here - National Organization of Forensic Social Work

P A G E 2Second Annual NOFSWSol Gothard Award Winner:Richard DucotePresented by Judge GothardI was first elected Juvenile Court Judgein Jefferson Parish, La., in 1972, some40 years ago. Two years later, I hiredRichard as a probation officer. Heasked if he could go to law school atnight. I told him that in 1958, I did thesame thing when I was hired as a probationofficer in the New OrleansJuvenile Court. My judge, Leo Blessing,allowed me flexibility so that I couldattend Law School in the evening andalso maintain a full time job. I did thesame for Richard, and he worked Saturdays,holidays and other unusualtimes (as I also had done) to fulfill hisobligations to the Court.And he more than fulfilled the requiredobligations and duties…muchmore!! From the beginning of his tenurewith the Juvenile Court, he was adifferent kind of probation officer. Hebrought original and innovative ideasregarding what we should be doing tohelp children, particularly abused andneglected children.In 1978, while still a probation officer,he obtained a considerable grant andcreated a specialized program to trainattorneys to represent and work inbehalf of abuse and neglected childrenin my court. I forget how much moneyRichard was awarded, but in theuse of these funds, there was no graftor scandal. Now that is pretty damnedgood for the State of Louisiana at thattime; in fact, it was outstanding. (Nojoke about Louisiana Judges!) Theother 2 judges in the Court wereskeptical, saying that no lawyer wouldshow up, on his/her own time, withoutcompensation, on a Saturday morning,no less! Yet, as Richard had predictedabout 40 lawyers showed up to volunteer.They were all specially-trainedand then worked for free to representthese otherwise voiceless children.This project developed the TulaneUniversity School of Law - Juvenile LawClinic, which was one of only four in thecountry to be nationally recognized bythe federal government for its innovativecourt improvements.Thus began Richard’s life-long career of,for the most part, representing victims ofchild abuse and domestic violence.Richard claims I had an influence on him. Idon’t know how true this is, but in classic“...he continues his goodwork and his fight on behalfof victims of abuse, neglect,and domestic violence...inthese matters, he is, in myopinion, the preeminentattorney in the countrytoday.”Jewish thought there is a Midrash, ateaching, that says that a parent is a successwhen his child surpasses him, andthis was certainly the case with Richard.For the sake of full disclosure, there havebeen persistent rumors, that Richard isthe result of an illicit relationship betweenme and a woman (who happened to bevery beautiful and smart) many years ago(before I was married or even met mydear wife, I would add). I hereby statepublicly, for the very first time, and to theworld…that I will neither confirm nordeny these allegations. That should putthis matter to rest from this moment on!!Richard has written numerous learnedand influential articles, published nationally,and cited in court decisions, I knowthis to be true, because I have readthese articles and cases and have usedthem in my teaching. He has wonmany awards such as the one he isreceiving today, from a variety of organizations,such as the BatteredWomen’s Conference, NASW, andmany others. He has presented atmajor conferences and trained membersof every profession, lawyers, police,social workers, psychologists,teachers, and especially judges, dealingwith a multitude of issues including:child abuse, neglect, domestic violence,and related issues such as the reliabilityof children’s memory , the so-called“false memory syndrome” and theeven worse, the so-called “parentalalienation syndrome.” He has testifiedbefore many state legislatures, includingcommittees of the U.S. Congressand has successfully written laws thathave been enacted in many states. Hehas been on national television. Andhe even had an actor portray him in amovie about the nationally known trialand subsequent jail term of Dr. ElizabethMorgan. Richard had been herattorney. She hid her young daughterfrom the father who, beyond anydoubt in the minds of most of us (butnot 2 different judges involved in thecase) had sexually abused his daughterin the past. There was also evidencethat he had done this to a child from aprevious marriage. Dr. Morgan servedover 2 years in jail for contempt ofcourt…a longer sentence, than many,if not most, child abusers receive.Now I have never been on nationaltelevision or testified before Congressor had a movie about me…rememberwhat I said about a child surpassing hisparent?

