Four-part article in the Albany Times Union
A Times Union review of family courts found that child protective service
investigations often did not follow through on reports of abuse.
For decades, system has been described as chaotic
by Chris Bragg
PART I
Children died despite warnings in New York Family Courts
May 23, 2020
Updated: June 6, 2020 12:40 p.m.
PART II
After children die, questions of standards and biases
May 30, 2020
Updated: June 6, 2020 12:40 p.m
PART III
Before children died, investigations skirted
state rules
June 7, 2020
Updated: June 7, 2020 9:05 a.m.
Op-ed. by Dr. Amy Neustein, 17/06/20 09:30
Mothers in US Family Courts can't breathe either
Floyd George's death is one example of legal frameworks that have sacrificed the lives of citizens in a misdirected show of force.
Save the Dates for the
Fifteenth Battered Mothers Custody Conference:
RETREAT!
May 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, 2020 in Albany, New York at
The Hanger at the Albany International Airport
202 HANGAR : 745 Albany Shaker Road, Latham, NY 12110
(On/near the grounds of the Albany International Airport)
Please reserve your room at the conference hotel by April 10th, 2020.
Ask for the special reduced BMCC rate of $109.
The special code for the BMCC rate is S46.
The Hilton Garden Inn
800 Albany Shaker Road, Albany, 12211
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This year’s conference will consist of longer, more interactive sessions with experts and advocates knowledgeable about domestic violence, child custody, and child protective issues.
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The conference will take place at the beautifully-assigned Hanger, and most sessions will allow for plenty of discussion, Q and A, and interaction among attendees and presenters.
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Transportation to/from the conference hotel (TBA—a high end but reasonably priced hotel near the airport) and the Hanger will be provided.
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ALL MEALS and coffee breaks will be provided throughout the weekend to all BMCC XV attendees at the Hanger.
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Come together with fellow protective mothers, attorneys, advocates, activists, and mental health, self-help, and other specialists for a weekend of learning, relaxation, connection, and self-empowerment!
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Lower fee for protective moms-- $30 for the weekend—and other attendees--$50 for the weekend
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Conference begins on Friday, May 1st at 5 p.m. and ends on Sunday, May 3rd by 5 p.m.
For registration and further information:
Chair: Dr. Mo Therese Hannah
ABOUT THE BMCC
The Battered Mothers Custody Conference (BMCC) is an annual weekend event dedicated to educating professionals and the general public about the serious legal and psychological challenges faced by battered women who seek protection for themselves and their children from the family/divorce court system. These (primarily) survivors of domestic violence often encounter disbelief of their allegations of intimate partner and/or child abuse by the legal agents involved in their child custody cases.
The conference aims to inform, support, and advocate for these survivors, allowing them to network with each other and with the professionals and advocates who come to present at the conference. The conference aims to help survivors enhance their ability to better cope with and overcome the impacts of abuse and to better advocate for themselves and their children within the legal arena.
Each conference is designed around a theme around with most if not all of the sessions and workshops revolve. The next Battered Mothers Custody Conference, "Combining Protective Mothers Movement with the #MeToo Movement," will take place on April 26th, 27th, and 28th, 2019 at the Desmond Hotel in Albany, New York.
Dr. Mo Hannah, Chair, BMCC XIV
Liliane Miller, Vice-Chair, BMCC XIV
Diane Meyer, Executive Director, BMCC XIV
Visit us on Facebook!
Educate Yourself
The CDC-Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences Study
found that survivors of childhood trauma are up to
5,000% more likely to attempt suicide, have eating disorders, or become IV drug users.
The safety, health, and well-being of our nations children must become our top priority in law and society.
http://acestoohigh.com/2015/10/13/how-childhood-trauma-can-make-you-a-sick-adult/ and http://WWW.ACESTUDY.ORG
58,000
AMERICAN CHILDREN ARE ORDERED INTO THE CUSTODY OF ABUSIVE PARENTS PER YEAR AFTER THEIR SAFE, PROTECTIVE PARENT ATTEMPTS TO PROTECT THEM THROUGH THE FAMILY COURT
Abusive parents are more likely to seek
sole custody than nonviolent ones,
and they are successful 70% of the time.
-AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION and
AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION COMMISSION ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
The U.S. ADVISORY BOARD ON CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT suggests that domestic violence may be the single major precursor to child abuse and neglect fatalities in this country.
25% to 50% of disputed custody cases involve domestic violence.
- AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION COMMISSION ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Fathers are often awarded sole custody
even when their sexual and physical abuse of the children is alleged and substantiated; 70% of the time, the abuser convinces the court to
give him custody.
Many batterers' motivation to intimidate and control their victims through the children increases after separation, due to the loss of other methods of exerting control.
- AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION COMMISSION ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Ways to Help the BMCC
Hover over boxes below to donate
Join local Capital Region business leaders as they help domestic violence victims attend The Battered Mothers Custody Conference. Their support of The Battered Mothers Custody Conference helps fulfill our mission to grant battered mothers in litigation, low-income advocates, and others who could not otherwise afford to come, to, attend at a reduced fee or at no charge.
The Battered Mothers Custody Conference is run only by volunteers, presenters and staff who donate their services, and is part of a non profit 501c3 organization. The conference serves as a reach-out to battered women across the country to provide them with education, support, nurturing, and networking opportunities.
Co-Sponsors
A special thank you to the following groups for sponsoring the BMCC XIV!
Title Sponsors
California Protective Parents Association and
Mothers of Lost Children
National Organization for Men Against Sexism (NOMAS)
Gold Sponsor
Goldstein Auto Group
Purple Sponsors
Kathy Jones, Justice Advocate, Consultant & Trainer, DV Sur5r Network
Sheryl Erfurt, Majestic Massage
Partner Sponsors
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
KidsAreHuman.org
