VIEWS OF THE CHILD REPORTS

Views of the Child (Views) Reporting pursuant to Section 211(1)(b) of the British Columbia Family Law Act is conducted by a trained neutral child interviewer, who provides a written verbatim (word-for-word) report per child to the courts and/or legal counsel, arbitrators or mediators in disputes involving children typically prior-to, during, or after divorce and/or separation. The interview(s) are completed one-on-one, with fair, standardized questions addressing life at home, activities, school, their relationship(s) with each parent/guardian, and their thoughts on the divorce and/or separation proceedings. The interview and process differs from Hear the Child reporting in that it also includes an evaluative component by the interviewer./report author This addresses the child’s maturity and ability to express themselves, the strength and consistency of the child’s views, and the extent to which the child’s statements reflect the child’s actual preference(s). Because of these added components, parties and the court(s) often find a Views of the Child Report more valuable than a traditional Hear the Child Report when considering the child’s views in their decision-making. For an added fee, the parties/legal counsel/the court may request the child(ren)’s views on topics such as custody and access specifically, relocation (i.e. if one parent/guardian is moving to another town/city), or other subjects that may be unique to their particular matter. Please note that there is currently no universally-accepted, clinically-validated assessment tool exclusively for parental alienation/parent-child attachment disruption/parent-child contact problems that is broadly recognized in the way that many clinical diagnoses (i.e. depression, anxiety, or ADHD) are. However, through interviewing, observation, and collateral data, the possibility of these dynamics existing often become quite apparent in any final reporting. This reporting is typically ordered by courts and/or through the parents’ legal counsel. Hear the Child Reporting is not a mental health assessment, nor a parenting assessment. It is an entirely neutral process that can not be swayed or influenced by either parent or their legal counsel.

Prior to commencing the process to prepare a Views of the Child Report, the parties must approve a formal estimate and both complete the intake form, sign a Professional Services Agreement and Non-Disclosure Agreement, and provide the required deposit or their respective portion(s) of the deposit. Sample agreements the parties would be expected to sign are available on the Resources page of this site. Please note that payment of a deposit in-full is required prior to service commencing, and any balances owing upon completion must be remitted prior to deliverables being provided.

PROCESS

STEP ONE

Upon completion of the intake process (intake form, signed agreements, and deposit paid), each parent/guardian will be contacted by e-mail and provided with the date and time that has been scheduled for their Parent Intake Phone Call. This is typically provided up to two (2) weeks in advance and based on the availability each parent/guardian provided in their intake form. If one parent/guardian declines to participate or does not make themselves available, in order to ensure equal participation and fairness, neither parent will have an Intake Phone Call. Appointments are assigned in close proximity to one another to ensure consistency and clarity and avoid long gaps of time where further issues may arise, so that any reporting is captured “point in time”. It is also to facilitate scheduling and timely completion of future steps in the process. It is imperative that parents/guardians/children make the necessary arrangements to their schedules, treating these appointments like a medical appointment or professional obligation, which may necessitate taking time from work or school to attend.

STEP TWO

Intake Phone Calls with Parents/Guardians (up to 45 minutes)

(there is no preparation required for these phone calls, though both parents/guardians should expect to have the meet-and-greet sessions and interview dates that take place during their parenting time, if applicable, scheduled at that time)

STEP THREE

2-3 DAYS FOLLOWING THE PARENT INTAKE PHONE CALLS

Virtual Meet-and-Greet Session with Child(ren) during Parent/Guardian A’s parenting time (up to 15 minutes)

(there is no preparation required for these, though parents/guardians should expect to also be present and participate in this brief session to introduce the child or children to the interviewer/report author and to receive a brief overview of the process – virtual meeting room links will be provided to you in advance)

STEP FOUR

CONCURRENT WITH STEP THREE

Virtual Meet-and-Greet Session with Child(ren) during Parent/Guardian B’s parenting time (up to 15 minutes)

STEP FIVE

1-2 DAYS FOLLOWING THE MEET-AND-GREET SESSIONS

Initial Interview with Child(ren) in-person at Interviewer/Report Author’s offices during Parent/Guardian A’s parenting time (up to 2 hours)

(this can take place virtually from a neutral location such as a private room at a library, a counsellor’s office, or similar if the parties are not located in Victoria or are unable to travel to Victoria on the date that has been provided to them)

STEP SIX

1 WEEK FOLLOWING THE INITIAL INTERVIEW

Draft Review Session with Child(ren) in-person at Interviewer/Report Author’s offices during Parent/Guardian B’s parenting time (up to 1 hour)

(this can also take place virtually from a neutral location such as a private room at a library, a counsellor’s office, or similar if the parties are not located in Victoria or are unable to travel to Victoria on the date that has been provided to them)

STEP SEVEN

1 WEEK FOLLOWING THE DRAFT REVIEW SESSION

Preparation of the Evaluation Component, Final Report & Submission to Parties & Legal Counsel

For multiple children, the process is similar, and sessions can take place back-to-back for efficiency purposes.