Parenting Plan Evaluations ─ Applied Research for the Family Court

When conducting parenting plan evaluations, mental health professionals need to be aware of a myriad of different factors. More so than in any other form of forensic evaluation, they must have an understanding of the most current findings in developmental research, behavioral psychology, attachment theory, and legal issues to substantiate their opinions. As such there is an essential need for a text focused on translating and implementing research associated with the most important topics within the family court.

This book addresses this gap in the literature by presenting an organized and in-depth analysis of the current research and offering specific recommendations for applying these findings to the evaluation process. Written by experts in the child custody arena, chapters cover issues associated with the most important and complex issues that arise in family court, such as attachment and overnight timesharing with very young children, dynamics between divorced parents and children's potential for resiliency, co-parenting children with chronic medical conditions and developmental disorders, domestic violence during separation and divorce, gay and lesbian co-parents, and relocation, among others. The scientific information provided in these chapters assists forensic mental health professionals to proffer empirically-based opinions, conclusions and recommendations. Parenting Plan Evaluations is a must-read for legal practitioners, family law judges and attorneys, and other professionals seeking to understand more about the science behind child custody evaluations.

Kathryn Kuehnle, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist with a forensic private practice and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mental Health Law and Policy, University of South Florida. She acts as a consulting and testimonial expert in family, civil and criminal law cases and specializes in conducting evaluations in complex family law cases with allegations of child sexual abuse, domestic violence, and substance abuse. Dr. Kuehnle has written over 15 book chapters and 5 books, as well as numerous articles published in peer reviewed journals.

Leslie Drozd, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist and marriage, family, and child therapist, specializing in family violence, trauma, and substance abuse. She is a consulting and testimonial expert, trains judges, attorneys, and mental health professionals, and has a variety of professional publications including books, book chapters, and peer-reviewed journal articles. She is the editor of the peer-reviewed Journal of Child Custody.