Innovations in Child Custody Conference
September 24-25, 2026 | Austin, Texas
Texas AAML and AFCC Biennial Conference
THURSDAY, September 24, 2026 | 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM
8:00 AM to 9:00 AM: Registration/Breakfast
Breakfast Premium Sponsor Campbell Recovery Services
8:45 AM | Welcome & Announcements
Christy Bradshaw Schmidt, MA, LPC & Jim Mueller, JD
Conference Co-Chairs
9:00 AM to 11:00 AM | Session 1 – Retiring the A‑Word: Evidence‑Based Tools for Understanding Parent–Child Contact Problems
This interactive session brings together legal, judicial, and mental health perspectives to examine how parent–child contact problems are understood and addressed. Panelists will challenge reliance on the “A-word,” exploring how it can oversimplify complex situations and shape decisions that may not serve the child’s best interests. The session highlights evidence-informed, trauma-aware, and developmentally sensitive approaches, with opportunities for discussion and reflection on navigating complex, high-conflict cases.
Click on Panel names below to open a presenter biography
Michael A. Saini, PhD, MSW, RSW, Toronto, ON, Canada
Sandra Mayberry, JD, San Diego, CA
Judge Roy Ferguson, Houston/Fort Davis, TX
Susan Fletcher, PhD, Frisco, TX
Kelly Fritsch, JD, Houston, TX
11:00 AM to 11:30 AM | BREAK FOR LUNCH
11:30 AM to 12:30 PM | KEYNOTE ADDRESS- CONFERENCE LUNCHEON
Remembering 911 after 25 years – The Conscious Decisions We Make and the Lessons Learned
Joe Dittmar – Survivor of the Twin Towers
Joe Dittmar is a recently retired 46-year veteran of the insurance industry. On September 11, 2001, Joe was attending a normal business meeting with representatives of various commercial insurance carriers at the NYC offices of Chicago-based AON Corporation- on the 105th floor of Two World Trade Center. One of only seven survivors of the meeting of 54 insurance executives, Joe‘s sharing of his experience of that day gives an informational, historical, inspirational and even motivational insight into one of the most incredible events in history. His presentation addresses concepts and ideas on what was learned that day and what lessons can continue to teach; lessons not only historical, but also personal, philosophical, ethical and social. The recitation of his journey from the 105th floor of 2 WTC all the way back to Aurora, IL in a 36 hour period provides a wealth of insight on an event that not only changed the world, but changed the way we proceed with our daily lives as Americans and residents of an ever-compacting world community.
12:30 PM to 1:00 PM | Break
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM | Session 2 – Friend or Foe? Rethinking the Role of Research in Family Law Practice
This session examines how social science research is used in family law, highlighting both its value and its limits. Panelists will explore risks such as selective interpretation, applying group data to individual cases (G2i), and reliance on emerging or debated research. The discussion will also address the gap between scientific evidence and legal standards, helping professionals engage with research more critically and thoughtfully.
Click on Panel names below to open a presenter biography
Robin M. Deutsch, PhD, ABPP, Newton, Centre, MA
Rob McAngus, JD, Dallas, TX
Michael Saini, PhD, MSW, RSW, Toronto, ON, Canada
Wendy Burgower, JD, Houston, TX
Judge Lorna Bedard, Dallas, TX
3:00 PM to 3:15 PM | Break
3:15 PM to 4:15 PM | Session # 3 – What Would Ted Lasso Do?
What can lawyers and mental health professionals learn from Ted Lasso? Cindy Tisdale, JD explains how themes and scenes from the popular the Apple TV+ series can help lawyers and MHPs perform their work with civility and professionalism in this fun and engaging presentation.
Cindy Tisdale is a partner at Goranson Bain Ausley and works in their Fort Worth, Granbury, and Midland offices. She is board certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has practiced family law for 31 years. Cindy was the president of the State Bar of Texas 2023-24 and currently serves as a committee member on the Pattern Jury Charge committee for family law, a member of the Council for the Women and the Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, and as a board member on the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. She has lectured and/or presented more than 80 times at continuing legal education seminars.
4:15 PM to 5:00 PM | Networking Happy Hour
5:00 PM to 6:00 PM | Texas AFCC Reception
25th Anniversary of the Texas Chapter of AFCC
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 | 9:00 AM to 1:15 PM
8:00 AM to 9:00 AM | Registration/Breakfast
Breakfast Premium Sponsor Campbell Recovery Services
9:00 AM to 11:00 AM | Session 4 – When the Process Becomes the Problem: Protecting Children Through Better Practice
This session explores how well-intended legal and mental health interventions can sometimes escalate, rather than reduce, family conflict. Panelists will examine common risk factors—such as role confusion, fragmented professional involvement, and conflicting expert opinions—and their impact on children. The discussion encourages reflection on professional roles and strategies to better reduce conflict and support child well-being.
Click on Panel names below to open a presenter biography
Michael Saini, PhD, MSW, RSW, Toronto, ON, Canada
Jonathan Gould, PhD, ABPP, Charlotte, NC
Lynn Kamin, JD, Houston, Texas
Sandra Mayberry, JD, San Diego, CA
Judge Brook Fulks, McKinney, Texas
11:00 AM to 11:15 AM | Break with Snacks
11:15 AM to 1:15 PM | Session 5 – Judicial Perspectives on Today’s Toughest Issues: Rights, Politics, and Professional Culture
Join a distinguished panel of sitting and retired Texas justices and judges as they take on the most pressing—and often uncomfortable—issues shaping today’s family law landscape. From the rising toxicity in our professional culture to the ongoing 50/50 custody debate, political pressures, public distrust, and the realities of what the bench believes we’re getting right and wrong, this conversation goes straight to the heart of the work. Audience participation is built in, creating a rare opportunity for candid, solution‑focused dialogue.
Click on Panel names below to open a presenter biography
Jim Mueller, JD, Dallas, TX – Moderator
Judge Roy Ferguson, Houston/Fort Davis, TX
Justice Dennise Garcia, Dallas TX
Judge Brook Fulks, McKinney, TX
Judge Lorna Bedard, Dallas, TX
1:15 Conference Wrap-Up/Closing Comments
Post Conference Symposium | Sponsored by Texas AFCC
Separate Registration – $125 – Required – Click Here to Register
2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Active Threat Awareness and Safety Innovations: Practical Strategies for Court‑Involved Settings
Mike Jackson, President, Elite Edge Training and Consultation
Texas family court staff work in emotionally charged public (sometimes private) settings where routine interactions can change quickly. Safety/Security depends on noticing what is normal, recognizing behaviors that signal escalation, reporting concerns early, and following local emergency procedures without delay. Everyday habits—from parking lot awareness to protecting personal information—strengthen security for the entire staff.
Mike provides training to help organizations and individuals prepare for threats and dangerous situations. With over 32 years in local and federal law enforcement, he delivers customized, practical programs. A former training director for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Mike specializes in areas including use of force, active threat response, and behavior recognition, drawing on extensive counter-terrorism and tactical experience worldwide.
