Child Custody Report Evaluation Workshop

 

A poorly conducted and flawed child custody evaluation or parenting capacity study can have damaging and long lasting effect on a family in crisis, especially for the children.  In most contested child custody battles where emotions run high there can be a number of difficult issues ranging from domestic violence, to parental alienation, allegations of sexual abuse and mental illness.  In the midst of litigation, a considered and professional evaluation is sometimes extremely difficult.  Although there are a number of highly qualified persons who strive hard to do their jobs in a very professional manner, unfortunately, there are a number who do not.  Some child custody evaluation reports and parenting studies have been so flawed that children have been seriously physically and emotionally harmed afterwards as a result of flawed recommendations in a custody assessor’s report.

 

For social workers and other professionals involved in custody and access evaluations to adequately operate in the best interest of children, it is necessary for them to understand all of the dynamics and circumstances surrounding custody evaluations, placements schedules and issues relating to laws.

 

Because much is at stake, including the potential for lawsuit against those professionals involved, it is the responsibility of professionals from mental health, mediation, family and conciliation courts and family law to be adequately trained in these areas and to provide their services in the most professional and exacting standards.

 

This one day workshop is intended to help:

 

·                PARENTS who may be the focus of a child custody evaluation and who wish to better understand the process that evaluators should follow.

·                PARENTS who have had their children adversely affected by what they may consider to be a flawed assessment report done in the past.

·                CHILD AND FAMILY ADVOCATES who wish to become more knowledgeable in how to assist children and families in the court system.

·                HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS (psychologists, psychiatrists) who may be interested in learning new techniques based on community-based standards.

·                LAWYERS who may wish to be more knowledgeable in this area in order to better advise their clients.

·                SOCIAL WORKERS who are currently involved in performing custody evaluations and who wish to broaden their knowledge base.

 

During the workshop, actual cases will be discussed by the group, including actual reports from assessors and social workers. The workshop will conclude with the analysis and outcomes of actual cases, identifying pitfalls and providing solutions to many of the most common mistakes made by custody evaluators.

 

Workshop Content

 

Information about conflict during custody disputes

·          Causes and solutions to family conflict

·          Hostile-Aggressive Parenting

·          Parental Alienation

 

Information about Legal and moral issues

·          What constitutes a competent and professional custody evaluation

·          Types of parenting and custody arrangements

·          Best interests of the child criteria

·          Rights of children criteria

·          United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

·          Joint Senate/House of Commons Committee on Custody and Access report “For the Sake of the Children”

·          Canadian Bill of Rights (1960)

·          The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

·          Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice for the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers

·          Children’s Law Reform Act

·          Family Law reform Act

·          Social Worker and Social Service Work Act, 1998

·          Other international treaties relating to child custody and access issues

·          Rules of Civil Procedure relating to custody assessments

·          Supreme Court of Canada case law

·          Parenting Plans

·          Systemic bias

·          Writing a report to the court

·          Filing a lawsuit against a social worker or other professional or agency for failure to provide a competent and professional assessment report.

·          Community expectations

 

Information about Custody evaluations

·          Information that everyone should know about their custody evaluator prior to the commencement of the custody evaluation

·          Schoendorf Scales of Parent Evaluation of Custody Test or ASPECT form

·          Reviewing the Curriculum Vitae of the assessor

·          Interviews, behavioural observations and collateral contacts

·          Report analysis and writing

·          Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice for the Ontario College of Social Worker and Social Service Workers

 

Workshop Objectives

At the conclusion of this workshop, participants should be able to:

·          Understand the various legal and moral issues that should be considered in custody evaluations, including expectations of the community.

·          Understand the various factors and criteria relating to the emotional and physical well being of the child that should be considered in custody evaluations

·          Understand the standards of practice in custody evaluations and studies

·          Understand the professional obligations of custody assessors in Ontario

·          Identify biases of a custody assessor

·          Understand various types parenting arrangements and placement schedules

·          Write an evaluation report on the custody assessor’s report

·          Make recommendations regarding a flawed or biased custody evaluator’s report.

·          Prepare a comprehensively written report, including recommendations for submission to a court of law, complaints tribunal or other public review agency.

·          Take the steps needed to have a lawyer commence a civil lawsuit against a custody evaluator and/or government agency.

·          File a complaint against any social worker, health care professional or any other person who is a member of a any professional association for flawed or biased reports.

·          File a complaint against government agencies with the Ombudsman of Ontario.

·          Make an inquiry regarding a government agency through the Freedoms of Information.

 

If you are interested in attending a workshop then call us at (905) 829-0407 to find out about upcoming course locations and dates.  If you represent a group or organization and would like a workshop in your area, then we can arrange to have your group sponsor a workshop in your area.  Training of trainers for your own organization can also be arranged upon request.