Past Programs
The BIDC is committed to providing relevant and high-quality information to professionals working in the field of divorce. Programs may be purchased individually or at a reduced cost if purchased in a package.
Is There a Future For Parental Responsibility Evaluations in Colorado
This program will examine some of the history of PRE assessments locally and will explore changes to the practice over time. The presenters will examine how to encourage and support practitioners who perform these important assessments and will look at challenges faced by evaluators in our current environment.
The three expert presenters are:
Bob Backerman, LCSW
Since 1982 Bob has been a Clinical Social Worker and in private practice in Boulder. He conducts Individual therapy with adults and children, marital and family therapy, child and family investigations, parental responsibility evaluations, therapeutic parenting time, mediation, arbitration, expert court testimony on child custody and child development, presentations at seminars on child custody issues. He also has been a Social Worker in both the St. Vrain and Boulder Valley school districts and a Principal Social Worker, Child Protection Program, Boulder County Department of Social Services.
Les Katz, PsyD
Les is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in the State of Colorado. He received his doctorate degree from the University of Denver School of Professional Psychology in 1981 and has been licensed since 1984. He specializes in divorce and remarriage issues. He provides Parental Responsibility Evaluations, Work Product Reviews, and consultation to attorneys and mental health professionals. He co-developed (with Dr. Andrew Loizeaux) a 40 hour Child and Investigator Training Program which was offered from 2004 through 2011. For 5 years, he served on the Colorado Psychological Association’s Ethics Committee. He chaired a Metro Denver IDC committee that developed guidelines for Custody Evaluators and chaired a committee that revised those guidelines. He co-chaired a MDIC committee that developed Special Advocate Guidelines.
Marc Vick, MA, LPC
Marc has been in private practice with a focus on divorce and post-dissolution matters since 1984. Part of his work for the first half of his practice was completing custody evaluations. Although it has been many years since doing this work, Marc has continued to review many PRE and CFI reports and consult in various capacities, reading an average of almost one evaluation a week. In addition to this work, he has maintained a steady psychotherapy practice.
We look forward to seeing you at another important presentation and for non-members and to order your lunch, please visit:
2022 Family Law Appellate Case Law Update
Sharlene Aitken, JD, formed Aitken Law, LLC to offer clients more personable yet professional legal services. Her practice has focused exclusively on prosecuting and defending civil appeals in the Colorado Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and various District Courts of Colorado since early 2006.
With her extensive knowledge, Mrs. Aitken will cover the 2022 Cliff Notes for the Unpublished & Published Family Law cases to include: parenting time disputes, child support, preservation of the issue/development of the appellate argument, transcript issues, due process, attorney fees, and pre-embryos.
Special Needs Trusts and Divorce
Diedre Braverman is currently the Principal Attorney and co-Founder of Braverman Law Group, LLC, a Colorado trusts and estates law firm located in Boulder. She was the Principal Attorney and Founder of Wachbrit Braverman, PC, a California trusts and estates firm and was a Senior Associate at McKinsey & Co., an international business consultancy firm. She’s been quoted and featured in numerous publications which included the Wall Street Journal, Working Mother Magazine, Time Magazine and Better Homes & Gardens to name a few
Her presentation will cover the introduction to Special Needs Trusts and why they’re necessary, how they work, and when they’re generally used in divorce. She’ll address the two types of Special Needs Trusts and key issues in using them in divorce. She’ll answer many questions about who the trustee should be and which parent should pay child support: another friend or family member, or an independent paid trustee and the various options. Lastly, where the assets should go if the child does not spend them all and which parent is responsible for compliance with benefits-program rules and limitations.
Preparing for CFI & PRE Testimony
Ret. Judge Moss, Cynthia Ciancio, Esq. Bob Backerman, LCSW and Amelie Bracher, MA, LPC will be the program’s expert panelists. Their extensive knowledge is unsurpassed and is a program you don’t want to miss.
They will discuss topics related to testimony by mental health professionals including: How an attorney should prep a mental health professional they are calling as a witness; preparing for cross examination of an adverse witness who is a mental health professional; steps a mental health professional should take to prepare for being called a witness; ethical consideration of the mental health professional related to confidentially and disclosures during testimony; and when is a mental health professional a retained expert, unretained expert or lay witness and does that classification matter?
Please submit your lunch order by Monday October 31st.
