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What Am I Embarking On
Parenting Plan assessment (formerly Custody/Access)
A parenting plan assessment is a professional evaluation of a child’s needs within their family and environment, designed to support the child’s best interests.
Key features:
- Provides recommendations on parenting time, decision-making responsibilities, and communication between parents
- May result in a detailed parenting plan to guide arrangements that meet the child’s needs
- Conducted in situations of separation or divorce, often when mediation or collaboration has not resolved disputes
- Can be court-ordered or requested by the parents with consent
- Focuses on the child’s best interests, which may differ from the preferences of parents or the child
- Recommendations are made in a neutral, professional, and trauma-informed manner
This process is designed to help families create safe, balanced, and developmentally appropriate arrangements for children while supporting healthy family dynamics.
Parent Capacity Assessment
A parenting capacity assessment is a professional evaluation designed to assess a parent’s ability to provide consistent, supportive care for their child(ren).
Key features:
- Often requested by Child and Family Services or the courts
- Assesses a parent’s ability to meet their child(ren)’s needs and support healthy development
- Examines a parent’s capacity to work through personal challenges
- Evaluates the quality of the parent/child relationship
- Considers support systems available to the family
- Results in a detailed report with recommendations, which may include:
- Parenting arrangements or placement options
- Long-term planning for the child
- Services or supports to help the parent
- Recommendations for the child’s treatment or support
All assessments are conducted in a neutral, professional, and trauma-informed manner, with the child’s safety, development, and best interests as the central focus.
Guardianship Assessment
A guardianship assessment evaluates a person seeking legal responsibility for a child who cannot remain with their parents.
Key features:
- Often requested by the courts or Child and Family Services
- Common when a relative caregiver wants to provide a permanent home for a child
- Provides the court with objective information to determine the child’s best interests
- Assesses the prospective guardian’s ability to support the child’s care, maintenance, education, and well-being
All assessments are conducted in a professional, neutral, and trauma-informed manner, prioritizing the safety and best interests of the child.
What to Expect During an Assessment
Interviews with Parents/Guardian
Interviews are conducted over 3–4 sessions, each lasting 1–2 hours. During these sessions, we explore your past experiences, current situation, and future hopes and goals.
The purpose is to create a balanced, respectful understanding of you as a whole person, ensuring that recommendations and supports are tailored to your unique strengths and needs.
Interviews with child
When appropriate, children may be interviewed as part of the assessment. This provides an opportunity to hear their perspective, needs, and understanding of the situation.
For children over 12, their voice can be included in the report, which may be considered by the courts when making decisions affecting them. All interviews are conducted in a sensitive, supportive, and age-appropriate manner to ensure the child feels safe and respected.
Observations
Observations are conducted with each parent and child, usually in the home or at a regular scheduled visiting location. Sessions typically last 1–1.5 hours.
The purpose of these observations is to understand the parent/child relationship in a natural, supportive setting and to gather information in a neutral, professional, and trauma-informed manner.
Interviewing significant others
Significant others can play an important role in a child’s life. When a significant other is involved with one or more parties, their perspective is included as part of the assessment process. These interviews help to understand their relationship with the child and how they contribute to the child’s overall well-being and sense of stability.
Collaterals
Professional collaterals, such as therapists, program directors, or other service providers, may be contacted to offer insight into how they are supporting the individual and to identify any concerns or strengths related to parenting capacity.
Personal collaterals may also be contacted to provide character references. These individuals can offer perspective on the person’s role as a parent, their relationships, and their ability to provide a nurturing and safe environment for their child(ren).
Reporting
All information gathered is carefully reviewed and analyzed to develop a comprehensive final report. The report reflects the voices and perspectives of all participants and addresses the specific questions outlined in the assessment contract. It includes recommendations focused on the best interests and well-being of the child(ren) and is shared to support your team in making informed, child-centered decisions moving forward.
We are accepting new clients
Please feel free to contact us to arrange a free 15 min consultation to see if we are a fit for you.