16th Symposium on Child Custody: Plenary Session Evaluation
Including Children’s Voices in Family Law Proceedings: Risks and Unintended Consequences
Hearing from children has become the directive in family law processes, giving them “a voice but not a choice.” This plenary will address concerns and unintended consequences associated with involving children. The presenters will examine the risks in cases with alleged abuse and in resist-refuse cases when children speak with multiple professionals. When cases involve professionals in a variety of roles, coordination between them can limit harm to children. This plenary session will consider safety risks to the children and other family members when children are encouraged to give information that reflects negatively on their parent(s). The panelists will address helping children understand how confidentiality limits are different across professional roles and legal processes. The presenters will discuss how ethical standards and laws differ based on jurisdiction, and how this impacts the type of information that professionals may elicit.
