, PODS are a wonderful way to learn, grow, and develop relationships with your fellow Collaborative Colleagues. Looking forward to seeing you all of you taking advantage of this great member benefit. Thank you to all of our Pod leaders! 

NEW YORK CITY POD

On the second Tuesday of each month, the NYC POD group hosts interactive learning opportunities for our members (held via Zoom. You don’t have to be in NYC to attend!). Thanks to Judy Stein for all you do to keep the momentum going!

A Panel of four “seasoned” Collaborative Family Specialists (Randy Heller, Elena Katz, Barbara Rothberg, Judie Stein), shared their experiences from guiding divorcing and “uncoupling” parents toward the development of sustainable parenting plans. The discussion was interactive, as participants and presenters shared the potential pros and cons when considering things like nesting, ages and stages of the children, and the quality of parental relationships. Stay tuned as there will likely be a Part Two, aimed at processing “presumptions” about time-share, and ways to facilitate children’s access to both parents. 

NORTHERN WESTCHESTER POD

NYACP's Northern Westchester Pod presents Zoom Meetings, every third Wednesday at 9:00am of each month with a hiatus during the summer.

On Wednesday, November 20, 2024, the Northern Westchester Pod hosted Micki McWade, Psychotherapist, Collaborative Divorce Coach presented The Year of the Lightworker Part III. In this enlightening presentation, Micki spoke about the experiences of participants given the current political and emotional climate in our country, post election. Some of us are relieved. In either case, we are all in this together. How do we manage? What do we do now? Collaborative professionals have many skills to offer and know how to resolve conflict in reasonable and respectful ways. We already know that there’s always more than one perspective, even though it’s hard to understand the other side right now. We also know that raging or folding completely never helps. We know that listening to the other perspective, even when we don’t agree with that perspective, is what softens a situation and creates space for new things to grow. We bring Light to people on a daily basis. The group discussed ideas about what’s next?

LONG ISLAND POD

On Tuesday, November 5, 2024 the LI POD met to discuss the Next Steps for NYACP and LI Pod

The Long Island Pod discussed upcoming programs hosted by NYACP. NYACP already has a jam packed calendar of social events, educational programs, collaborative connections with other organizations for 2025, ending with a gala celebrating 25 years with NYACP. Check out our calendar of events. Our outreach in 2024 was so great we now have over 140 members. We also talked about future programs for the Long Island pod which include in January Catherine Canade discussing polyamorous couples, families. Another anticipated program in March is Barbara Rothberg speaking about child development in terms of how divorce impacts kids at different ages, from early toddlers through young adults. Similar interest was expressed about when is the best time to divorce in terms of the age(s) of the children. Our members have been very active in sharing and leading discussions for our pod, and we thank all who participate for making this pod a success.

NYACP SGSP

All NYACP Members are encouraged to take the opportunity to join a Support Group. Participation will provide you with the experience of joining with other members in our community to connect in a more in-depth way regarding our work and best practices. This is separate from our POD Groups. These are closed groups and they require a commitment. This commitment includes being responsible for presenting, and addressing some of the complexities that can arise. On your Collaborative matters. This can be a vulnerable undertaking and building trust and understanding with our colleagues is an essential part of why these groups are valuable. We all know how challenging our work can be. 

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COMMITTEES

NYACP TRAINING AND EDUCATION COMMITTEE

A special thank you to the Training and Education Committee for their continued work in providing valuable programs for NYACP Members; Ivan Alter, Katherine Miller, Alan Dubow, Meg Sussman, Michael McLaughlin, Michael Kislin, Kathleen Donelli, Ivan Alter, Wendy Prince, Kenneth Novenstern, and Co-Chairs Anthony Marcus and Melissa Goodstein. Look out for announcements of upcoming sessions. 

Most programs will provide CLEs, CMEs. And CEUs (Sponsored by Family Kind).

