Training for Judges:
Guidelines for Child- and Family-Focused Decision-Making
This one-day training program is designed for judges who wish to ensure that they are using the most current research as part of their responsibility in utilizing the “best interest of the child” standard. In doing so, NFRC emphasizes the use of its proven Child-Focused Decision-Making Model, which focuses on four key components:

• The developmental stage of a child (infancy through late adolescence)
• The impact of divorce on a child’s development
• Evidence of responsible parenting and co-parenting
• The impact of conflict between parents on children

Judges have an extremely difficult job in making decisions about children they may never see. A small part of family dynamics may be witnessed in the courtroom; however, there can be a large gap between what is demonstrated in the courtroom and what really transpires at home. What is decided in court may need to change drastically as family events change and as children get older and their needs change.

Recent research indicates the significantly damaging impact divorce can have on children if parents don’t respond in healthy, responsible ways. At the same time, research results define ways that promote healthy divorce adjustment.

A program based on NFRC’s Child and Family-Focused Model will be of great assistance to judges in their decisions with respect to custody and visitation. More importantly, it has the potential to reduce the probability of litigation because the model is prescriptive and defines responsible roles for each parent.

Upon completion of NFRC’s Child- and Family-Focused Decision-Making Training, judges will:

• Have a standardized process they can use with each custody and visitation case before them.
• Use consistent criteria and methodology to address children’s specific needs, responsible parenting, and ways to assess and address the degree of conflict between parents.
• Be able to make effective, efficient decisions about each child and each parent.
• Have control over the type of information each professional gathers and presents in court.

The training format of this program incorporates:

• The opportunity for judges to use the Child and Family Focused Model Guidelines as a reference and discussion of cases presented.
• Ongoing consultation with NFRC staff after the training program, and the encouragement and availability of continued training based on judicial needs.

The program content includes:

• Goals and training
• Description of NFRC’s Child and Family Focused Model and a discussion of its four components
• Losses that children experience when parents divorce
• Stages of divorce adjustment and appropriate parenting
• Child development and the impact of divorce
• Responsible parenting
• Constructive co-parenting
• Degree of conflict between parents
• Case Study: Use of the Model and Guidelines
• Helping Tools for Judges: Needs assessments, parenting seminars, mediation

Looking for helpful publications? Please, click here, visit the NFRC Online Bookstore.