Psychological Consultation in Parental Rights Cases » (1st Edition)

Frank J. Dyer, PhD, ABPP, is a former member of the New Jersey Board of Psychological Examiners and served as Chair of the Board's committee to develop guidelines for psychological evaluation in child custody/visitation cases. He is currently in private practice in Montclair, New Jersey, and serves as a consultant to a number of state agencies and professional boards. He is coauthor, with Joseph T. McCann, of Forensic Assessment with the Millon Inventories

This practical volume delineates legal and clinical guidelines for practitioners involved as expert witnesses in parental rights cases. Coverage of relevant statutes, case law, and professional standards is integrated with current psychological theory and research to help readers conduct defensible, scientifically based consultation and testimony. The book guides readers step-by-step through the process of typical cases, from the initial report bringing the family to the attention of child protective services, through various hearings and conferences, to the final decision on termination. Chapters present findings on the psychological impact of foster care, separation, loss, abuse, and neglect; describe instruments and techniques to assess parenting skills and child attachment; and explore ethical considerations for clinicians. Featuring case examples, sample cross-examination questions, and definitions of important terms, the book also covers such topics as the impact of the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 and the admissibility of expert testimony under the standards set forth in the Daubert decision.

Booknews

Including two analyses of cases involving "family values"<--> e.g. the Baby Jessica case of a contested adoption due to a newly discovered birth father, a New Jersey consultant to state agencies and professional boards guides practitioners called as expert witnesses in parental rights cases through the maze of legal, ethical, theoretical, and clinical issues, and the cross-examination process. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)