The International Commission on Couple and Family Relations (ICCFR)

26/06/2025

We continue to remember and celebrate the life of Suzie S. Thorn, Esq. (1932–2025) – former ICCFR Trustee, Patron, inspiring leader, and tireless advocate for families and human rights.

Suzie’s dedication to ICCFR spanned nearly 30 years. From hosting our 1997 San Francisco Conference and joining the Board, to helping secure UK charitable status in 2003 and mentoring generations of ICCFR members. Suzie’s impact was profound and lasting.

Her legacy continues today, and for those who wish to honour her, donations can now be made to ICCFR in her memory.

👉 https://iccfr.org/suzie-s-thorn-memorial/

Thank you, Suzie, for your wisdom, generosity, and unwavering commitment to ICCFR’s mission.

20/06/2025

In Memoriam

We are sad to share the passing of ICCFR former Trustee, Suzie S. Thorn, Esq. Suzie passed away at her San Francisco home on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, just one week shy of her 93rd birthday.

Suzie was a high profile family law attorney in San Francisco for half a century. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University California, Berkeley and was repeatedly recognized as a Best Lawyer in America. Her international skills distinguished her ability to represent clients with cases involving the international Hague Convention facilitating the return of children wrongfully abducted or retained outside of their habitual residence.

Suzie was a long time supporter of ICCFR. She joined the Board in 1997 after hosting the ICCFR Conference in San Francisco. Her loyalty to the organization was exceptional. Over the years, she provided Conference presentations, encouraged remarkable Conference presenters and mentored new members, many of whom remain in current leadership roles.
She played an integral role in acquiring UK Charity status for the ICCFR Trust (now CIO) in 2003. She served as a Trustee; she loved international travel and was a fixture at ICCFR Conferences and planning meetings. Her husband, Professor Joseph Thorn, Senior (predeceased her in 2017) was also in regular attendance with her at ICCFR gatherings.

Suzie's support continues today through philanthropic contributions from the Suzie S. Thorn Family Foundation. Suzie is survived by her son, Joe Thorn, Jr., and those friends, colleagues and loved ones whose lives she so richly influenced.

(Pictured, left to right, Beverly Upton, Suzie Thorn, Dion Roberts and Claire Barnes at the 2020 ICCFR Conference, Rome)

14/02/2025

⏳ One Week to Go! Have You Registered Yet? ⏳

There is just one week left until ICCFR’s free webinar on The Role of Grandparents in Malaysian Families, taking place on Thursday, 20th February at 10:30 AM GMT

🎙️ Join Dr. Ruby Chau, Dr. Jo-Pei Tan, and Dr. Su-Wan Gan—renowned experts in intergenerational relationships and family studies—for a thought-provoking discussion on how grandparental involvement influences child development, family well-being, and social cohesion.

👵🏽🧒🏽 Whether you're a researcher, practitioner, policymaker, or simply interested in family dynamics, this session will provide valuable insights and real-world perspectives.

💡 If you attended our Malta Conference in November, you already know how engaging and thought-provoking their workshop on Grandparenthood was. Now’s your chance to dive even deeper.

📅 Date: Thursday, 20th February

⏰ Time: 10:30 AM GMT

💻 Secure your free spot now: https://iccfr.org/webinar-grandparenting-and-its-impact-on-family-relationships-experiences-from-malaysia/

Don't miss out—sign up today and join the conversation! 🚀

This webinar explores the vital role of Malaysian grandparents in shaping family dynamics and child development, drawing from recent empirical research across rural and urban settings.

12/02/2025

📢 New ICCFR Conference & Webinar Videos Now Available! 🎥
We’re excited to share that our website now hosts keynote speeches from our last two conferences, along with recordings of our last three webinars, featuring expert insights on critical family and relationship issues.
🌍 2023 Conference – Newport, Wales (with Care for the Family)
Theme: "The family offers a lifetime foundation to build resilience and elasticity."
We explored how global events have impacted families and examined their strengths and weaknesses in fostering resilience during uncertain times.
🇲🇹 2024 Conference – Malta (with Positive Parenting Malta and Familja)
Theme: “Intergenerational Perspectives in Families – Challenges and Opportunities.”
This conference examined the dynamic interplay between generations and how families cultivate resilience across cultures.
🎤 Webinar Recordings Now Available
✅ "Not all Refugees are Treated Equally – The Special Challenges of Families and Children in Refugee Crises" – Ambassador Mark Storella
Exploring the vulnerabilities of refugee families, especially children, and the risks of a “lost generation.”
✅ "Families Affected by Substance Use: Building Resilience" – Dr. Thirumagal V, Ph.D. (with the Centre for Equity & Justice for Children & Families Tata Institute Social Sciences, Mumbai)
Examining the impact of substance use on families and interventions that foster resilience.
✅ "Avoiding Fragmentation in Family Policy: Reflections from Some European Countries" – Martino Serapioni & Francesco Belletti (with Families Europe & CISF Centro Internazionale Studi Famiglia)
Analysing different European policy models and how they support (or challenge) family wellbeing.
📌 Watch the videos now: https://www.youtube.com/

