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

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

June 7, 2020

Updated: June 7, 2020 9:05 a.m.

PART IV

Grieving parents look to Albany for Family Court reform

June 15, 2020

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.

2-7-2020 Warriors on Wings Insta April V

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

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.

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.

Transportation to/from the conference hotel (TBA—a high end but reasonably priced hotel near the airport) and the Hanger will be provided.

ALL MEALS and coffee breaks will be provided throughout the weekend to all BMCC XV attendees at the Hanger.

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!

Lower fee for protective moms-- $30 for the weekend—and other attendees--$50 for the weekend

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:

www.batteredmotherscustodyconference.org

Chair: Dr. Mo Therese Hannah

Mhannah413@gmail.com

ABOUT THE BMCC

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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

Mothers who are victims of Domestic Violence

are often depressed and suffering from

post-traumatic stress disorder,

and as a result, can present poorly in court and to best-interest attorneys and/or child evaluators.

- 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.

Title Sponsor

- Listed as Title Sponsor on all promotional and event materials with sponsor logo

- Recognized as Title Sponsor listed in press release

- 20’ banner at the three day conference and Saturday evening event

- Full page advertisement on inside front cover of conference brochure

- Sponsor name and logo recognized as Title Sponsor on website for one year

- Twenty tickets to April 27th Saturday evening event

$3500 Donation

Become a Title Sponsor

Gold Sponsor

- Listed as Gold Sponsor on all promotional and event materials with sponsor logo

- Recognized as Gold Sponsor listed in press release

- Full page advertisement on inside back cover of conference brochure

- Sponsor name and logo recognized as Gold sponsor on website for one year

- Ten tickets to April 27th Saturday evening event

$1500 Donation

Become a Gold Sponsor

Purple Sponsor

- Listed as Purple Sponsor on all promotional and event materials with sponsor logo

- Recognized as Purple Sponsor listed in press release

- Half advertisement inside conference brochure

- Sponsor logo recognized as Purple sponsor on website for one year

- Two tickets to April 27th Saturday evening event

$500 Donation

Become a Purple Sponsor

Partner Sponsor

- Listed as Partner Sponsor on all promotional and event materials with sponsor logo

- Recognized as Partner Sponsor listed in press release

$250 Donation

Become a Partner Sponsor

-An exhibition table for the weekend of the conference

- A listing on our web site as a Non-Profit Affliate Sponsor

$150 Donation

Become a Non-Profit Affiliate Sponsor

Non-Profit Affiliate Sponsor

Monetary Donation

- Make a monetary donation to the BMCC with the amount of your choosing.

Make a Montary Donation

Silent Auction Donation Instructions Here

BMCC XV Fundraiser!

Silent Auction

Instructions pdf.

- Donate items to the BMCC silent auction!

- Excellent items to contribute include gift cards, arts and crafts items, food baskets, candles, jewelry, tote bags, etc. --If you are coming to the conference, bring your donated items with you. - If you will not be attending or cannot physically bring your item/s you may mail them to us in advance.