Reviewing/Critiquing Parenting Plan & Timesharing Evaluations
(formerly referred to as Child Custody evaluations)
7 CLEs
Start at 9:00 am
I. Introduction (10 minutes)
a. Presenter
b. Participants
c. Topic
d. Objectives
II. What do Attorneys & Judges Want? (30 minutes)
a. Desired characteristics of CCEs
b. Stated reasons for CCEs
c. When should children have a say?
III. What Are Psychologists Doing? (35 minutes)
a. What activities are they doing?
b. What test are they using?
c. What parenting instruments are they using?
d. How much are they charging?
e. Reasons for sole or joint custody
f. What visitations are they recommending?
IV. Differences between Therapeutic & Forensic Services (45 minutes)
a. Training as a basis for the difference.
b. Patient v. Litigant
c. Orientation
d. Competency
e. Hypothesis Testing
f. Structure
g. Goals
h. Judgment
i. Dual Roles
Break (15 minutes)
V. Common Errors Evaluators Make (45 minutes)
a. Common testing errors
b. Errors of omission
c. Dual roles
d. Relevance issues
e. Errors of commission
Lunch (60 minutes)
VI. Bias (30 minutes)
a. Confirmatory bias
b. It’s really about how we look at it
c. How can you determine bias?
Break (15 minutes)
VII. Legal Standards (1hr 45 minutes)
a. Administrative codes
b. Professional guidelines
c. Rules of evidence
VIII. Issues Involving Children’s Testimony (30 minutes)
a. Research re: children testifying
b. Why children say what they say?
c. What is the basis for a child’s stated preference?
IX. Planning Your Trial Strategy Around Your Critique (60 minutes)
a. Organize your critique
b. Consult with an expert to affirm your suspicions
c. Plan your examination of the evaluator
d. Decide how you will use your expert
e. Case facts into hypotheticals
VIII. Summary, Follow-Up, & Evaluation of Workshop (30 minutes)
