FAMILY REUNIFICATION & CO-PARENTING ASSESSMENTS, FAMILY REUNIFICATION & PARENT-CHILD CONTACT

Family Reunification & Co-Parenting Assessments

Family Reunification & Co-Parenting Intake Form

STARTING AT: $5,000.00 + GST / Incidental Expenses / 25.00% Contingency Retainer

INITIAL RETAINER REQUIRED: $6,562.50 (FORMAL ESTIMATE TO BE PROVIDED)

ESTIMATED TIMELINE (FROM COMPLETION OF INTAKE PROCESS & DEPENDENT UPON PARTIES): 1-2 MONTHS (INITIAL REUNIFICATION ASSESSMENT)

Each family has a unique history and make-up, and the concerns or issues presented vary not only with the family as a whole, but for each individual. Ages, personalities, capacity, and conditions (diagnosed or otherwise) all contribute in different ways to the process of family reunification and its outcomes. Leanne’s approach to service is fluid, identifying the various factors at play and preparing a variety of potential solutions for everything from attachment disruptions to co-parenting or blended family concerns, and developing reconnection between a child and a parent and/or to extended family members, such as grandparents, aunts, and uncles. Sometimes, parties and/or their legal counsel may wonder if reunification or co-parenting is even possible, but regardless of the situation, prior to engaging in any reunification or co-parenting efforts, Leanne conducts a Family Reunification Assessment or a Co-Parenting Assessment, which involves sessions with the child(ren) (for Family Reunification) and both parents/legal guardians, all individually (and occasionally together if assessing the parties’ ability to effectively co-parent). These are exploratory in nature and intended to assist in determining whether or not the full family reunification or co-parenting process is warranted or of any use. In some cases, the disconnected parties or their caregiver(s) may be well-justified in their reasoning for maintaining that disconnect, and the parties may justifiably have an inability to co-parent, and an assessment can help determine that. These Assessments are mandatory for all reunification and co-parenting files, and often saves all parties time and money in the long run.

Prior to commencing the Family Reunification, Co-Parenting, and/or Parent-Child Contact process, the parties must both complete the intake form, approve a formal estimate, and sign a Professional Services Agreement and Non-Disclosure Agreement. Sample agreements the parties would be expected to sign are available on the Resources page of this site. Please note that payment of a retainer in-full is required prior to service commencing, and any balances owing upon completion must be remitted prior to deliverables being provided.

A preliminary timeline will be established for conducting sessions and provided to the parties and/or their legal counsel. Please note that given the unique and complex nature of this service, and that is highly programmed and involved and strictly qualitative, there is no firm completion date. Many factors can contribute to delays or obstruct the process such as: the willingness and cooperation of the parties/legal counsel to participate; the availability and willingness of parties to schedule and attend sessions; court proceedings that may hinder or cease activities; and, timely receipt of documentation and supporting information from parties throughout the process.

Sessions are spaced and mixed according to a specialized clinical approach, and not all types of sessions are necessary in every file, however the general process for a Family Reunification or Co-Parenting Assessment is as follows:

1. Intake Phone Call with Legal Counsel for Parties (1 hour)

(if applicable, this can take place via Zoom if the parties are not located in Victoria)

2. Intake Phone Call with Parent/Guardian A – Disconnected Parent/Guardian (45 minutes)

(this can take place via Zoom or Phone if the parties are not located in Victoria)

3. Intake Phone Call with Parent/Guardian B – Connected Parent/Guardian (45 minutes)

(this can take place via Zoom or Phone if the parties are not located in Victoria)

4. Meet-and-Greet & Initial Rapport Building Sessions with Children (15 minutes each x 3)

(these can take place via Zoom if the parties are not located in Victoria)

5. Exploratory Sessions with Parent/Guardian A – Disconnected Parent/Guardian (1 hour each x 2)

(these can take place via Zoom if the parties are not located in Victoria)

6. Exploratory Sessions with Parent/Guardian B – Connected Parent/Guardian (1 hour each x 2)

(these can take place via Zoom if the parties are not located in Victoria)

7. Preparation of Summary Report & Assessment

These services are typically ordered by courts and/or through the parents’ legal counsel. Family Reunification and Co-Parenting Assessments, and therapeutic Parent-Child Contact work do not include mental health assessments. These services follow an entirely neutral process that can not be swayed or influenced by either parent or their legal counsel.

