Dr. Kushner has published numerous journal articles pertaining to children, families and the Canadian legal system. She is currently writing a book pertaining to "Family Assessments". She has numerous other professional publications.

Scholarly Activities Summary:

Books                                        1 (seeking contract)
Referred Journal Articles              8
Professional Publications              7
Technical & Research Reports       6
Referred Papers & Workshops     11

Referred Journal Articles:

Kushner, M. (2009) Judges & child custody evaluators beware: Methodological limitations
     inherent in the research about children & divorce. Canadian Family Law Quarterly 28 (1),
     pp. 33-49.
Kushner, M. (2009) A dual model for completing parenting plans post separation.
     Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 50(7).
Kushner, M. (2009) A review of the empirical literature about child development and
     adjustment post separation. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage (in press).

Kushner, M. (2008) Courtextual Slippage: A Detriment to Child Custody Planning? Journal
of Child Custody, 5(3/4), 276-298.
Kushner, M. (2006) Is best interests a solution to filling potholes in child custody planning?
Journal of Child Custody, 3(2), 71-89

Kushner, M. (2006) Best interests and child custody planning. Journal of Divorce &
Remarriage, 44(3/4), 17-29

Kushner, M. (2005) The child custody expert: Legitimizing one's moral and legal self.
Canadian Family Law Quarterly, 23(1), 94-99

Kushner, M. (2005) Child custody experts: An identity crisis. Canadian Family Law Quarterly,
22(3), 297-317

Professional Publications:

Kushner, M. (2008, Feb.) Mapping text. Institutional Ethnography Newsletter. 5(1).

Kushner, M. (2007, June) Tips for divorcing parents regarding their children.
NASW web-site www.helpstartshere.org.

Kushner, M. (2006) Child custody planning in a textually structured court system.
Published doctoral dissertation, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB.

Kushner, M. (2005) The relationship between children of divorce and the legal system,

revisited. Psymposium, 14(4), 22-25.

Kushner, M. (204) The relationship between children of divorce and the legal system.

Women in Psychology, 15(3), 3-6.

Kushner, M. (1995) Principles of prosperity and social work.

The Advocate, 20(1), 16-17.

Kushner, M. (1994) Excelling in private practice. The Adovcate, 19(4), 17-18.

Specialties:

Clinical Work pertaining to Individuals, Couples and Families

Provides Expert Court Testimony involving Child Custody and Guardianship

Appointment Year:

2006

Institutions Attended:

BA Cultural Anthropology The University of Toronto, Toronto, CA

BSW York University, Tornoto, CA

MSW University of Calgary, Calgary, CA

Ph.D. University of Calgary, Calgary, CA

Recent Experience:

Dr. Kushner's career involves 30 years of experience as a social worker. Her employment experiences include numerous child welfare programs including, investigations, adoptions, daycare licensing and probation. Her 10 years experience in the child welfare system ranged from direct practice to management positions. Dr. Kushner was involved in writing the Adoptions regulations in Alberta, CA, pertaining to the family assessment portion of the current Adoptions Act. She was also instrumental in designing and implementing the first aboriginal child welfare office in Canada. Her experiences range from working in remote Canadian locations with Aboriginal peoples to large urban centers. For the last 20 years, Dr. Kushner owned and operated a private practice in Calgary, Alberta. As a clinical social worker and marriage and family therapist, she provided marriage and family therapy, divorce mediation, as well as individual counseling to both the private and public sectors. Her clinical expertise is in the area of completing child custody evaluations as a court-appointed expert. To date, she has completed over 300 expert opinions in numerous Canadian jurisdictions. Dr. Kushner has also been appointed by the Canadian Court system as an expert pertaining to adoption and child sexual abuse. Dr. Kushner has a private practice specializing in the area of divorce, marital and family therapy.

Research/Practice Interests:

Family Law
Children's Rights
Mediation
Child Custody
Access Matters

Dr. Kushner's Ph.D. dissertation pertained to the "helpfulness" of child custody experts. Her participants were Canadian judges and child custody evaluators. Prior to this study, Canadian judges had not engaged in scholarly research.

Dr. Kushner is continuing to research her interest in procedural justice with judges in the State of Maryland. She has recently been appointed to a Custody Subcommittee of the Maryland Judicial Committee on Family Law. Her responsibilities include reviewing proposed Family law legislation that are being prepared as legislative bills. For example, Child Custody and Military Duty, and Domestic Violence bills.

Teaching Experience:

Dr. Kushner has taught in the Canadian college and university systems since 1990. Courses taught include field, practice methods at the BSW and MSW levels, substance abuse, advanced family practice, family assessment, and group work. She teaches traditional face-to-face classes as well as blended classes in the SU Satellite Program.

Awards/Scholarships:

* Nominated for excellence in teaching award at the University of Calgary 2003
* Recipient of the Women Helping Women Scholarship provided by the Psychology Association in Alberta, CA 2002, 2003
* Centennial Year Scholarship, Gilbey, CA 1973. Full tuition scholarship towards an undergraduate university degree

Professional Affiliations:

* Clinical registration with the Canadian Social Work Association
* Clinical license with the State of Maryland Social Work Association
* AAMFT - American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists - Clinical membership since 1991. Reviewer for AAMFT scholarly works/workshop submissions.
* AFCC - Association of Family and Conciliation Courts - Original membership 1990.
* SSPS - Society for the Study of Social Problems - Membership since 2004.

Service:

* Salisbury University Sailing Advisor
* Library Liaison for Social Work
* Maryland Judiciary Sub-committee on Family Law

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