Sanctuary For Families

Breaking the Silence: Stormie’s Story

Self-Care as Self-Preservation: Understanding Vicarious Trauma & Enhancing Support for Providers

Survivors of intimate partner violence experience myriad forms of trauma, including physical, psychological, and sexual violence, poor treatment by systems, and racism. Domestic violence legal practitioners are steeped in trauma, yet often do not realize they are experiencing vicarious trauma until they exhibit symptoms. This panel defines trauma and vicarious trauma, identifies the ways practitioners experience and express them, discusses the need for institutional support, and brainstorms individual and peer support strategies.

Promoting Equity from the Bench: Judicial Selection, Oversight, and Training

Promoting Equity from the Bench: Judicial Selection, Oversight, and Training examines how judges are elected, appointed, and assigned to family court, the training they receive, and the resulting shortage of judges with the appropriate knowledge, background, and/or experience to handle the complexity and volume of family law cases involving intimate partner violence. Panelists discuss the inequity for litigants created by short-term judicial family court assignments and the need for increased judicial transparency and accountability.

Advocacy Planning + Closing Remarks

The 2022 Family Law Conference: Justice for Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence presents Advocacy Planning + Closing Remarks. During this closing strategy session, participants collaborate to develop solutions to the challenges explored throughout the conference. Proposed recommendations may include immersive training, court reform, increased resources, new legislation, and changes to judicial selection, credentialing, and accountability.

Spotlight on Justice Initiatives – Judge Edwina Mendelson

The 2022 Family Law Conference: Justice for Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence presents Spotlight on Justice Initiatives with Judge Edwina Mendelson. Hon. Edwina Mendelson serves as Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Justice Initiatives at NYS Office of Court Administration.

Protecting the Child: Focus on Intimate Partner Violence and Custody Law

Protecting the Child: Focus on Intimate Partner Violence and Custody Law examines custody and visitation cases involving child safety concerns and address current trends, including the growing use of parental alienation allegations. Panelists review empirical data on bias towards victims in custody outcomes, examine how gender bias and differing parenting standards negatively impact visitation and custody decisions, share practitioner experiences, and consider legislation designed to address these challenges.

(DAY 1) Welcome / Keynote Panel #1: Addressing Inequity and Injustice in the Family Law System

The 2022 Family Law Conference: Justice for Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence keynote panel is Addressing Inequity and Injustice in the Family Law System. Panelists include Hon. Judy Kluger, Executive Director of Sanctuary for Families, Hon Betty Weinberg Ellerin, and Hon. Troy K. Webber.

Keynote Panel #2: How Bias Manifests in New York State’s Family Law System

How Bias Manifests in New York State’s Family Law System was a keynote panel at the 2022 Family Law Conference: Justice for Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence. Panelists include Hamra Ahmad, Director of Law and Policy at Her Justice; Jacqueline Franchetti, Kyra’s Mom & Executive Director at Kyra’s Champions; Linda Lopez, Deputy Director, CBWLS at Sanctuary for Families; Dr. Carolyn Springer, Associate Professor at Adelphi University; and Shain Filcher, Executive Director of LGBT Bar Assn. Fndn. of Greater NY ("LeGaL").

In Love There Is No Violence — Sanctuary for Families

In the US, 1 in 4 women experience domestic violence. You are not alone.

Zero Tolerance 2022 – Honoring Katherine Forrest

Sanctuary's 2022 Zero Tolerance Benefit honors Katherine Forrest, Partner at Cravath, Swaine, and Moore LLP.