Lunch options:
Classic Ham Deli
Ham with Dijon mayonnaise on whole wheat bread and includes kettle-style chips. *
Verona Turkey
Sliced turkey with cucumber, fresh basil, lettuce, tomato and sundried-tomato cream cheese on a golden croissant. *
Fresh Veggie
Dill havarti cheese, cucumber, red pepper, tomato, and field greens with dill spread on whole wheat bread. *
Baja Cali
Grilled chicken, with bacon, avocado, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, and chipotle mayo on a kaiser roll.*
Chicken Cornucopia Salad
Grilled chicken, garbanzo beans, zucchini, dried cranberries, feta cheese, toasted walnuts. Served on a bed of mixed greens with a house-made apple cider dressing on the side .*
Vegetarian Taco Salad
Plant-based “impossible” seasoned crumbles with shredded cheddar cheese, grape tomatoes, black beans, pickled jalapenos, and sliced black olives. Served over iceberg lettuce with creamy
salsa dressing on the side. Includes tortilla strips.
* side and dessert is included and is the Chef’s choice.
Drinks will be furnished. Attendees may bring their own if they wish.
Reintegration/Reunification, Practice, Protocols and Pitfalls
Ms. Reiter is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker specializing in life transitions. Jill also specializes in Divorce related issues, with specific focus on Collaborative practice, coaching and mediation.
Lunch options:
Grande Ham
Black Forest Ham, shredded Swiss cheese, arugula and tomato on a butter croissant. *
The Gilroy
Turkey with avocado, shredded swiss cheese and tomato on wheat bread. *
Fresh Veggie
Dill Havarti cheese, cucumber, red pepper, tomato and field greens on whole wheat bread *
Club Croissant
Classic turkey, ham, crisp bacon and swiss on a butter croissant. *
Chicken Strawberry Salad
Grilled chicken with strawberries, red grapes, and candid walnuts. Served over mixed greens balsamic vinaigrette on the side. Bread and Butter and dessert is the chef’s choice.
* side and dessert is included and is the Chef’s choice.
Drinks will be furnished. Attendees can bring their own if they wish.
High Conflict Personalities in Divorce
Ms. Merrill is a mediator, educator, and a divorce coach with a specialization in narcissistic relationship and high conflict personalities.
In this program we will take a deep dive into the psychology of high conflict personalities (HCP) and the trauma bonds that make divorce and co-parenting such a nightmare for so many. We will discuss ways to help clients disengage, learn effective strategies for communication and negotiation in mediation, and practical, non-confrontational ways to help streamline the discovery/disclosure process. Understanding the psychological and practical realities of HCPs in divorce is essential and will help divorce professionals and their clients save time and money in and out of court.
2022 View From the Bench
The 20th Judicial Bench shares their thoughts in this annual presentation. Please submit your questions to Jeanie prior to the presentation.
Note: per the Judges request, this presentation will not be recorded or transcribed and will be held in-person only.
Box lunch is available for this event. If you would like to order your box lunch, please order below using the appropriate payment button.
Lunch options:
Grande Ham
Black Forest Ham, shredded Swiss cheese, arugula and tomato on a butter croissant. *
The Gilroy
Turkey with avocado, shredded swiss cheese and tomato on wheat bread. *
Fresh Veggie
Dill Havarti cheese, cucumber, red pepper, tomato and field greens on whole wheat bread *
Club Croissant
Classic turkey, ham, crisp bacon and swiss on a butter croissant. *
Chicken Strawberry Salad
Grilled chicken with strawberries, red grapes, and candid walnuts. Served over mixed greens balsamic vinaigrette on the side. Bread and Butter and dessert is the chef’s choice.
* side and dessert is included and is the Chef’s choice.
Drinks will be furnished. Attendees can bring their own if they wish.
Litigation Abuse Presentation
Retired Judge Julie Fields and DV expert Vicki Lutz present on litigation abuse.
Digital Media Issues Presentation
Tracy Marckle of Digital Media Treatment and Education Center presents on Digital Media addiction trends, intervention options, signs and other related issues
2022 Family Law Update
Ms. Aitken will provide her Annual Family Law Case Review on both Published and Unpublished Opinions from 2021 and 2022 from her practice as an appellate lawyer. This program will discuss how current and future appellate cases can shape your Family Law practice moving forward.