Point C Divorce: Understanding the Impact on Kids with Former Judge Lawrence Jones and Joni Jones, RN on The Divorce and Beyond #303

This week on Divorce & Beyond, Susan Guthrie, Esq., welcomes Former Family Court Judge Lawrence Jones and Mental Health professional and RN Joni Jones to explore the unintentional way parents can cause issues for their children during divorce. 

In this episode, Lawrence and Joni share their unique perspective on the impact of divorce on children. They also offer tips on supporting your children and avoiding unintentionally hurting them during their divorce journey. 

Lawrence R. Jones recently retired from  public service as a New Jersey Superior Court Judge and is presently a member of the Board of Directors of the New Jersey Association of Professional Mediators and a member of the teaching faculty of the Association.  (Correction: At one point in the episode, Susan stated that Lawrence had decades on the bench. In fact, he has decades in the profession and many years on the bench.)

Joni Jones is a registered nurse, board certified in psychiatric and mental health nursing, who retired from the New Jersey State Board of Nursing, serving the public   under two separate Governors (Jon Corzine/Chris Christie). She also served on N.J.  Governor Murphy’s transition team on health-related issues. 

Topics and Golden Nuggets include:

• Stay focused on what truly is in the best interest of the children 
• The effects of negative talk about the other co-parent to or in front of your children
• What children actually want from their parents during divorce can be vastly different than what parents think their children want 
• Tips to help reduce the trauma of divorce in children
• Why extending an olive branch can help with communication between you and your soon-to-be ex
• Take “Yes, but…” and turn it into “Yes, and…”

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About this week's special guests: Larry Jones and Joni Jones

Connect with Larry and Joni AND find their video Point-C Divorce at:
https://pointcdivorce.com.

Lawrence R. Jones recently retired from  public service as a New Jersey Superior Court Judge, and is presently a member of the Board of Directors of the New Jersey Association of Professional Mediators, and a member of the teaching faculty of the Association as well.  

During his years on the Bench, he authored over 60 opinions on novel issues of law, and served as the President of the New Jersey Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NJCJFCJ). Following his departure from the Judiciary, he was honored by the New Jersey Law Journal as a Distinguished Leader of the N.J. Bar. In November 2017, he was appointed by Governor-elect Phil Murphy to serve on the gubernatorial transition team relative to legal issues and social justice.

In his post-Judicial career, he authored the 10-part "Settlement Series" for the New Jersey Law Journal, which focuses on techniques for improving the possibility of settling high-conflict cases. Additionally, was also appointed as an adjunct professor at both Monmouth University and Montclair University. He has also continued to present and lecture extensively on multiple legal subjects for the New Jersey State Bar Association, the New Jersey Association of Professional Mediators, the Association of Professional Family Mediators, and other legal and  professional organizations.  He has served  on the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Legal Education Committee and   

has also served as the Vice-Chair of the NJSBA Dispute Resolution Section (DRS). He has also been appointed to the Board of Directors of the New Jersey Association of Professional Mediators. 

Joni Jones is a registered nurse, board certified in psychiatric and mental health nursing, who retired from the New Jersey State Board of Nursing, serving the public   under two separate Governors (Jon Corzine/Chris Christie). She also served on N.J.  Governor Murphy’s transition team on health related issues. In 2013, Joni was the recipient of the Elizabeth Kellogg Award for Excellence in Nursing. Joni is one of the original founders of Parents of Autistic Children (POAC), and has presented before the Autism Society of America and the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts on autism-related issues. She is also a former certified developmental disabilities nurse.  

From 2002-2009, Joni worked with multiple major league baseball teams to create the first-ever "Autism Awareness Day" games hosted by the New York Yankees, Florida Marlins, Pittsburgh Pirates,  and (then) Montreal Expos. In 2002, the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown New York honored the Lakewood BlueClaws, minor league affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, for hosting pro baseball's first-ever Autism Awareness Day.   Comcast TV won a 2003 Emmy award for its coverage of the event.  

Joni  was previously a certified instructor  in  Mental Health First Aid, and has authored numerous published  articles on mental health-related issues. She received New Jersey certification in crisis intervention as well.  

Joni is the co-author of “10 Basic Principles of Cultural Competency (BCPP): A Starting Point for New Mediators”, which was presented at the 2021 Academy of Professional Mediators program on Mediation and Autism Spectrum Disorder, and again at the 2021 New Jersey Association of Professional Mediators’ inaugural forum on cultural competency.  

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