News from the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP).

Karen will be serving as the Chair of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (“IACP”) Access to Collaboration Task Force (“ACTF”) for 2015.  Karen currently co-chairs this committee with Attorney Catherine Conner of Santa Rosa, California, and will be taking over as Chair.    This past year, the IACP provided grants to Access to Collaboration programs around the world including the United States, Canada, and Israel.  These programs provide clients with no or little income, with the ability to have access to Collaborative Law  and Practice programs to help them resolve family law disputes.  The IACP Access to Collaboration Task Force helped create the criteria for the program, reviewed the grant applications, and determined the grant recipients.  The committee is currently working on a set of written materials that can be used by programs whether starting or already in progress, and will be creating its work plan for next year.

Karen is  currently serving on the IACP Board Development Task Force with Attorney Talia Katz, Chief Executive Officer, IACP, Phoenix, Arizona,  Attorney Ross Evans, President, IACP, Cincinnati, Ohio, Shireen Meistrich, LCSW, Secretary, IACP, Fair Lawn, New Jersey, Attorney Suzan Barrie Aiken, IACP Board Member, Sausalito, CA.  The task force has been exploring board development and understanding for IACP for the upcoming year.

Karen will also in 2015 be co-chairing the IACP Trainers Network and Development Committee, with Attorney Kimberly Fauss, Richmond, Virginia, who will be a new IACP Board member this upcoming year.  This committee is preparing a handbook for best practices for Collaborative Law  and Practice trainers, and will also host several educational phone bridges in 2015 for trainers.