V O L U M E X I I , N U M B E R 3P A G E 3This is not to say that he is universally admiredfor these accomplishments! Shortly after leavingCourt to go into private practice, he drafteda law regarding citizens’ review of childrenin foster care because too many childrenwere, and still are, languishing in foster care,for many years, in what is supposed to be ashort-term solution. Richard enlisted me totestify on behalf of the legislation, before theLouisiana Legislature and I and two other judgeswere opposed by the other approximate 75other judges in the state who had jurisdictionover juvenile matters.Not only was he intensely disliked for havingthe audacity to say that the judges and Courtswere not protecting these children, but hesucceeded in having me put on the Judges’ s---list as well. But you know something? The lawpassed! And, we both taught for many years atthe National College of the National Councilof Juvenile and Family Court Judges. But, acertain few judges did blackball me from becomingan officer in the organization. That wasthe only election I ever lost. Thanks a lot,Richard!Because of Richard, I was in a movie, as washe, shown on public television, called“Breaking the Silence: Children’s Stories.” Itwas about children’s experiences of abuse. Ithad a variety of victims, including Joe Torres,former manager of the N. Y. Yankees, thepresident and CEO of Parade magazine, andother prominent adults. There was an extremereaction to this movie and it was cancelledafter a short time and was not seen inthe majority of the country. In fairness,though, it should have been more balanced.Soon afterwards, however, the so-called“Fathers’ Rights” groups started targeting mein some of their writings and monitoring mypresentations, etc. Again, thanks a lot, Richard!But they really went after Richard in a varietyof vicious ways that I will not talk about here.They caused him a great deal of money, time,and anguish. I cannot emphasize enough thelong, lonely battles he fought, as did otherprofessionals who were also targeted. But,with tenacity, very hard work, and perseverance,he won every battle that I am aware of,and these mean-spirited people have almost,but not quite, given up. And, most importantly,he continues his good work and his fight onbehalf of victims of abuse, neglect, and domesticviolence, as he refuses to be intimidated. Inthese matters, he is, in my opinion, thepreeminent attorney in the country today.So, this is a very brief and simplified insightinto the man whom NOFSW honors today.You have chosen well, and I am grateful to youto present this tribute to my long-time friendand colleague, Richard Ducote.Lifetime Achievement Award Winner: Richard DucoteI deeply appreciate your Sol GothardLifetime Achievement Award given to me onApril 17. Judge Gothard’s support, confidence,and encouragement throughout mycareer were indispensable, and I thank himfor the 36 years I have known him.NOFSW could not have selected a moreiconic figure to embody lifetime achievementthan Judge Gothard, who has alwaysled a life of service, humanity, scholarship,leadership, inspiration, and courage. Fewjudges have so boldly challenged their ownranks to shed the bias, ignorance, complacency,and lethargy which have gravelydisserved the abused, battered, and troubledappearing before them for redressdaily. Now, long after his “retirement,”he continues to energize and shape thepractical and intellectual debates confrontingall of us in the classrooms and courtrooms,with the same acuity and wit endearinghim to us for decades.I also thank Dr. Viola Vaughan-Edenfor nominating me, and for bringing to thefield- locally, nationally, and internationally- a whirlwind of competence, integrity,and professional coalescence.So many are indebted to forensic socialworkers.Child sexualabuse victimswould still bechained by themisguidedFreudian psychiatrists,were it notfor pioneeringinsightful socialworkersin the early 70’s. Special needs adoptionwould likewise be an alien notion, andeffective therapeutic intervention for thetraumatized would not exist, were it notfor those in your profession.I thank you again for this honor, andhope to continue to work with you in theyears ahead.

P A G E 4NOFSW’s 29th Annual Conference: Building Bridges—Interdisciplinary CollaborationHeld at theTremont PlazaHotel in Baltimore,MD;April 15-18,2012Presentation Topics Included:Expert Witness TestimonyResponse to Abuse of the ElderlyReleasing Incarcerated VeteransImmigration and Child WelfareHuman TraffickingTreating the Non-Offending ParentIdentifying Family ViolenceCapital Offense MitigationForensic Social Work ResearchTherapeutic JurisprudenceMentally Ill in Correctional SettingsPresenters Included: Jacqueline Blatt, Rebecca Bowman-Rivas,Rob Butters, Valerie Carson, Sol Gothard, Stacy Hardy, ElizabethHart, Jennifer Hill, William Holt, Maureen Kennedy, Myra Kirkland,Karen Keroack, Craig Lea, Ellen Levin, Viola Lindsey,Kathryn Maietta, Patricia McArdle, Susan McCarter, Angele’Morgan, Robert Mulligan, Carlton Munson, Matthew Rosenbaum,Matthew Silvey, Amanda Sisselman, Chris Smith, Alicia White,Be sure to stay tuned for more information about NOFSW’s30th annual conference next spring in Seattle!!

