04mar newsletter

THE TEXAS AFCC CHILD'S VOICE SURVEY RESULTS AVAILABLE
Results are in! Click HERE to view the results document.

GET PUBLISHED
Your Stepfamily magazine is actively seeking articles. Your Stepfamily Editorial Line-up for 2004:

May/June 2004 No One Ever Told Me I'd Feel This Way Acceptance: The First Step Toward Forgiveness Learn a New Language	September/October 2004 Can You Hear Me Now? Stepchildren With Special Needs Open Mouth, Insert Both Feet Can You Board the Love Boat?
July/August 2004 Does "New School" Mean I Have to Move? Need an Instruction Book? Which One? Everyone's Got Hot Buttons, So Chill	November/December 2004 It's Traditional To Try New Things Enough for Everyone - Really! Counseling Didn't Work? Try Mediation

Also new on the Publishing page:
EMBRACING YOUR FATHER
By Dr. Linda Nielsen, Professor, Adolescent Psychology & Women's Studies,
Wake Forest University

This book is the only one on the market that is exclusively focused on showing daughters how to strengthen their relationships with their fathers - or how to reunite with fathers that haven't seen for years. As a psychologist and author, Dr. Nielsen's speciality is working divorced fathers relationships with their daughters. More info: www.wfu.edu/~nielsen

STATE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Now is a great time to get involved with this year's state conference planning. The committee will be meeting in several cities around the state. Attend a meeting in person or by phone. Tentative meeting dates are:
June 4, 2004 in DFW, 4:00 - 7:00 PM
August 6, 2004 in Houston, 4:00-7:00 PM
October 1, 2004 in Austin, 4:00-7:00 PM at conference hotel
Tentative conference date is in November.

Board Planning Retreat in DFW area Friday, June 11, 2004, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM; location to be announced

INTERNATIONAL AFCC CONFERENCE, SAN ANTONIO - NEXT MONTH!
The 2004 AFCC conference will also be held in Texas this year, May 12-15, 2004, Adam's Mark Hotel in San Antonio. Details are available at www.afccnet.org.

Texas AFCC Chapter Meeting will be held at the international conference in San Antonio: Friday, May 14, 2004; 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM; location to be announced before conference.

APRIL IS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH
Prevent Child Abuse
Child Abuse Prevention Network
National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information

MAY IS SUPERVISED VISITATION AWARENESS MONTH
The Supervised Visitation Network, an organization consisting of over 325 - visitation providers nation wide, adopted the Orange Ribbon Campaign in May of 2001. The purpose of the campaign is to use the symbol of the orange ribbon throughout the month of May to raise awareness about the need and impact of Supervised Visitation. More info at www.svnetwork.net.

NEW WEBSITE FEATURE: Members In The News!
Nothing new about members to report this month - send us info when you're in the news so we can brag about you here!

STATEWIDE RESOURCES
We have extensive listings for Coparenting Eduation and Supervised Visitation, including new Virtual Resources. Please send us information for your local Legal Lines, Divorce Finance Resources, and Social Study/Custody Evaluations.

Our newest Supervision resource:
A Family Affair, 469-878-1961
Cindy Burleson offers supervision in Dallas, Tarrant, Johnson & Collin Counties.
www.webspawner.com/users/afamilyaffair2003/index.html

BONUS MOM OR DAD CONTEST
It can be difficult to blend a family while everyone retains their individuality, but that's the key to being bonus. Every year, on Mother's Day and Father's Day, Bonus Families® congratulates a special Bonus Mom and Bonus Dad for their ability to set aside their own concerns and put the kids first.

Is the Bonus Mom or Dad in your life a role model? A great friend? An inspiration? Are they the peacemaker in your family? If you want to give the bonusparent in your life something they will truly treasure...

Nominate them for Bonus Mom or Bonus Dad of the Year

Anyone can nominate the bonusparent for the Bonus Families® Bonus Mom or Dad of the Year award. Bonus kids, bio parents, extended family, friends that know your story...let us know how you feel about the Bonus Mom or Dad in your life.

There are two separate contests:
Entries for Bonus Mom of the Year should arrive by April 25, 2004.
Entries for Bonus Dad of the Year should arrive by May 25, 2004.

This is what we need:
1. Tell us your story. How you met, some of the trials you have overcome, and why you are nominating them for Bonus Mom or Dad of the Year. Your letter will be posted on the site as a personal thank you for all to see.

2. Should your entry be chosen, a picture of either you and the bonus parent, or of your family, suitable for posting on the site. Any pictures sent become the property of Bonus Families® and cannot be returned. Pictures will only be posted on the Bonus Families® web site and will not be offered to any other site or publication.

Although we are all winners when we achieve Bonus status, the winner of the contest will receive the following:
Their choice of a Bonus Mom or Bonus Dad Coffee Mug or T-shirt.
Your letter published as a special thank you to the Bonus Mom or Dad in your life.
Visit our on-line store to view the prizes.

This is your chance to offer a special thank you on Mother's Day and Father's Day to someone you feel has gone above and beyond the call of duty and has made a positive difference in your life. The nominee letters will be reviewed by the Bonus Families® staff.

Got questions? Contact BonusFamliies at: bonusaward@bonusfamilies.com.
www.bonusfamilies.com

PARTICIPATE IN A STEPFAMILY RESEARCH STUDY
Has your stepfamily experienced problems or conflicts? Have you participated in counseling for problem resolution? Are you willing to try a new approach to resolving the issues affecting your stepfamily?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you are invited to participate in the "Comparison of Family Satisfaction Between Counseling and Mediation for Stepfamily Conflict Resolution" research study being conducted by Kathy Lettieri, A Doctorate of Philosophy candidate at Oxford Graduate School. The study continues through May 31, 2004.

For years, traditional family counseling has been the sole approach to conflict resolution offered to the stepfamily. But, the stepfamily is not the same as the traditional nuclear family. Kathy suggests mediation as an alternate approach. A mother of 2 and stepmother of 6 plus 2
step-step children, Kathy experienced successful conflict resolution when the most problematic of the stepchildren offered an "I will if you will" resolution over a particular issue. It became a long-range, win-win solution for both sides.

Kathy is seeking two groups of families with stepchildren:
Group A will consist of families who have engaged in traditional family counseling anytime between January 2001 and February 2004. Group A will need to answer the Family Assessment online by April 20th.

Group B will consist of families who agree to engage in 1 to 3 mediation sessions. Group B will need to answer the Family Assessment Measure before May 31, 2004. Children ages 10 and up may, with their parent's help if necessary, answer a Family Assessment Measure.

The Family Assessment Measure is in 3 parts: self, dyadic, and general rating. It will take approximately 15 to 20 minutes to complete the Family Assessment Measure.

RE: CONFIDENTIALITY - The mediators working with participants in this study are certified, licensed professionals, and follow a professional code of ethics. Your personal information is kept confidential, and your online survey responses are coded so that no names are used.

Please visit www.stepfamilyresolutions.org to begin your participation in this stepfamily. study. Kathy Lettieri's contact information is also available on her website.