New Judicial Officer in Long Beach - Divorce Court Reforms - Frances Feldman's Legacy

Starting in November, 2008, Commissioner Lori Behar will hearing divorce cases, following Judge Kenneth Black's departure. Judge Black will become available for private judging.
Frances Feldman, one of my mentors and most influential social workers in So. California died on Sept. 30 at the age of 95. She had just renewed her driver's license and was driving an Acura TL. She established the USC counseling service for faculty and students and started the social work specialization in corporate settings. She recruited me for the CA Social Welfare Archives and provided wise counsel to me on many occasions. See Milestones in Time Magazine: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1848806,00.html
Honors. Dr. Fances Wu was honored with the George Nickel Award for Professional Achievement by the CA Social Welfare Archives yesterday. She was the first Chinese-American to earn her Ph.D. from the USC Social Work School. Ann Thor, wife of prominent social worker, Dick Thor, received the Nickel Award for her volunteer work for over 50 years.
Divorce Court Reforms. The Elkins Family Law Task Force is soliciting suggestions for improvements in family law procedures in the following areas: access to justice, due process, effective, consistent and understandable rules, procedures, policies. Send ideas to patricia.rivera@jud.ca.gov. Photo: Royal York Hotel, Toronto, IACP, International Association of Collaborataive Professionals Conference, 2007.