ICCFR promotes stable, flourishing communities based on thriving couple and family relations. The Commission is dedicated to the advancement and dissemination of knowledge about such relationships and to activities promoting their well-being. It is an international forum in which individuals and org...

12/02/2025

16/11/2024

🌟 **What an Incredible Couple of Days!** 🌟

We have witnessed something truly special as professionals from around the world came together, united by their passion for helping and supporting families. 💛👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Our conference has been filled with inspiring moments, from thought-provoking keynote speeches by **Dr Louise Edgington** () and **Dr Claire Casha**, to engaging workshops and powerful discussions.

Dr Edgington explored *'Intergenerational Engagement for Climate Change Resilience and Motivation'*, while Dr Casha delved into *‘Like Father, Like Son? A Relational Ethics Perspective of Narratives of Fathering Across Generations’*.

The workshops have offered rich insights into family dynamics, intergenerational connections, and the many ways we can nurture wellbeing and strengthen relationships.

Thank you to everyone who participated, shared their knowledge, and brought their energy to make this event such a success. Together, we’re shaping a brighter future for families everywhere. 💬✨



Positive Parenting Malta Familja Claire Casha

15/11/2024

🌟 What an incredible start to this year's ICCFR Conference in beautiful Malta, in partnership with Positive Parenting Malta and Familja 🇲🇹

We were honoured to have the esteemed Hon. Michael Falzon officially open the conference, setting a thoughtful tone for the impactful discussions ahead.

A huge thank you to Arlene Healey, our first keynote speaker, for her inspiring presentation on *Intergenerational Trauma: The Many Consequences for Families, Past, Present, and Future*. Her insights into the ripple effects of trauma across generations were both moving and thought-provoking, sparking meaningful dialogue among our delegates.

Stay tuned for more highlights as we continue this transformative journey together! 💬✨



Servizzi u Benefiċċji Soċjali

13/09/2024

🌟 Join us for the 69th ICCFR Annual Conference in Malta! 🌟

ICCFR is delighted to announce its 69th annual conference, taking place at the beautiful Urban Valley Hotel & Spa in Kappara, Malta this November 2024. This is a unique opportunity to engage with professionals from around the world, as we explore the complexities of intergenerational relationships within families.

📅 Conference Dates:
Thursday, 14 November (evening) to Saturday, 16 November (morning), 2024

🎯 Conference Theme:
“Intergenerational Perspectives in Families – Challenges and Opportunities”

This year’s theme delves into the dynamic interplay between generations within the family unit. We'll explore how these relationships shape family life and influence issues such as resilience, climate change, and intergenerational trauma.

💡 Keynote Speakers:

Thursday, 14 November:
Arlene Healey – “Intergenerational Trauma: The many consequences for families, past, present, and future”
Arlene Healey is a registered systemic psychotherapist with over 40 years’ experience. She has worked extensively with families and children in the UK, particularly in the NHS. Arlene will address the profound effects of trauma across generations.

Friday, 15 November:
Dr Louise Edgington – “Intergenerational engagement for climate change resilience and mitigation”
Dr Edgington, a Chartered Educational Psychologist and expert in climate psychology, will share her insights on the role of families in building climate change resilience, a key challenge facing the future of family systems.

Saturday, 16 November:
Dr Claire Casha – “Like Father, Like Son? A Relational Ethics Perspective of Narratives of Fathering Across Generations”
Dr Casha, with extensive experience in systemic family therapy and lecturing at the University of Malta, will explore the intergenerational narratives of fathering and how these evolve across generations.