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

The NYACP Membership Committee is comprised of Barbara Bel, Catherine Canade, Jacqueline Caputo, Stacy Collins, Ariella Deutsch, Marcos Fernandez, Shara Goldfarb, Adam Halper, Randy Heller, Nancy Kaye, Michael Kislin, Michelle Lewis, Stephen Linker and Teresa Ombres

As another year comes to a close, I am thrilled to report on the robust activities put forth by the NYACP’s Membership Committee in 2024. While I may have been the Chair of this committee, the thanks go to the members of the committee who worked tirelessly to enhance our membership experience and to build relationships with other organizations. This past year, our Working Groups have done the following:

Growing the Collaborative Circle (GCC) the mission of which is to grow our relationships with other organizations outside of the NYACP that would be interested in the work we do. On September 26, they organized a Meet and Greet with two dispute resolution organizations, the NYSCDM and the FDMC. On February 6, 2025, there will be another in White Plains with the Westchester Women’s Bar Association. Keep an eye open for the announcements and please join us.

Our Events Working Group, the mission for which is to enhance and deepen the relationships between our own members, put together a Wine Tasting event on May 14 in White Plains and a meet and greet in New York City earlier in the year. They are also responsible for putting together the holiday celebration after our annual meeting. In addition, they arrange monthly lunches on Long Island, in New York City and in Westchester for our members to get to know one another in a more intimate setting.

The Mentorship Program led by Catherine Canade and Shara Goldfarb run a program where they match new members with an experienced mentor to help our new members get to know the NYACP and the collaborative process.

As we look to the future, we hope to continue all that we have been doing and add to that, an effort to educate the public about the Collaborative Process. Stay tuned.

As I move into the role as President, Marcos Fernandez will be taking over as the Chair of this committee.

NYACP MENTORSHIP AND BUDDY PROGRAMS

The Membership Committee’s Fall Mentorship Program (co-chaired by Catherine Canade and Shara Goldfarb) is well underway. We are looking forward to our end-of-session social and feedback session which will take place on January 22, 2025 from 5-6 on Zoom.

We want to take this opportunity to thank Catherine Canade for her hard work and dedication to the Mentorship Program over these past three years. Catherine founded both the Mentorship Program and the Buddy Program at the NYACP and made these programs what they are today. Catherine will be passing the baton to the capable hands of Theresa Ombres and Rachel Green. Theresa will be co-chairing the Mentorship Program with Shara, and Rachel will be heading up the Buddy Program. Thank you, Theresa and Rachel for volunteering!

The next mentorship session will take place from February 15, 2025 to June 15, 2025. We encourage new and old members who are looking to gain more collaborative law experience to join as mentees, and our more seasoned collaborative practitioners to join as mentors. We can assure you it will be a rewarding experience. Please be on the lookout for the email blasts with the registration link for the Spring session.

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RECENT EVENTS

On Friday, October 25, 2024 NYACP hosted a webinar: Mortgages and Divorce with Dean Curtis, Branch Manager and Moderated by: Anthony C. Markus, Esq.Topics discussed included and were not limited to: Divorce and Support payments and qualifying for mortgages,
Asset Depletion Product, Interest rate update – trends and what impacts mortgage rates, Types of mortgages – First Time Home Buyer Program and new Investment Options, and Modification and consolidations – CEMA for refinances.

About our Speakers

 

Dean Curtis has close to 24 years' experience in the mortgage industry as a Loan Originator and is highly qualified to work with a variety of mortgage products including FHA, VA, JUMBO and all conventional loans. Dean is committed to providing detailed service and attention to his clients and their needs.  Dean holds a master's degree from New York University's Real Estate program and prides himself on professionalism and integrity. He welcomes challenging loans and uses his skill and ingenuity to achieve reasonable and sustainable financing options for his clients. He is driven to provide them with the most optimal home buying experience and his proven success shows through family and business referrals.  Dean resides in Westchester County his wife and two children. He is an avid sports fan and enjoys outdoor and camping activities.

