I have exciting news! United Marriage and Family Services has created a monthly online conference series! The first online conference is for Blended and Step Families! 

Each month, a different topic will be covered, and we will have 10 presenters. The cost is $39.99 per person/or couple.  5 days before the conference date, it will go up to $59.99.  (After the conference, a download is available for $99.99.)

The Blended and Step Family Online Conference “live” date is March 26^th.

The conference is an online event. This means no expensive hotel, airfare or babysitter. You can watch the presentations in the privacy of your home, at your convenience. Once the conference becomes “live” on March 26^th, you’ll have 2 weeks (14 days) to view the presentations.

Below is information about the presenters and their conference topics.  To sign up for the Blended and Step Family Online Conference- go to:

http://www.MarriageandFamilyOnlineConferences.com

• Richard Barnes is a practicing lawyer and a speaker on business and estate planning.  He is the author of Estate Planning for Blended Families: Providing for Your Spouse & Children in a Second Marriage  Richard has his own firm, Barnes Law LLC in Valdosta, Georgia and is included in the 2010 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® in the specialty of Trusts and Estates.  Richard is speaking on Planning your estate in a blended family.
• Dr. Matt Crain is the founder of Connecting Fathers and Families and the Center for Fathers and Families. He has a PhD in Adult Education and a master's degree in Religious Education.  Dr. Crain is the Sunday writer for a weekly column on parenting and family enrichment issues. He has led workshops, conferences and classes to over 20,000 people in six states, and teaches classes at his local university in Tulsa, Oklahoma on parenting and financial peace.  Dr. Crain’s conference topic is How to be a great dad when your kids don’t live with you fulltime.
• Lesa Day has been coaching families for nearly 20 years.  She lives in the greater Atlanta, Georgia area and is an internationally known speaker who is sought out by parents, nannies, education and childcare agencies worldwide. Lesa Day has appeared on radio and television broadcasts nationwide and is the founder and CEO of We Win Life Coaching.  She is the author of How to Get Your Child to Say, Yes! I Can! & I Will!  Her conference topic is Understanding the different personalities of your children and stepchildren.
• Shirley Cress Dudley is a licensed professional counselor, with master’s degrees in education, and marriage and family counseling.  She is the founder of The Blended and Step Family Resource Center, author of Blended Family Advice, and founder of Marriage and Family Online Conferences.  She is located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Shirley will be speaking on Communicating successfully with your ex.
• Dr. Jaelline Jaffe is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, with a doctoral degree in psychology.  Dr. Jaffe has many years of experience in helping people deal with challenges in their lives, such as relationship problems, depression, anxiety, communication problems, medical disorders, stress, panic disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, PTSD, addictions, and eating disorders.  Her practice is located in Sherman Oaks, in the Los Angeles, California area.  Her website is Lemon-aidCounseling.com Dr. Jaffe’s conference topic is The myths of being a stepmother and how this impacts your family.
• Brian James is an experienced divorce and family Mediator in Chicago land and southeastern Wisconsin area.  He started his mediation practice, C.E.L. and Associates, in late 2005.  The first 10 years of his professional career, Brian worked in the criminal justice system helping domestic violence and divorcing families resolve family conflicts. By aiding his clients with the resolution of their divorce issues outside of the courtroom, Mr. James helps create a win/win situation for all parties in a divorce.  Brian will be speaking on Strategies for successful family mediation.
• Kimberly Kick is Licensed Clinical Social Worker, with a master’s degree in social work, and co-owner of All About the Children.  All About the Children is an internet based objective communication tool for divorced or separated parents to use to view and update their children's calendar; submit expenses on-line and receive payments automatically to a chosen account or make payments to the other parent’s account.  She is in private practice serving individuals, families and couples in the Lake Bluff, Illinois region.  She is also a lecturer at Dominican University.  Kimberly’s conference topic is Helping your child live in two houses.
• Debbie Reinhardt Palmer has been the managing editor of Midwest Traveler for over 20 years and launched AAA Southern Traveler magazine  in 1998.  She is a regular speaker on travel and tourism topics.  In 2009, she launched a website called Hopeful Transitions, and a blog that speaks to families in the process of divorce, custody and parenting issues. She lives in the greater St. Louis, Missouri area. Debbie will be speaking on, Are we there yet? How family travel can put your gang on the road to cohesiveness.
• Dr. Molly Parks is a psychologist who moved from Boston, Massachusetts to provide therapy at Lepage Associates, in Durham, North Carolina. She has ten years of clinical experience from children as young as three to individuals in their 80’s. She holds a doctoral degree in clinical psychology, and a master's and bachelor’s degree in psychology. Her experiences include a particular interest and expertise in trauma, women's issues, college transitions, transition to adulthood, behavioral issues in children, couples therapy, along with psychological and academic assessment.  Dr. Parks will be speaking on How to determine if your child needs to see a therapist.
• Andrea Patten is a licensed addictions counselor who has worked in substance abuse treatment, child protection and domestic violence settings. She lives in the White Mountains of northern New Hampshire.  Andrea and her father, Henry S. Patten are the co-authors of What Kids Need to Succeed:  Four Foundations of Adult Achievement.  This book lays the foundation through inspiring stories that help parents think about ways to prepare their own children for a bright future and become successful adults.  Andrea will be speaking on the topic Why blend when you can stand out?  Creating a family that works for all of you.

Talk with you again soon!

Shirley

Shirley Cress Dudley

Shirley@BlendedFamilyAdvice.com

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