Balekian Hayes, PLLC, one of North Texas’ premiere family law firms, has expanded into Seven Points, Texas with an additional location at 720 S Hwy 274, Seven Points, TX 75143. BH Family Law practice areas include divorce, child custody, child support matters, custody modifications and matters involving child protective services.

 “We are seeing an increasing need for our approach to family law and service capabilities outside of the immediate Dallas area, adding this office was the logical next step for expansion and organic growth in our business plan. Family law cases are often very complicated, but the more resources that are available to families going through transition, the better, no matter what North Texas county you call home,” says Kris Balekian Hayes managing partner of Balekian Hayes, PLLC.

Balekian Hayes is one of only 867 Board Certified Family Law lawyers in Texas, and was recently recognized by the 28th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America© as one of the best family lawyers in the country. 

Led by Kris Balekian Hayes, the family law attorneys of Balekian Hayes PLLC are dedicated to fighting for their clients and their clients’ children. From contested divorces to child possession disputes, to out-of-court mediation and arbitration proceedings, the firm provides the knowledge and expertise needed to help people during what can be one of the most stressful times in their lives. To learn more about Balekian Hayes, visit https://www.bh-pllc.com/ or call the Cedar Creek office at 903-600-6CCL (Cedar Creek Lawyer).

Best Lawyers®, the only peer-review guide to the legal profession, recently announced the 28th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America© — adding Texas family law attorney Kris Balekian Hayes to the highly sought-after list for the second consecutive year. To be recognized by the Best Lawyer in America publication, honorees are reviewed by their peers in the legal industry for their professional excellence in 147 practice areas. More than 10.8 million evaluations were analyzed in the United States, which resulted in recognition of approximately 5% of lawyers in private practice across the country.

“I am honored to be recognized as a top family lawyer in the country for the second year in a row,” says Kris Balekian Hayes, managing partner of Balekian Hayes, PLLC. “Lawyers generally don’t have a great reputation and I try to make sure our firm never falls into that group. It’s our policy that while honesty can sometimes cost us, we owe it to our clients to give it to them. This philosophy has proven to reward us with recognition by our peers and referrals from our loyal clients.” 

Kris earned her law degree at St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio after completing her Bachelor of Business Administration at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. She continued her education by earning a Master of Business Administration at St. Mary’s University School of Business. With more than 20 years of experience practicing family law, she is dual-certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in family law and child welfare. She is one of 47 family lawyers in the state of Texas that carries a dual certification in both of these areas. She is a credentialed mediator in all civil, family and CPS matters. Today she serves as managing partner of Balekian Hayes, PLLC, based in Dallas, TX.

Led by Kris Balekian Hayes, the family law attorneys of Balekian Hayes PLLC are dedicated to fighting for their clients and their clients’ children. From contested divorces, to child possession disputes, to out-of-court mediation and arbitration proceedings, the firm provides the knowledge and expertise needed to help people during what can be one of the most stressful times in their lives. To learn more about Balekian Hayes, visit https://www.bh-pllc.com/.

Yasmin Bhatia, CEO of Uplift Education public charter network, will be honored by the Dallas Business Journal on August 24 as one of 25 Women in Business Awards honorees.

Ms. Bhatia has led Uplift Education for nearly 15 years and has helped grow the organization from a few schools to 43 schools across DFW educating 22,000 students. Throughout her tenure, she has developed many programs and services that support our students and their families.  She implemented an exemplar Road To College and Career program resulting in 100% of our graduates being accepted to college over the last 10 years and including college counselors at every school at the same ratio as private schools. She led the organization to adopt the International Baccalaureate continuum, which provides a top-level college-prep education for every student. Uplift is now one of the top five IB districts in the world. 

Ms. Bhatia believes in students’ social-emotional development in addition to their academic growth and invested in licensed social counselors at every school, explicit social-emotional programming for students in every grade, and a focus on adult well-being.  

In addition to the incredible impact Ms. Bhatia has had on the organization over the last 10 years, she has also shown true leadership over the last 18 months as our nation faced a global pandemic, racial injustice movement, and a volatile political landscape. During this time, Ms. Bhatia provided a voice of reason and stability. She instilled hope, encouragement, and confidence for the students, staff, and families of Uplift. She ensured that Uplift families had access to the support they needed, including food, medical, and financial needs, and took extra steps to provide social and emotional support to not only students, but their families as well.

As a profound believer that every child deserves a quality education, Ms. Bhatia works to share and implement innovative practices and strategies in the broader educational landscape. She also actively advocates for legislation to improve education funding and prioritize teacher well-being.

Now in its 14th year, the Women in Business Awards program highlights decision makers across DFW that have shaped our business community. Leaders in their fields across a variety of industries — from banking to sports business – these women are being highlighted for their achievements in the workplace and beyond. Honorees this year include key executives at global companies and C-suite players at some of the region's fastest-growing firms.

