Child Custody Evaluation 2020

Sponsored by The Center of Excellence for Children, Families and the Law at William James College

Instructor: Jessica P. Greenwald O'Brien, PhD

Online: September 21 - October 18, 2020
On Campus: April 9-10, 2021

This course is designed for professionals who aspire to use empirically-based research and methodology and best practices to provide or understand forensic psychological assessments in contested custody matters for the courts. William James College and the Center of Excellence for Children, Families and the Law will offer the Child Custody Evaluation course for continuing education credits. This 28 hour training provides 28 Continuing Education Credit and will examine the role and process of a child custody evaluator. The course is a blended learning format and spans 4 weeks of online coursework for 13 hours and 15 hours of on-site instruction over a weekend-in-residence. Mental health practitioners, mediators, attorneys and other professionals will have the opportunity to expand their practice and skills in this emerging area.

Participants in this in this course will:

1. Identify differences between therapeutic and forensic roles and assessment.
2. Be familiar with available model standards and guidelines.
3. Identify relevant legal statutes and processes.
4. Describe ethical issues involved in custody evaluation
5. Review the necessary components of a child custody evaluation, and learn the process for conducting a CCE.
6. Update information on reliable interviewing of children and adults.
7. Address issues of domestic violence, abuse and neglect, mental illness and substance abuse, relocation, and alienation in an evaluation.
8. Utilize an effective report writing structure.
9. Become familiar with the role and appropriate uses of psychological testing in the forensic context of child custody evaluations.
10. Learn about parenting plan models and templates.
11. Practice responses to subpoena for records and testimony.

Participants will demonstrate an interest in family forensics and may include mental health professionals, lawyers, probation officers, juvenile justice professionals, child welfare and protection professionals, and court service workers. Prerequisites include an advanced degree in mental health, law, or human services.

Participants may choose to take all four courses to receive a Certificate in Child and Family Forensics. The Certificate in Child and Family Forensics provides students with a solid foundation in the concepts, theories and practices in child and family forensic mental health work and will help professionals hone their skills and increase their knowledge to prepare them for work as GALs, evaluators, or parenting coordinators.. Current courses include: , parenting coordination, divorce child custody, child maltreatment, intimate partner violence, and mental health and juvenile justice. These courses will review the law and systems, describe and practice protocols for evaluations, and review empirically based best practices and interventions through in-depth didactic instruction and opportunities for practice and consultation.

Program Code: CC20

Credits: 28 CE Credits (MFT CE Credits available)

Fees: $1,100

Blended Delivery Method

All courses are offered for 28 continuing education credits in a blended learning format, consisting of a 4-week online course and a required "weekend in residence" at William James College campus in Newton, MA.