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- Title
Training parenting plan evaluators: Looking towards the future.
- Authors
Kaufman, Robert L.; Deutsch, Robin M.; Harris‐Britt, April
- Abstract
Standards of practice for parenting plan evaluations continue to evolve, informed by advances in research and the development of innovative, evidence‐based approaches to assessment and intervention. Parenting plan evaluators are asked to inform the court, parents, and other professionals on how to address the complex needs of increasingly diverse families amid reorganization, high conflict, and crisis. How can we attract and properly train new mental health professionals to do important work in an increasingly strained adversarial system? How can evaluators keep up with these advances over the course of their careers? How can they deepen and refine their skills to work with a diverse array of individuals, family constellations and an enormous range of family circumstances? And how can evaluators care for their own well‐being and their colleagues? In this article, the authors describe a multi‐dimensional approach to training both new and experienced custody evaluators that includes imparting baseline knowledge on how to conduct quality parenting plan evaluations as a starting point. We discuss a variety of modalities and approaches that can enable evaluators to deepen and expand their skills over the years, contribute to the diverse community of family law professionals, and manage the exceptional demands of working in this field. Key points for the family court community: The practice of conducting child custody evaluations (CCEs), also known as parenting plan evaluations (PPEs), is a specialty area of forensic psychology practice that requires tremendous breadth and depth of knowledge regarding psychological principles, legal policies, and ever‐changing professional guidelines.At the same time, professionals in the field are being strained by the increasingly adversarial nature of not only conducting evaluations, but work product review, litigation, and grievance processes. As such, professionals are seemingly wary of beginning or continuing to serve as evaluators.There is a tremendous need to recruit, train, and retain new evaluators who will feel prepared and supported to practice in this challenging field given the aging demographics of the current profession, as well as the increasingly diverse demographics of the families being served.Current and future training programs are encouraged to address not only foundational areas of knowledge that are essential to conducting PPEs, but a greater understanding of ways to manage the emotional stress, risk management issues, and professional burnout for new and current evaluators.
- Subjects
PARENTING; MENTAL health personnel; JUVENILE courts; CUSTODY of children; PSYCHOLOGY; ACTIONS &; defenses (Law)
- Publication
Family Court Review, 2023, Vol 61, Issue 4, p719
- ISSN
1531-2445
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/fcre.12754