Community News
Red Cross Volunteers
Dr. Claudia Rojas recently completed her Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Counselor training. She joins other psychologists in the office who are Red Cross Certified Volunteers, trained to meet the emotional needs of people affected by disasters as well as the disaster relief workers themselves : Dr. Robert Wernick, Dr. Ellie Nelson-Wernick, and Dr. Monica Pedemente. Dr. Melissa Harrison has also volunteered her time and services to Hurricane Victims through the Red Cross.
Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Training
Dr. Todd Giardina, Dr. Monica Pedemonte, Dr. Ellie Nelson-Wernick and Dr. Robert Wernick all completed training and are certified by the 17th Judicial Circuit Court of FL, Broward Co. as guardians ad litem. A GAL is an advocate for children who are involved in the Dependency Court system due to being victims of abuse or neglect. Many of these children are in foster care, and the GAL volunteer works to ensure that a safe, permanent home is found for these kids. The GAL shares with the Court the child’s wishes and makes recommendations about what is in the best interest of the child.
In addition to our volunteer work in Dependency Court, we are available to serve as GAL’s in Family Court. GAL’s are most often assigned on cases where there is high conflict between parents and the children are caught in the middle.
The Association of Family and Conciliation Courts
Dr. Robert Wernick, Dr. Melissa Harrison, and Dr. Elaine Karbonik have each joined as members of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts. The AFCC is a national organization of judges, attorneys, and mental health professionals who are dedicated to improving the lives of children and families through the resolution of family conflict.
Dr. Wernick was invited to be a member of one of the AFCC task forces. He is working along with family law attorneys, judges and other mental health professionals to establish standards in Florida for Social Investigations and Parenting Plan Evaluations.
In July, Dr. Karbonik attended an AFCC training workshop in Chicago entitled Advanced Issues in Child Custody: Complex family violence, alienation, child sexual abuse and attachment.
APA in Toronto
In August, Dr. Robert Wernick and Dr. Ellie Nelson-Wernick attended the annual American Psychological Association Convention in Toronto, Canada. Here they met with leaders in psychology from around the US and Canada and participated in workshops dealing with issues of health care reform, mind-body medicine, and psychology in the public interest.
Dr. Elaine Karbonik is leading a Grief Support Group
Dr. Karbonik has been facilitating the GriefShare Support Group at St. Gregory’s Church for over 5 years. This group meets on Sunday mornings and is open to the public. For more information, call the Church office at (954) 473-6261.
| GriefShare Support Group | |
| When: | Sundays, 10:15 – 11:45 am. |
| Where: | St. Gregory’s Catholic Church Ministry Building - upstairs 200 N. University Drive Plantation, FL |