CHILD PROTECTION EVALUATIONS The Forensic Stepchild

Abstract

In child protection cases, the mental health evaluator is required to have a broad range of expertise in family violence and child and adult psychological issues. This article reviews epidemiological as well as other quantitative data to provide an empirical foundation by which to understand the problem of family violence, the characteristics of abusers and victims, and the consequences to the child who is a witness to or victim of family violence. Forensic evaluation guidelines and recommendations for structuring child protection evaluations are addressed.

Evaluating Parenting Capacity: Validity Problems With the MMPI-2, PAI, CAPI, and Ratings of Child Adjustment.

“…Nonetheless, some parents' IQs fell in the mentally retarded range (IQ score of 70 or below for 6 mothers), in the borderline range (71-80 for 13 mothers and 3 fathers), or in the low average range (81-90 for 12 mothers and 3 fathers). These findings are in accord with other published descriptions of parents undergoing PCA (e.g., Azar et al, 1998;Kuehnle et al, 2000), although our results are the first formal assessment and reporting of intellectual and demographic characteristics of this population. In light of the fact that a considerable number of these parents functioned below the average range, we evaluated the relationship between intelligence scores and validity-scale elevations to rule out the possibility that elevations were not simply a function of the inability to understand the test items.…”

Word Memory Test failure 23 times higher in mild brain injury than in parents seeking custody: The power of external incentives

“…The guidelines informing the decisions about fitness to be parents were taken from risk factors defined by Kuehnle, Coulter & Firestone [18]. In determining fitness to be parents, many factors were considered, apart from levels of intelligence or cognitive impairment.…”

A Comprehensive Guide to Child Custody Evaluations: Mental Health and Legal Perspectives

“…In order to conclude that child abuse has occurred, several sources should concur regarding the type, timing, and circumstances of the abuse. and girls are more often abused by family members whereas boys are more often abused by individuals outside the family (Kuehnle et al, 2000). 8.…”

“…Nevertheless, researchers have estimated that only 30% of abused children become abusive parents (Kaufman & Zigler, 1987). We do not know how the 70% of non-abusive parents with personal histories of child abuse overcome their own abusive histories, but research has shown that the development of a realistic understanding of one's own maltreatment history is associated with strong parenting skills in mothers (Kuehnle et al, 2000). 13.…”

“…National statistics indicate that children living with single parents are at a 77% greater risk of physical abuse, 87% greater risk of physical neglect, and 220% greater risk of educational neglect, and are also 80% more likely to suffer serious injury from their maltreatment. However, low-income, singlestatus parents are also in closer contact with social service agencies, which increases their overall likelihood of being reported for child abuse (Kuehnle et al, 2000). 14.…”