 

 

 

 

Anthony Markus has over twenty-eight years of experience as a family law and estate planning attorney. He has handled hundreds of divorce matters to successful conclusion through various methods including collaborative process, negotiated settlements, and litigation.   He has advised divorce clients ranging from those involving straight-forward legal and financial matters to the complex, involving multi-million dollar businesses, comprehensives pensions, corporate benefit packages and unqualified plans. He has conducted numerous lectures concerning collaborative practice, spousal and child support, qualified retirement plans, revocable trusts and the probate process for the New York City Bar Association and the National Business Institute. Mr. Markus is a former instructor for the Parent Education and Awareness Program (P.E.A.C.E program) where he taught parenting skills to couples going through divorce and is co-author of Collaborative Practice: Efficient Dispute Resolution for In-House Counsel for the Inside Journal of the New York State Bar Association.

 

 

 

 On 9-26-24, the NYACP - GCC Committee hosted a Meet and Greet with two dispute resolution organizations, the NYSCDM and the FDMC at the Park Imperial in Midtown Manhattan. We had a great turnout and enjoyed building and furthering relationships with likeminded professionals.

The NYACP Annual Meeting was held on 12-12-24 in NYC at NYC Bar Building with Dr. Charles Chaffin, Behavioral Economist. The Annual Meeting began with a networking luncheon. We had a wonderfully interactive day of learning with Dr. Chaffin, who facilitated a deeper understanding of what our clients are experiencing, what they may need from us, and how we can join with them in their world and guide them through their family’s challenges. Our day wrapped up with a networking cocktail reception to kickoff the holidays. Thank you to Family Kind is an approved NYS provider of Continuing Education Credits for Licensed Clinical Social Workers and Licensed Psychologists. Our continued gratitude goes to Our Family Wizard for their ongoing support of our organization.

 

    

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UPCOMING EVENTS - SAVE THE DATES! 

NYACP Gala December 4, 2025 at Brae Burn Country Club. Details coming soon...

The NYACP - GCC (Grow the Collaborative Circle) subcommittee (Chair Marcos Fernandez, Shara Goldfarb, Randy Heller, Jackie Caputo and Ariella Deutsch) and the Collaborative Law Committee of the Westchester Women’s Bar Association (WWBA President and NYACP member Sherry Bishko, Kathleen Donelli, Shara Goldfarb and Andrea Friedman) are co-hosting the next meet and greet for our members to meet and socialize with members of the WWBA on February 6, 2025 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Brazen Fox, 175 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, New York. Don’t miss this chance to meet WWBA members and like-minded professionals to tell them about our organization and our work. Email announcements to register for this event will be coming soon. It’s a great networking opportunity!

NYACP Training and Education Committee already is working hard to fill up the NYACP 2025 calendar! Register today on the NYACP Calendar.

• January 24, 2025 12-1PM Incorporating AI with Steven Kirch and Suzanne Kirch facilitated by Ken Novenstern.
• March 25, 2025 5-7PM Collaborative Skills Training Part II with presenters Marcos Fernandez, Nancy Kaye, Melissa Goodstein,Tony Markus, Meg Sussman and Ivan Alter.
• April 1, 2025 4-8PM Split Film Viewing at 60 East 42nd Street, New York, NY. 

 

NYACP- Racial Equity Committee – Jessica Rothberg, Esq. – Chair
Media Club Private Group Tour, Dance performance, and Discussion - Edges of Ailey at the Whitney Museum of American Art February 6, 2025 10:30am - Group Tour (limit of 25) Followed by a Discussion at the Museum Café Moderated by Melissa B. Goodstein, Esq. and Catherine Canadé, Esq. Fee: $25.00

The Racial Equity Media Club is excited to invite you to a group museum tour of the Edges of Ailey exhibit and dance performance at the Whitney Museum of American Art at 10:30 AM on February 6, 2025. The group will meet at the main entrance lobby at 10:30 with a private group tour from 11AM -12 PM with a live dance performance at 1:00 followed by an informal discussion of the exhibit led by Melissa Goodstein and Catherine Canade at the museum cafe. Registration is limited to 25 members, which includes a full day access museum for those members who want to further explore this wonderful museum.