On Aug. 24, the Dallas Business Journal will honor its 2021 Women in Business Awards class at a luncheon at Fairmont Dallas Hotel. The event will feature discussions with all 25 honorees talking about challenges and successes over the past year in business.

For more information on this year’s Women in Business Awards honorees, click here.
https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/2021/07/13/2021-women-in-business-awards.html

If you are a parent going through a divorce, you know how emotionally challenging and stressful it can be. You may be extremely worried about your child's emotional well-being, safety, and future, or you may be worried you are losing valuable time with your children. A separation or divorce is a stressful and emotional event for everyone involved, but children may often feel like everything has been turned upside down. No matter how old you are, it can be traumatic to witness your parents' marriage end and the family's breakup.  

However, by providing your child with patience, reassurance, and a listening ear, it is possible to reduce some of the stress your child may be going through while also teaching them healthy coping skills to manage change. Establishing routines will offer your child stability, structure, and care during this difficult time. If you can maintain a working relationship with your ex, it can help reduce the stress and upset that comes with watching parents in conflict. Your support will help your child navigate this difficult time while also empowering them with love, confidence, and strength to create an even stronger relationship with your child.

Attorney Kris Balekian Hayes has been through the divorce process herself as a parent and now helps other parents navigate the often difficult and overwhelming process. She understands that the most important priority during a divorce is to protect your family. Based on her life experience and expertise, she offers parents the following advice while going through a divorce. 

• Begin your co-parenting relationship on the right foot. You will have a lifetime of dealing with your ex after a divorce if you have children, so try and start on the right foot with flexibility and generosity.
• Keep your children out of the divorce at all costs. Healthy kids are those that know that mom and dad love them dearly but are just going to live apart from now on. This also means you should not talk bad about your ex in front of your children. Research has shown that the single most important factor in long-term adjustment for kids going through a divorce is the amount of parental conflict they witness. Kids are put in a tough spot if they have to take sides or listen to negative things about one of their parents.
• Don't bring someone new too quickly around your child. It's tempting to be excited about your newfound happiness but know that your child is also trying to adjust to their new life. They may not be as excited as you are about your new partner. When it is time to introduce a new stepparent make sure all parties are aware of the agreed upon boundaries. This means don't allow stepparents to intervene unless agreed by all parties. A new set of opinions can make life more challenging for your child.
• It may seem easier to use your kids as messengers, but there are many other appropriate ways to communicate with your ex. It's also important not to question your child about what's happening in the other household. Kids may become resentful if they're being asked to "spy" on your ex. As much as you can, communicate directly with the other parent about scheduling, visitation, health issues, or school problems.

The best way to get guidance on your specific legal issue is to contact a lawyer. To schedule a meeting with Balekian Hayes, PLLC visit: https://www.bhfamilylaw.com.

In recognition and to raise awareness of the importance of early intervention as the key to children’s future success, Texas Governor Abbott, Dallas Mayor Johnson, Carrollton Mayor Falconer, Garland Mayor LeMay and Richardson Mayor Voelker have all issued proclamations declaring July 29, 2021 as Early Intervention Day.  

Early Intervention Day educates local communities and raises public awareness of early intervention services for children. According to the CDC, acting early on developmental concerns can make a big difference in the lives of families impacted by developmental delays and disabilities. As an early intervention service provider, The Warren Center is proud to pioneer this celebration in the state of Texas.

The Warren Center, the North Texas nonprofit agency providing professional evaluations, therapy services and support to children with developmental delays and disabilities, is helming the inaugural Early Intervention Day virtual conference, Strong Start, to provide support to parents and professionals who know that brain development from birth to age five determines how children grow, learn and interact with others for the rest of their lives. 

The Parent Track of Strong Start will take a focused look at common challenges faced by parents of children with special needs and gives practical steps to overcoming them. Industry experts will take a deep dive into a number of topics including brain development, enhancing language and motor skills, dealing with challenging behaviors, and successful potty training. 

The Professional Track of Strong Start will focus on the root of behavioral challenges in young clients and how to effectively coach caregivers as well as the discovery of bio-medical approaches to treating maladaptive behaviors.

Amy Spawn, CEO of The Warren Center says, “We hope that Early Intervention Day will make more parents aware of the value of early intervention and the resources available. Acting early on developmental concerns can make a big difference in the lives of families impacted by developmental delays and disabilities. We encourage parents to trust their gut and seek EI services if they suspect their child may not be meeting developmental milestones.”

The CDC estimates one in six children have intellectual or physical disabilities or delays. In Dallas County alone, over 102,000 children have a developmental disability. EI programs have proven to show academic achievement, behavior, educational progression and attainment, and labor market success. 

Spawn says, “In our world, every day is Early Intervention Day. We are so proud to be leading the charge on July 29^th to help every child have a better chance of reaching their potential in daily living. Our summit is free, but space is limited so we encourage parents and professionals to register as soon as they can.”