While the traditional model of the American family has been evolving over the last century, recent cultural, legislative, and case law changes served as the impetus for the SDF Family Law Center’s annual full day symposium on the 'New American Family'. Through various panel discussions with experts in the field, panelists and attendees explored the values and culture shifts of the former American family (presented by
Prof. Linda McClain of Boston University School of Law and
Prof. Roberta Kwall of DePaul University College of Law), implications of not marrying under the present American family (presented by
Sandra Crawford of Law Crawford PC,
Hon. Pamela E. Loza,
Brandon Peck of PeckRitchey, LLC, and
Dr. Gail Petrich), the ethical dilemmas current and future American families face in addressing embryos upon separation (presented by
Prof. Susan Crockin of Georgetown University Law Center and Crockin Law & Policy Group, PLLC and
Nidhi Desai of Desai & Miller), the economics of marriage and separation (presented by
Prof. Shoshanna Grossbard of San Diego State University), the 'graying divorce' (presented by
Stephanie Tang of Kogut & Wilson, LLC and
Mario Ventrelli of Ventrelli Simon LLC), how to co-parent effectively post decree (presented by
David Ainley of Katz & Stefani, LLC,
Brendan Hammer of Berger Schatz, and
Sarah Hawkins of the Cook County Office of the Public Guardian), and mental health concerns for the new American family (presented by
Grace Gufler of Accepting Therapy and
Gwenn Waldman).