A follow‐up of families disputing child custody/access: Assessment, settlement, and family relationship outcomes

Radovanovic, Helen; Bartha, Christina; Magnatta, Michael; Hood, Eric; Sagar, Ameeta; McDonough, Hanna

doi:10.1002/bsl.2370120411

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…In one exception, Austin and Jaffee (1990) conducted a survey of 35 parents that had proceeded through C&A assessment or mediation one year previous, and found that the service was seen as helpful and satisfying, and perceived stress levels and child problems were lower. However, in another survey 2.5 years after an assessment (Radovanovic et al, 2006), it was found that there was no access to the noncustodial parent occurring for 35% of the children involved, despite recommendations that regular and frequent access take place. Loss of contact with noncustodial parents over time has a potential negative impact in some families (Galatzer-Levy et al, 2009).…”

Section: Sciencementioning

confidence: 99%

A review of the practice and science of child custody and access assessment in the United States and Canada.

Symons

2010

Professional Psychology: Research and Practice

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Many psychologists in the United States and Canada provide child custody and access (C&A) assessments as part of their clinical services. There are guidelines based on ethical standards that inform this specialization, which include the recommendation that providers be familiar with the empirical bases of their work. This article provides an overview of guidelines, the assessment process, and the empirical basis for C&A assessment. Although there is limited evidence of traditional standards of direct empirical utility of such assessments, there are relevant research areas that include the impacts of separation and divorce on children, family relationships, and coparenting processes. Each is critical to understanding children's welfare, a parent's capacity to act in the best interests of a child, and the coparenting environment that may follow separation and divorce. Given the importance of minimizing postdivorce conflict within a coparenting environment, the indirect scientific evidence that supports C&A assessment can also be used to pursue more amicable solutions through mediation and parent education. Although research is growing supporting these alternative practices as well as C&A assessment itself, much more is needed. Psychologists who offer these services will find this article to be a useful overview of current practice and science, and for those contemplating involvement in these services, the article highlights issues to be considered.

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Section: Sciencementioning

confidence: 99%

A review of the practice and science of child custody and access assessment in the United States and Canada.

Symons

2010

Professional Psychology: Research and Practice

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“…Child custody assessments are usually highly contentious, for only parents who are unable to formulate a cooperatively developed plan for their children proceed to evaluation, and these families are typically characterized by high levels of conflict and distress (Halikias, 1994). Despite this conflict, it appears that child custody assessments usually result in the divorcing parents settling their dispute out of court (Austin & Jaffe, 1990; Jaffe et al, 1987; Radovanovic et al, 1994). Even though the goal of a custody assessment is clear—determining the custody arrangement that is in the best interests of the child—there is, as yet, no consensus on the nature of the assessment that must be undertaken or the role of psychological testing in the assessment process (Brodzinsky, 1993; Gindes, 1995; Grisso, 1990; Hysjulien, Wood, & Benjamin, 1994; Keilin & Bloom, 1986; Saunders, 1993; Trombetta, 1991).…”

Section: Child Custody Mediation and Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Custody assessment, on the other hand, involves a thorough investigation of the children’s developmental and psychological needs, the adults’ parenting abilities and competencies, and the nature of the options available to each divorcing family to best meet the needs of the children after the divorce (American Psychological Association [APA] Committee on Professional Practice and Standards, 1994). Expert opinions are then submitted to the court to assist in determinations regarding the parents’ dispute over child custody or access, although the process of assessment frequently results in the resolution of the dispute without further judicial intervention (Austin & Jaffe, 1990; Jaffe et al, 1987; Radovanovic et al, 1994).…”

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confidence: 99%

Lawyers' opinions regarding child custody mediation and assessment services: Implications for psychological practice.

Lee¹,

Beauregard²,

Hunsley³

1998

Professional Psychology: Research and Practice

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Psychologists who conduct divorce mediation or child custody assessment must understand the context of such professional practice and the views of other professions involved, such as lawyers. In this study, family lawyers (N = 161) completed a questionnaire about mediation and assessment of custody disputes, indicating positive attitudes toward mediation and recognition of its favorable effects on the family. Lawyers viewed assessment as a deskable alternative to litigation but did not associate it with enhanced family functioning. Lawyers strongly endorsed the need for abuse screening prior to mediation. Distinctions between the roles of lawyers and psychologists are emphasized. The necessity of effective abuse screening is highlighted.Psychologists are increasingly involved in providing services to smooth the transition for divorcing couples and their families (Lee, Kcard, & Blain, 1994). Psychologists have developed a wide range of interventions, including psychoeducational workshops and groups, bibliotherapy, support groups, individual psychotherapy, and family therapy. In recent years, some psychologists have taken on other roles to assist divorcing families. Data from a number of jurisdictions indicate that the majority of divorcing parents are able, on their own, to resolve child custody and access issues satisfactorily (cf. Halikias, 1994). However, when parents do enter the justice system to settle their custodyrelated disputes, lawyers and judges may request mental health professionals, including psychologists, to help parents and the courts in developing or determining the optimal child custody arrangements.

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“…However, in other cases, children are essentially abandoned by one parent, in general their father, after divorce. The results of one follow-up study suggested that visitation was not occurring in 35% of cases 30 months following a custody and access assessment, even when the assessors recommended regular and frequent contact with the father (Radovanovic, Bartha, Magnatta, & Hood, 1994).…”

Section: Negotiating Postdivorce Relationships With Abusive Fathersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Domestic violence and high-conflict divorce: Developing a new generation of research for children.

Jaffe

Poisson²,

Cunningham³

Domestic Violence in the Lives of Children: The Future of Research, Intervention, and Social Policy.

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Family laws as well as court policies are often justified by research findings from the broad population and are insufficiently backed by studies of the special sub-group of the divorcing population to which they are most frequently applied, that is, to families of high-conflict divorce. High-conflict divorce is characterized by all of the following: intractable legal disputes, ongoing conflict over parenting practices, hostility, physical threats, and intermittent violence. (Johnston, 1994, p. 172) This quotation, from Janet Johnston's (1994) literature review of child adjustment in the context of high-conflict divorces, is an appeal for a new generation of research in an area that has sparked passionate public debates and posed complex, far-reaching, and disquieting questions for the legal system. A n obvious starting point is to bridge two discrete bodies of literature: one focused on the impact of divorce on children and one focused on the effects of being exposed to adult domestic violence. Although the development of social and legal policy on divorce has been influenced by empirical evidence, much of that research does not consider the full spectrum of factors that affect child adjustment postseparation, especially those present in high-conflict divorces. Uniting these bodies of research would allow policymakers, legislators, the courts, and professionals working with families to consider the myriad factors that influence children's postdivorceWe gratefully acknowledge the support of the Atkinson Charitable Foundation.

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A follow‐up of families disputing child custody/access: Assessment, settlement, and family relationship outcomes

Cited by 5 publications

References 7 publications

A review of the practice and science of child custody and access assessment in the United States and Canada.

A review of the practice and science of child custody and access assessment in the United States and Canada.

Lawyers' opinions regarding child custody mediation and assessment services: Implications for psychological practice.

Domestic violence and high-conflict divorce: Developing a new generation of research for children.

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