Psychological Bonding Evaluations in Termination of Parental Rights Cases

2005 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 387-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie M. Barone ◽  
Elayne I. Weitz ◽  
Philip H. Witt
Keyword(s):  
Child Abuse ◽  
Child Protection ◽  
Foster Parents ◽  
Psychological Evaluation ◽  
Parental Rights ◽  
Protection Agency ◽  
Core Component ◽  
Termination Of Parental Rights ◽  
Psychological Evaluations

Involuntary termination of parental rights is one of the most extreme steps the court can take in intractable child abuse cases. Frequently, the court or the child protection agency requires a psychological evaluation of biological or foster parents under these circumstances. One core component of such evaluations is an assessment of the child's psychological bond with various caretakers, sometimes referred to as a bonding evaluation. This article describes the principles underlying such psychological evaluations and describes accepted methods of conducting these evaluations.

Evaluating the Evaluator: Guidelines for Legal Professionals in Assessing the Competency of Evaluations in Termination of Parental Rights Cases

2007 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 365-397 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Kalich ◽  
Blake D. Carmichael ◽  
Tiffany Masson ◽  
Dawn Blacker
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Child Protection ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
American Psychological Association ◽  
High Standard ◽  
Best Interests ◽  
Parental Rights ◽  
American Psychological ◽  
Termination Of Parental Rights ◽  
Legal Professionals

Over the past two decades, the court has begun to rely increasingly upon the opinions of mental health professionals in deciding questions of parental fitness. Despite the value placed on psychologists' evaluations and testimony, there is little guidance for judges and other legal professionals with regard to determining whether an evaluation is competent or useful. Given the heavy burden that accompanies severing the relationship between a child and his or her biological parent, the need for competent and comprehensive evaluations is paramount. Thus, the focus of this article is to provide specific recommendations for legal professionals with regard to assessing the competency of termination of parental rights (TPR) evaluations. Utilizing the American Psychological Association's (APA) Procedural Guidelines for Psychological Evaluations in Child Protection Matters (American Psychological Association, 1998) as a guide, common flaws in evaluations, as well as best practice techniques, are identified and discussed. By providing legal professionals with increased awareness and knowledge of the components of a competent TPR evaluation, it is expected that the best interests of families in these cases will be better served and that psychological professionals will be held to a high standard of competence.

Child abuse disposition: Concurrences and differences between a hospital team, child protection agency and the court

1989 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria J. Paluszny ◽  
Benard J. Cullen ◽  
Jeanne Funk ◽  
Paul Y. Liu ◽  
Judith Goodhand
Keyword(s):  
Child Abuse ◽  
Child Protection ◽  
Protection Agency ◽  
Hospital Team
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