KidsFirst!

The family law expert and parenting advisor for KidsFirst! is Henry Koltys, a family law mediator, a single father, a retired judge and attorney, Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for neglected and abused children, and a bar member of the San Francisco Bar Association and the Supreme Court of Vermont. The wisdom and guidance within KidsFirst! reflect his over 30 years of legal experience and 21 years of parenting.Henry continually improves the content of KidsFirst! by consulting with family law judges, attorneys, mediators, and therapists who focus on mediation, collaborative divorce, and conflict avoidance. He is Chairman and General Counsel of InCap Corporation, the company responsible for KidsFirst!, and Chairman of The Sophia Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that supports the family law court system and children and families in transition. InCap and Sophia are donating a free version of KidsFirst! to the courts and families in need.Henry is also a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, an interdisciplinary, international association of professionals dedicated to improving the lives of children and families through the resolution of family conflict. IACP members use a multi-disciplinary team approach to dispute resolution (usually separation and divorce), which includes attorneys, coaches, a financial specialist, and when there are minor children, a child specialist working interactively as co-equals.

“Death, divorce, and separation are the three most stressful events in life, according to psychological research, so families who break up receive a triple blow since a family break-up is really a death. The family members need to acknowledge this death and work through issues around grief, loss, responsibility, and guilt, whether through self-help such as reading and taking time to reflect or with trained professionals in group or individual therapy.

From my personal experience with divorce and custody, I saw a huge need to protect children and family relationships from stress and the resulting conflict. I created KidsFirst! to help protect children from conflict and help parents with the challenges of custody, family court, parenting, and scheduling. KidsFirst! eliminates the need for divorce lawyers who intentionally inflame emotions so that parents fight while they get richer. On the other hand, KidsFirst! is a great tool for collaborative divorce professionals who promote parental communication and cooperation.

Separation or divorce can be an opportunity for positive change, personal growth, and even transformation. With a good attitude and guidance from KidsFirst!, parents can create or improve positive relationships between each parent and the children. Parents who work together to avoid conflict will benefit their child for a lifetime.”
Cassandra Light 

The parenting advisor for KidsFirst! is Cassandra Light, a relationship counselor, artist, teacher, published author, and single mother. Her expertise is based upon her 32 years of parenting, teaching, and counseling children, families, abused women, and terminal cancer patients. Cassandra lives in San Francisco, where she teaches sculpting, personal transformation, and dreamtending.

Cassandra is internationally recognized for her teachings of personal transformation at Way of the Doll, a school she founded in 1980. Her book published in 1996, Way of the Doll: the Art and Craft of Personal Transformation, is the standard reference text used by teachers and students around the world. To learn about her teachings and her art, visit www.wayofthedoll.com.

Cassandra founded the Sophia Foundation in 1995 to support and promote the arts and consciousness to the arts, then in 2005 expanded its mission to include the protection of children and families in transition. She was asked to provide parenting advice based upon her sought-after teachings of personal transformation when faced with devasting loss.

“When I helped Henry create the parenting help for KidsFirst! my goal was to teach parents and children how to avoid and resolve conflict caused by separation and divorce. Clear communication and cooperation between parents teaches children the value of conflict resolution, collaboration, and leadership, all valuable skills in today’s complex and fast-paced world.

Based upon my teachings around loss and grieving, I know that this time of transition can be an opportunity for personal growth and the raising of consciousness. KidsFirst! provides the guidance so parents can learn from their loss and move forward in a way that puts their kids first, heals their family, and enables them to be positive about life and open for a new relationship.”