If you have any further questions about these specialized services, please do not hesitate to contact Leanne using the contact form on this site. If this type of service would benefit your client’s case, or if you feel it would benefit your own case, please complete the intake form. Please note that prior to proceeding, both parties must complete the intake form. Family Reunification, Co-Parenting, and Parent-Child Contact must be consented to by all parents/legal guardians of the child(ren) involved, and in absence of consent or agreement, must be ordered through legal counsel and/or by an order of the court/consent agreement.

Family Reunification & Parent-Child Contact

Family Reunification Intake Form

STARTING AT: $7,500.00 + GST / Incidental Expenses / 25.00% Contingency Retainer

INITIAL RETAINER REQUIRED: $9,843.75 (FORMAL ESTIMATE TO BE PROVIDED)

ESTIMATED TIMELINE (FROM COMPLETION OF INTAKE PROCESS & DEPENDENT UPON PARTIES): 3-4 MONTHS (INITIAL SESSIONS) WITH ONGOING SUPPORT FOLLOWING

Following a Family Reunification Assessment, families may enrol in a more intensive Family Reunification service program after high-conflict divorces or separations lead to contact or connection issues with a child or children, estrangement has occurred, or even relocation has affected the relationship(s) between family members and a disconnect has occurred. The process involves active participation from all parties, and the parties themselves must possess the skills necessary to manage the work undertaken while service is being provided. In order to ensure the parties are prepared to enter in to the family reunification process, they will have had a Reunification Assessment and additional introductory sessions which provide an opportunity to assess their individual circumstances and confirm their willingness and ability to proceed.

Prior to commencing the Family Reunification and/or Parent-Child Contact process, the parties must both complete the intake form, approve a formal estimate, and sign a Professional Services Agreement and Non-Disclosure Agreement. Sample agreements the parties would be expected to sign are available on the Resources page of this site. Please note that payment of a retainer in-full is required prior to service commencing, and any balances owing upon completion must be remitted prior to deliverables being provided.

A preliminary timeline will be established for conducting sessions and provided to the parties and/or their legal counsel. Please note that given the unique and complex nature of this service, and that is highly programmed and involved and strictly qualitative, there is no firm completion date. Many factors can contribute to delays or obstruct the processsuch as: the willingness and cooperation of the parties/legal counsel to participate; the availability and willingness of parties to schedule and attend sessions; court proceedings that may hinder or cease activities; and, timely receipt of documentation and supporting information from parties throughout the process.

Sessions are spaced and mixed according to a specialized clinical approach, however the general process for Family Reunification and Parent-Child Contact is as follows:

1. Intake Phone Call with Parent/Guardian A – Disconnected Parent/Guardian (45 minutes)

(this can take place via Zoom or Phone if the parties are not located in Victoria)

2. Intake Phone Call with Parent/Guardian B – Connected Parent/Guardian (45 minutes)

(this can take place via Zoom or Phone if the parties are not located in Victoria)

3. Intake Phone Call with Legal Counsel for Parties (1 hour)

(if applicable, this can take place via Zoom if the parties are not located in Victoria)

4. Formal Intake Session with Parent/Guardian A – Disconnected Parent/Guardian (1 hour)

(this can take place via Zoom if the parties are not located in Victoria)

5. Formal Intake Session with Parent/Guardian B – Connected Parent/Guardian (1 hour)

(this can take place via Zoom if the parties are not located in Victoria)

6. Meet-and-Greet & Initial Rapport Building Sessions with Child A (15 minutes each x 4)