Strengthening Practice Through Knowledge
News
New! APSAC Alert 11(4): Telepsychology Services in Child Maltreatment Cases
May 20, 2020
APSAC is developing a series of rapid-response APSAC Alert articles to meet the needs of professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. This edition, authored by Jemour A. Maddux, PsyD, ABPP and Rafael Art. Javier, PhD, ABPP provides practical guidance on the use of telepsychology when conducting psychotherapy or forensic mental health assessments with families involved in Child Protective Services.
How Can We Help Support You Through COVID-19? A New Survey to Help Improve APSAC Resources
May 18, 2020
Since COVID-19, APSAC has pivoted to meet the needs that have been expressed by some members. As we plan to do even more, we need to hear from you! Please take a moment to complete this survey - you’ll be entered into a drawing for a free annual membership!
Free Access to the APSAC Advisor with "Contested Issues: Parental Alienation" Articles
May 14, 2020
In addition to making this special issue of the APSAC Advisor open access, APSAC is providing links to two recent journal issues focused on “Parental Alienation” (PA) (Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law and Family Court Review). These journals present additional information relevant the ongoing controversy surrounding PA theory.
Last year, APSAC learned that some professionals were recommending use of APSAC’s Psychological Maltreatment Guidelines to support PA claims in court. To clarify APSAC’s position, the following statement was added to APSAC’s latest Psychological Maltreatment (PM) Guidelines and other PM publications:
“Statement of Caution Regarding Use of APSAC Publications: It is negligent, even reckless for a judge, attorney, guardian, counselor or other professional to cite or otherwise mischaracterize this or any APSAC publication on psychological maltreatment as endorsing or even lending credence to a diagnosis or finding of “parental alienation.” To find that a parent has committed psychological abuse of a child in an effort to interfere with that child’s relationship with the other parent requires direct evidence of the parent’s behavior such as significant denigration, efforts to undermine the relationship of that child with the other parent and/or, efforts to get the child to make false allegations of abuse or other extremely damaging behavior by the other parent. A child’s avoidance of a parent is not sufficient evidence of psychological abuse by either parent. Professionals seeking guidance on these issues may, as a starting point, wish to review APSAC’s 2016 Position Statement on “Allegations of Child Maltreatment and Intimate Partner Violence in Divorce/Parental Relationship Dissolution” and other relevant publications.”
New! APSAC Alert 11(3): Practical Steps to Prevent Child Neglect in the COVID-19 Pandemic
April 22, 2020
APSAC is developing a series of rapid-response APSAC Alert articles to meet the needs of professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. This edition, authored by Megan Feely, PhD; Kerri Raissian, PhD; Will Schneider, PhD; and Lindsey Bullinger, PhD provides practical information on how professionals can support children and families across all stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2020 APSAC Colloquium is Rescheduled to September 21-24 in New Orleans
April 16, 2020
All of us at APSAC hope this message finds you and your family safe and well. We are writing to inform you that APSAC’s 2020 Colloquium is rescheduled from June to September 21-24, 2020.
When considering all necessary issues APSAC leadership reached the conclusion that the June 7–11 date brought too many uncertainties and, given the COVID-19 pandemic, was too soon for the 2020 Colloquium. Fortunately, the Sheraton was able to accommodate APSAC with dates later in the year when we hope it is a safe time to travel and gather (with appropriate social distancing). The Colloquium is now scheduled for September 21-24, 2020 - at the Sheraton New Orleans in New Orleans, LA. Details for pre-conference institutes and events are still being finalized. Information including exact dates and times will be on the APSAC website as details are finalized.
Child Maltreatment: Call for Submissions Connecting COVID-19 and Child Maltreatment
April 14, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic is having profound effects on virtually all aspects of people’s lives through its impact on the nation’s health, economy, social and recreational life, and the national psyche. There is little known about how such circumstances will impact rates, causes, or consequences of child maltreatment. Child Maltreatment welcomes submissions on the relationship between COVID-19 and child maltreatment. As always, empirical manuscripts are strongly preferred, but other types of papers will be considered. Due to the extraordinary circumstances of COVID-19 pandemic and the dire need for empirical information, CM will expedite the review process and will attempt to return a decision to authors within 30 days of receipt of the manuscript. Inquiries regarding the fit of particular manuscripts with CM can be made to the Editor in Chief at childmaltreatment@apsac.org.
Interested authors can access submission guidelines here and click here to begin the submission process.
Announcing the APSAC & Foundling Online Course
March 23, 2020
APSAC and The Vincent J Fontana Center of the New York Foundling are proud to present our new Online Course, featuring 29 lectures by national experts on critical issues in child maltreatment! Connect with fellow professionals directly from your computer, explore our comprehensive curriculum, and let us know your thoughts.
If you find the disruption in work for you and your team due to COVID-19 has created time in your workday for professional development, consider taking advantage of our $25 introductory price to take the APSAC & Foundling Online Course. Group pricing is available - consider assigning individual modules to each member of your team and discussing them together in your virtual meetings!
The National Initiative to End Corporal Punishment Announces a Competition – with Prizes!
February 24, 2020
In an effort to educate people and move U.S. parents away from the use of physical punishment, the U.S. Alliance to End the Hitting of Children and the National Initiative to End Corporal Punishment are sponsoring a competition to generate persuasive anti-physical punishment social media materials.
Entries will be used on social media platforms for the on-going campaign to change the minds of those who think that physical punishment is an appropriate way to discipline. Winning entries will receive a PRIZE, and there will also be a raffle for an iPad Mini! The contest is open NOW until May 1st!
Announcing the 2020 Webinar Series from APSAC and The New York Foundling
January 15, 2020
APSAC and the Vincent J. Fontana Center for Child Protection of the New York Foundling are proud to present the APSAC & Foundling Educational Webinar Series. Join us for in-depth conversations with leading experts in the field of child maltreatment.
