2011 Spring Law Trends & News - Essentials of a Forensic Child Custody Evaluation: "Who Should Be Included?
A thorough custody evaluation should include not only parents but also any other adults directly responsible for the daily care of children, such as stepparents, grandparents, and either parent’s significant other. Any other party living in the custodial or visiting home also should be seen, such as step- or half-siblings. It is generally a good practice for daycare providers as well as medical professionals, psychotherapists, and school personnel to be included. However, it is not always in the best interests of the children to include these collaterals for various reasons.
A good evaluation and a seasoned evaluator may elect not to include specific collaterals at certain times. If consulting with any of these individuals is not ultimately in the best interests of the children and/or would cause a negative result in the day-to-day life of the children, then a competent evaluation need not include them.
For example, (1) the daycare provider who is concerned that what is said may interfere with his or her ability to continue working with the children due to the inadvertent alienation of a parent or an inability to communicate with either parent going forward; (2) the psychotherapist who risks upsetting the course of treatment by taking a position that would either risk confidentiality with his patient or risk the unfavored parent’s discontinuing therapy; or (3) school personnel who are concerned that close scrutiny will result in a modification of the curriculum or approach to the student, resulting from the fear of repercussions from either parent. Assuming the use of collateral informants will not interfere with the best interests of the children, a good evaluation will include them."
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