From the worst year of your life to what???

You’ve just been through the worst year of your life and now you have been ordered to participate in a Custody evaluation… or you have an SENE scheduled.

Does the process and its longstanding ramifications and consequences have you anxious and worried for yourself and your children?

Sometimes our fear of being judged by the evaluator and the process leaves us paralyzed and therefore ineffective in the important job of informing the evaluator what he/she needs to know to make the best recommendations for your family. Often, we can feel overwhelmed, disorganized, emotional and then ineffective during a crisis period in our lives.

Custody Evaluation Prep can help!

Together we de-mystify the process! I educate you about the purpose and scope of your evaluation, so you know what to expect, reducing anxiety, and leaving you prepared to share the important information the evaluator needs.

In our work together, you gain understanding of the developmental needs of your children and highlight how you are meeting those needs.

We then carefully consider your children’s specific needs and prepare to highlight your strengths and address your limitations as they impact your parenting. You also gain insight as to how your child(ren)’s specific temperament, needs and personalities might benefit from a particular parenting arrangement.

In our work together, you become aware of how some challenges such as mental illness, domestic violence, or substance abuse can impact your children – and you learn how to express those concerns in a child-focused manner.

I help you to get past anger, sadness and disappointment of the failed relationship, manage your feelings to avoid emotional outbursts, and present in a reasonable positive way

The result is that you arrive prepared and confident that you will present well and preserve the integrity of this very important process.

Call me now at (952) 746-7894 to see if Custody Evaluation Prep could help you showcase you at your best!

CONSIDERING A CUSTODY EVALUATION?

Perhaps you have reached an impasse in settling on the best parenting plan for your children and an expert opinion is needed to arrive at settlement. You may have concerns about the other parent, and you want to ensure that your children will be safe and secure while in the care of the other parent.

A Best Interest Comprehensive Custody and Parenting Time evaluation with recommendations may be what is needed to move forward!

What is included in a Comprehensive Custody and Parenting Time Evaluation?

• Review of pertinent filings, summaries, reports, evaluations and custody-related documents
• Clinical interviews with each parent, each child and significant others who the child(ren) reside(s) with or interact(s) regularly with.

Addressed in each parent interview:

Family history, legal, medical, substance abuse, relationship history and psychiatric history, including mental status exam and preliminary DSM multiaxial diagnosis

Summary and background of the current case including custodial history and the current issue before the Court

Each parent’s perception of their child(ren)’s needs, issues and concerns

Any concerns each parent may have about the other parent

Each parent’s preferences for legal and physical custody and their rationale for why this is in their child(ren)’s best interest

Each parent’s parenting strengths and limitations

Addressed in clinical interview of each child:

As applicable, the child’s academic, social and emotional functioning as well as strengths, limitations and special needs

Their experience and perception of each parent in a variety of parent child situations, and the child’s preference regarding access to each parent and their rationale for this

• Structured Interactional interview/observation of each parent with each child.
• Parent Testing

PAM Parenting Alliance Measurement
PCRI Parent-Child Relationship Inventory
Parental Perception of Child Behavior and Functioning
Referral to Psychological testing (MMPI-2 MCMI III) if indicated – cost to be assumed by parent

• Interview of Collateral contacts and related reports and documentation as indicated
• Summary Report and Best Interest Recommendations in accordance with 518.17 factors.

Brief/Limited Scope Custody Evaluation

Sometimes parents agree about many of the areas regarding their post-divorce parenting arrangements but may be stuck on a specific issue. They’ve tried mediation and other ADR settlement avenues without success and are seeking a professional opinion to guide their agreement.

A limited scope evaluation may be what you need!

As it implies, a limited scope evaluation focuses on a specific issue, dedicating professional time to investigate and evaluate each parent’s preferences, concerns and rationale for their position.

Often the evaluator will conduct outside research to gather relevant information to assist in making this recommendation. This type of evaluation is not comprehensive, but narrow rather than wide in breadth, often using limited ways of reporting results relevant to the matter.

The result is often more cost-effective, containing expenses and avoiding unnecessary professional time.

A custody evaluation provides the professional expert opinion you need to help you come to an agreement on the arrangement that ensures that your children get to benefit from the best that each parent has to offer them!

Call me now at (952) 746-7894 for a complimentary telephone consultation to see if a custody evaluation could help move your case along!