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- Title
The future of parenting plan evaluations: A view from the trenches.
- Authors
McNamara, Kathleen; Lund, Mary
- Abstract
As expectations rise for parenting plan evaluators to be well‐trained, skilled, and knowledgeable in numerous subject areas, and scrutiny of evaluators' work intensifies, the pool of qualified evaluators is shrinking nationwide. The future of parenting plan evaluation as a forensic subspecialty relies upon the availability of competent and committed professionals to do this challenging work, yet few are entering the field. Five experienced parenting plan evaluators from various regions of the United States, including the authors, met for a roundtable discussion to ponder the future of parenting plan evaluations. The panel discussed what drew them to the work, their experiences "in the trenches," and what has kept them committed to doing evaluations despite daunting challenges. Their views of the rewards and risks of doing the work, barriers and disincentives to newcomers entering the field, recommendations to new evaluators, and outlook for the future are presented. Key points for the family court community: Parenting plan evaluation ("PPE") is a well‐established forensic subspecialty with rigorous expectations for training, skills, and knowledge. Scrutiny of the work can be high and professional risks daunting.Despite rising costs, the need for comprehensive PPEs that are well‐rooted in science, scholarship, and the law continues for a relatively small portion of family law cases.Keeping costs down in order to adequately serve the number of children and families in need is a constant pressure on PPEs.Systemic disincentives and barriers for those who would otherwise enter the field are likely contributing to the dwindling pool of qualified evaluators rather than challenges of the work itself.Preparing and incentivizing experienced evaluators to serve as supervisors and consultants to new PPEs is much needed, along with triaging cases to match them with appropriate services. Effective and affordable alternatives to comprehensive PPEs are also needed.
- Subjects
PARENTING; CUSTODY of children; JUVENILE courts; SCHOLARLY method; FORENSIC sciences
- Publication
Family Court Review, 2023, Vol 61, Issue 4, p691
- ISSN
1531-2445
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/fcre.12756