This paper describes a model for forensic family evaluations (FFE) that arise from issues of child custody and maltreatment. FFEs are comprehensive assessments that utilize a variety of data collection methods. The FFE has three basic stages: beginning the evaluation, collecting data, and presenting the evaluation findings. In each stage there are a number of professional and administrative stations. Each stage of the FFE presents unique challenges: maintaining internal and external independence, managing issues of convergent validity, and monitoring written and verbal output. Each of these stages, stations, and challenges is discussed.

The school-based risk assessment evolved from concerns about the presumed prevalence of children and adolescents willing to plan and commit serious violence at school. This article describes a pragmatic and clinical approach to school violence that addresses both dangerousness and threat assessments. Following a brief review of juvenile crime and the rare instances of school shootings, the article outlines a best-practice approach for school-based risk assessment. It explores the type of youngsters seen in these evaluations and stresses case management over predictive accuracy. With few exceptions, youths referred for school-based risk assessments need services and support rather than punishment, with interventions aimed at helping them to function more effectively.WILLIAM HALIKIAS received his PsyD in clinical psychology from Antioch New England Graduate School. He is a board-certified diplomate in assessment psychology from the American Board of Assessment Psychology. He practices clinical and forensic psychology in the New England area and consults to schools, courts, and mental health agencies. He is a senior associate faculty member at the Antioch New England Graduate School, Department of Clinical Psychology, where his advanced seminars include topics such as psychology and the law, child and family psychology, and advanced psychological assessment. His research interests include the development of scientist-practitioner models of psychological assessment and consultation. CORRESPONDENCE CONCERNING THIS ARTICLE should be addressed to William Halikias,

The guardian ad litem (GAL) for children in divorce is a relatively new role in this society. However, the role definition of the GAL is vague, and little is written in the literature about this advocate. This article discusses the history and available information about advocates for children in divorce and organizes various conceptualizations of this role along two continua: lawyer—psychologist, and child liberator—child saver.