🌿 Why Attend?
Whether you're a psychologist, social worker, family law professional, or someone working with families, this conference offers an unmissable opportunity to:

Hear from international experts in family dynamics and intergenerational issues.
Participate in engaging workshops on a variety of topics, from intergenerational happiness to the impact of autism on families.
Network with professionals from a wide range of disciplines and share insights on how to support families facing today’s challenges.
Learn about the latest international approaches to family support services.

📝 Friday Workshops (Morning and Afternoon):

**Intergenerational Happiness: Developing Relationships through Educational Games**
**Who are the family? Children’s views on family composition (the case of Estonia)**
**Grandparents are the voices of the past and the door to the future for our children - but where does this leave them legally?**
**Grandparenthood: Understanding Constraints and Nurturing Intergenerational Relationships in Families**
**The intergenerational impact of autism on families and their family members: A socio-cultural and systemic exploration**
**Fostering wellbeing and adaptation in families: Transforming disempowering intergenerational rituals and practices**

📝 Saturday Morning Workshops:

**Intergenerational Moral Formation in the Context of the Family: Challenges and Opportunities**
**Towards a pedagogy of the grandparent**

🌍 Our Partners:
We are proud to collaborate with Positive Parenting Malta and the Ministry for Social Policy and Children’s Rights (Familja), with additional support from the Suzie S Thorn Family Foundation.

✨ Whether you’re working directly with families or conducting research in this area, this conference will be an invaluable resource for new ideas, perspectives, and practices.

👉 Register today to join this extraordinary international gathering and help shape the future of family support services:
https://iccfr.org/conference-registration/

09/09/2024

🌍✨ Exciting News! ✨🌍

We’re thrilled to introduce one of our keynote speakers for the 2024 Conference in Malta – Dr Louise Edgington!

Dr Edgington is a Chartered Educational Psychologist with a remarkable background in climate physics and solutions. With her independent practice in climate psychology for education, she’s a key member of the BPS Climate and Environment Action Coordinating group and consults with renowned organisations like the Climate Psychologists, Climate Majority Project, UCL, and more.

Her keynote will focus on *Intergenerational Engagement for Climate Change Resilience and Mitigation* – a crucial topic for our future 🌱

🎥 Watch this brief preview of Dr Edgington’s inspiring approach to bridging generations for a sustainable tomorrow.

28/08/2024

📣 Exciting News! The ICCFR Conference Programme is here! 🌟

Having already announced our keynote speakers, we are thrilled to inform you of our line-up of workshops, designed to inspire and educate on all things intergenerational. Join us for a series of insightful sessions that explore the dynamics of family relationships across generations.

**Delegates can choose one workshop from each of the three sessions:**

**📅 Friday Morning Workshops:**

1. **Intergenerational Happiness: Developing Relationships through Educational Games**
2. **Who are the family? Children’s views on family composition (the case of Estonia)**
3. **Grandparents are the voices of the past and the door to the future for our children - but where does this leave them legally?**

**📅 Friday Afternoon Workshops:**

1. **Grandparenthood: Understanding Constraints and Nurturing Intergenerational Relationships in Families**
2. **The intergenerational impact of autism on families and their family members: A socio-cultural and systemic exploration**
3. **Fostering wellbeing and adaptation in families: Transforming disempowering intergenerational rituals and practices**

**📅 Saturday Morning Workshops:**

1. **Intergenerational Moral Formation in the Context of the Family: Challenges and Opportunities**
2. **Towards a pedagogy of the grandparent**

Don't forget, the early bird rate to register expires on 31st August! 🕒 Secure your spot and take advantage of the discount! 💸

Join us as we delve into these thought-provoking topics with experts from around the world. Let’s come together to learn, share, and inspire each other! 🌍👨‍👩‍👦

Don't miss out! Register now and be part of this transformative experience! ✨ https://iccfr.org/conference-registration/

24/08/2024

🌟 Calling all mentors, colleagues, and rising professionals! 🌟

ICCFR is dedicated to making our 2024 Conference a great success by encouraging as much participation as possible. If you have a protégé, such as a colleague, grad student, mentee, or intern who could benefit from attending, or if you're a grad student or intern yourself, we may be able to offer financial assistance. 💡

Please reach out via our contact page https://iccfr.org/contact/ for more information by 3rd September! 📅 Let's work together to make this an unforgettable experience! ✨