Effective Co-Parenting Appraisal System
Our Approach
After separation or divorce becoming effective co-parents can be a struggle for some families. Couples don’t go into a relationship thinking it will end so when it does there are many emotions and thoughts that can get in the way of working together as co-parents. The Effective Co-Parenting Appraisal System (EC-PAS) is a systemic assessment of a couple’s competence and ability to work together to effectively raise their children in a new situation.
How does it work?
Unlike a Custody Evaluation, the EC-PAS presumes that both parents are competent and able to effectively co-parent. All members of the family meet with a family therapist with expertise in navigating the custody process to maximize parents’ ability to provide a co-parenting environment that will ensure the child’s best interests are foremost. Generally, each parent will spend approximately 10 hours engaged in different meetings and providing information. Depending on schedules a completed appraisal can be done in less than a month.
Who can benefit?
In the early stages of separation, and oftentimes if the divorce process becomes conflictual, it is difficult for parents to be able to see how to best proceed in the best interest of their child. The EC-PAS helps parents identify the factors that are getting in the way of effective c0-parenting and develop a pass forward n0t only benefiting the children, but also helping the parents be able to work more collaboratively and cooperatively. EC-PAS is a cost-effective, convenient alternative to custody evaluations and can be used to guide parents or shared with lawyers to develop a custody plan that will benefit parents and children alike.