services

 
 

Parenting consultant - Initial deposit $4000, $275/hour

The role of Parenting Consultant is a form of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) that allows for parties may by agreement create an ADR process. It is a method of ADR where a neutral professional, who is agreed upon by both parties and part of a Court Order, to assist families experiencing high levels of conflict to find resolution for issues that they cannot agree upon. The Parenting Consultant uses negotiation techniques to help resolve issues without having the cost and sometimes lengthy wait to address them in Court which many parents prefer. The Parenting Consultant offers an opportunity for the parents to resolve the conflict before making a decision within the scope of the court order or appointment contract. From a more broad standpoint, the goal of the Parent Consultant is to assist high conflict parents to follow their parenting plan, monitor compliance with details, resolve conflicts in a timely manner, and to support a relationship of the child with both parents in a healthy and meaningful way.

Parent Coach - $200 Per session. (pay in advance for 6 sessions & receive 5% discount). Standing appointments available.

Parent Coaching services via zoom (super flexible hours) or in person at my Maple Grove office (limited hours) is open to the highest conflict parents, those families with mental health and substance use dynamics or any client who may need coaching to get through a bumpy time before, during or after the dissolution process or may need skill building in parenting, self-care and other areas personal management.

🔘 Clients learn how to communicate (write, speak, non-verbal) more effectively without creating or stepping into conflict.

🔘 Flip the script (reframe problem mindset to a solution mindset) Bring in new skills to shift the dynamic.

🔘 Provide family systems education and how to apply that knowledge to effectively navigate conflict and the "new normal" of a two parent household.

🔘 Build parenting skills in the context of separation/divorce.

🔘 Case management: Working with Parent Consultants, Attorneys, Therapists and other Court Involved professionals.

🔘 Safe and inclusive space 🌏💫

evaluative mediation (Custody and parenting time only) $300/hour

Mediations can be scheduled in 2 or 4-hour sessions and can be conducted remotely via Zoom or in person. The purpose of mediation is to offer parents a confidential opportunity to creatively explore ideas and come to agreements that are in the best interests of the children and provide the best chance for successful co-parenting.

Social early neutral evaluations (fees calculated Per court order)

child inclusive mediations - Child specialist/mediator $300/hour

Parents who are interested in incorporating the voice of their child(ren) in the mediation process may use this option to help inform their decision-making process. Parenting time plans are designed to change with the developmental needs of the child. It is not uncommon for children to start expressing a desire to change the parenting time schedule - this is especially true as they participate in high school. A child specialist will conduct a neutral interview with the parents and child(ren) and offer feedback in the mediation session. The child specialist does not serve as the mediator unless arranged in advance.

custody and parenting time evaluations (Parenting Plan evaluations)

Initial retainer $8000 - $300/hour

If you and the other parent of the children are unable to agree on custody and parenting time, you may agree to participate in a custody and parenting time evaluation. A custody and parenting time evaluation consists of an investigation and considering each statutory Best Interest Factors and may culminate with a full written analysis and recommendations. The process can last anywhere from 3 - 7 months, and includes interviews with both parents, the children (if age appropriate), gathering information from outside sources, and a home visit with both parties. The purpose of the home visit is to evaluate the parent-child relationship. It is not intended to evaluate the home, neighborhood, or other factors unrelated to the child's safety. In some cases, both parties will referred for mental health or substance abuse evaluations by a psychologist chosen by the evaluator. The following Minnesota Statute 518.167, The best interests of the child. This provides a consistent method to evaluate the child's needs and the co-parenting relationship and to assist parents or the Court with information to consider in the decision-making process.

These factors must be considered independent of one another and collectively as a whole and will include:

  1. The child’s physical, emotional, cultural, spiritual and other needs, and the effet of the proposed arrangements on the child’s needs and development;

  2. Any special medical, mental health, or educational needs that the child may have that may require special parenting arrangements or access to recommended services;

  3. The reasonable preference of the child, if the court deems the child to be of sufficient ability, age, and maturity to express an independent, reliable preference;

  4. Whether domestic abuse, as defined in section 518B.01, has occurred in the parents’ or either parents’ household or relationship; the nature and context of the domestic abuse; and the implications of the domestic abuse for parenting for the child’s safety, well-being, and developmental needs;

  5. Any physical, mental, or chemical health issue of a parent that affects the child’s safety or developmental needs;

  6. The history and nature of each parent’s participation in providing care for the child;

  7. The willingness and ability of each parent to provide ongoing are for the child; to met the child’s ongoing developmental, emotional, spiritual, and cultural needs; and to maintain consistency and follow through with parenting time;

  8. The effect on the child’s well-being and development of changes to home, school, and community;

  9. The effect of the proposed arrangements on the ongoing relationships between the child and each parent, siblings, and other significant persons in the child’s life;

  10. The benefit to the child in maximizing parenting time with both parents and the detriment to the child in limiting parenting time with either parent;

  11. except in cases in which domestic abuse as described in clause (4) has occurred, the disposition of each parent to support the child’s relationship and to encourage and permit frequent and continuing contact between the child and the other parent, and;

  12. The willingness and ability of parents to cooperate in the rearing their child; to maximize sharing information and minimize exposure of the child to parental conflict;; and to utilize methods for resolving disputes regarding ay major decision concerning the life the of the child.

As each of the above factors are considered and weighted in the formation of the custody evaluators opinions, any concerns raised by either parent will be investigated to the best ability of the evaluator and information will be sought to confirm or disconfirm the allegations made. In order to do this most effectively, parents will be asked to sign releases of information for “collateral” information. Once the evaluation is complete, Diane will meet with attorneys to provide feedback and recommendations if the parties are interested in engaging in settlement before requesting a written report.

brief focused assessment Initial deposit $2750, $300/hour

In Family Court parents may present discrete issues that are limited in scope, and do not require a comprehensive family evaluation. These narrowly defined issues can be assessed at different stages in the legal process, whenever the judge requests a focused assessment to assist in decision making. The data collected in a brief focused assessment result in a report that is more descriptive than analytic, and focus on the short term, rather than the long-term needs of the family. The particular focus on the question(s) in the brief focused assessment may include parent-child observations, interviews with each party or relevant collateral information. Brief focused assessments can be a very cost-effective and efficient tool to assist in judicial decision-making.

forensic comprehensive substance use evaluation ...learn more  

$1000 flat fee. schedule here

When providing substance use evaluations for family law, there are many special considerations such as the ages of the children, the drug of choice and impact on the ability to parent, randomized testing for accountability purposes, and admissible evidence and it is important to use the services of a substance use evaluator who understands the context of family law. and holds specialty in this area. This type of evaluation is often needed for consultation and input when attorneys and judges need an independent opinion in.  Another notable difference in forensic substance abuse evaluations is that the parents will serve as one of two (or more) collateral sources.

Consulting Expert - mental health, substance abuse, family systems, parenting: initial deposit of $1250 and $300/hour.

The purpose of expert consultation is for attorneys and their clients to have access to professional advice from a mental health and parenting expert at the time that they are making decisions about the direction and management of a family law matter.