The Edges of Ailey exhibit showcases the life and work of choreographer, dancer, director, and activist Alvin Ailey through an immersive experience of art, music, archival materials, video and a live dance performance. Alvin Ailey sought to preserve and express the African - American experience and culture through dance.

NYACP's Racial Equity committee is committed to providing resources and opportunities for our members to gain a better understanding of the history and consequences of systemic racism so we can better serve our diverse clientele and work towards a more just and equitable society. Your active participation in this conversation is vitally important, as it will allow us to collectively develop strategies and initiatives to promote racial equity within our organization and beyond.

Thank you for your ongoing dedication to our shared mission. Together, we can make a difference and create a more inclusive and equitable future for all. Registration is limited to 25 so register early!

UPCOMING TRAINING
It is a requirement for membership to NYACP that prospective members have completed the mediation training. Our own Katherine Miller is facilitating mediation training. The Center for Understanding in Conflict is offering an in person 40 hour training that qualifies attorneys in full to apply for the part 146 mediation rosters. It will be held in June at the Hightlights Foundation, The information about the training is here.

See the NYACP website for additional information on upcoming Collaborative Trainings.

If you know of any Law, or Graduate students in Mental Health or Business who show an interest in Collaborative Practice process who want to be trained, and ultimately add to our next generation of professional members of our organization, the Kevin Scudder Higher Education Scholarship Fund in place to financially support their training. Please send inquiries to Randy Heller at [email protected]

NYACP Collaborative Connection Lunches

If you are a collaborative professional looking to expand your connections with your collaborative colleagues, join us for our bi-monthly meet ups for lunch, coffee, or drinks after work. The NYACP Membership Committee is launching 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. Invitations are sent out by the office for each scheduled meet up, and the first eight NYACP members to register will reserve a spot for the next meet up at a designated time and location. These meet ups offer a great chance to build up you professional and personal network and to find support and encouragement in helping families who have chosen the collaborative process. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with your peers and get more involved in the NYACP.

NYACP COLLABORATIVE CONNECTIONS LUNCHES - ’24-‘25 SCHEDULE
Dates, times, and locations to be published. Please lookout for announcements and join us. It’s a GREAT WAY to build relationships with your Collaborative Colleagues!

2025
JANUARY New York City
FEBRUARY Westchester
MARCH Western Long Island
APRIL New York City
MAY Westchester
JUNE East End of Long Island
JULY BREAK
AUGUST BREAK

NYACP AND IACP ARE GLOBAL PARTNERS

Consider IACP Membership
The International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP) is a global resource for learning about and promoting Collaborative Practice. Membership in IACP is open to anyone. While most members are legal, mental health or financial professionals, we also welcome members who are not in these fields to join IACP in order to support the vision of the Collaborative Practice movement.

GLOBAL IMPACT: A local & global voice for change
By joining IACP, you’ll become part of the greater good. You’ll connect with other Collaborative professionals with whom you can exchange best practices and create positive change. Within the framework of this community, you’ll get the support you need to reach your full potential as a Collaborative Practitioner; you’ll be part of something bigger as together we change the way in which conflict is resolved throughout the world.

RESOURCES & BENEFITS: Advancing your practice

• Your connection to the international Collaborative community
• Forms, documents, manuals and practice guides
• Articles and educational video and audio recordings
• Listing of your professional profile in the only online international directory of Collaborative practitioners
• Public education materials including licensing for use of the Collaborative “C” mark
• Special member rates for educational programs, conferences and events
• Practice Group information and support
• The Collaborative Review, the only scholarly professional journal devoted to Collaborative Practice
• Join Now

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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]