V O L U M E X I I , N U M B E R 3P A G E 5Viola Vaughan-Eden honored with NASW VA’sLifetime Achievement AwardOn Saturday March 10, 2012, Viola Vaughan-Eden ofWilliamsburg, Virginia received the 2012 Lifetime AchievementAward from the National Association of Social Workers’ VirginiaChapter. NASW VA honors those who are steadfast in theirpursuit of professional excellence and commitment to the valuesof social work. This is what the NASW VA had to say:Dr. Vaughan-Eden was recognized at the National Associationof Social Workers Virginia Chapter 2012 Continuing EducationAnnual Conference in Richmond, Virginia for her greatfortitude and immenseeffort in the field ofsocial work. ViolaVaughan-Eden is anexperienced and skilledsocial worker with anestablished history ofserving the best interestof children and families.She advances thesocial work professionthrough a variety ofsettings throughoutVirginia as well as nationallyand internationally.She is an outstandingand experiencepractitioner,teacher, and advocate.A graduate of Norfolk State University, she completedher dissertation on parenting sexually abused children earning aPhD in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University.A founding member of the Child Advocacy Center inNorfolk, representative for the American Professional Society onthe Abuse of Children on a National Children’s Advocacy CenterWhite Paper, member of the Collaborative Divorce Solutions ofTidewater practice group, president-elect of the American ProfessionalSociety on the Abuse of Children Board and executivecouncilor for the National Organization of Forensic Social Work.In 2010 she was elected to represent the National Organizationof Forensic Social Work in Japan, and in 2011 participated in theFirst Russian-American Child Welfare forum, a historic event inRussia as part of Obama-Medvedev’s Bilateral PresidentialCommission’s Civil Society Working Group.Viola Vaughan-Eden is a woman who is sensitiveenough to be moved by the problems of society and strongenough to confront them head on. It is the Virginia Chapter of theNational Association of Social Workers’ great honor to recognizeMrs. Vaughan-Eden for her 27 remarkable years of hard workand dedication to the field of social work.The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) isthe largest and most recognized membership organization of professionalsocial workers in the world. Representing 155,000members from 56 chapters in the United States and abroad, theassociation promotes, develops and protects the practice of socialwork and social workers. Virginia Chapter represents more than3,200 professional social workers.Consider National Board Service on NOFSW’sExecutive Council— visit www.nofsw.org to learn moreCouncilor: A Councilor shall render active service on at least one NOFSW committee, act as liaisonbetween the membership of NOFSW and the Executive Council, and in general perform all of the dutiesas from time to time may be assigned to him/her by the Executive Council or by the President.Duties of the Executive Council: The Executive Council will act for NOFSW, speak in its name, havetitle to its property, and perform all acts necessary to achieve the purposes of NOFSW, except whenthe membership is assembled in general meeting. On those occasions, the general membership shallassume such powers. Councilors shall serve for 3 years with 3 Councilors elected each year.Eligibility For Executive Council: Members eligible to stand for election to the Executive Council shallhold a degree in social work at the masters or doctoral level, have a minimum of 5 years of continuous,full-time professional experience in forensic social work, have been a full NOFSW member for atleast 2 years, confirm a willingness to host a conference, and confirm a willingness to actively serveon at least one committee.

V O L U M E X I I , N U M B E R 3 P A G E 6Open Court Co-Editors:Susan McCartersmccarter@uncc.eduCynthia Edwardsccedwards121@hotmail.comNext Open Court will be publishedSeptember 1, 2012—Get your copy inby August 1, 2012!To submit to Open Court, email your articles tothe co-editors by the deadline (one month priorto publication). All submissions become propertyof NOFSW.Forensic social work is the application ofsocial work to questions and issuesrelating to law and legal systems.If you need to update your contactinformation—or would like us tosend a friend the newsletter!NEXT NOFSW WEBINAR!Mark your Calendars Now!Monday, September 24, 201212:30 p.m.—2:15 p.m. (EDT)Aging in the Criminal Justice System:Forging An Interdisciplinary HumanRights Practice and Policy ResponseTina Maschi, PhD, LCSW, ACSWStay tuned to the website (www.nofsw.org) for more information on how to participate in NOFSW’s next webinar!