Focused Assessments

Brief / Focused Assessments

A Brief / Focused Assessment (BFA) is a specialized custody evaluation that addresses narrowly defined issues in a child custody case, providing the court with timely and cost-effective information to resolve a specific problem rather than the entire family dynamic. Unlike a comprehensive evaluation, which is lengthy, a BFA focuses on well-defined questions, such as the need for supervised visitation, or when the parents may be at an impasse.

Purpose and Scope

Targeted Information: A BFA is used when the court needs answers to specific, well-defined questions that don't require a full-scale evaluation of the family's overall functioning.
Cost-Effective Alternative: It serves as a more efficient and less expensive alternative to comprehensive evaluations, providing timely insights without the extensive time commitment.

When a BFA is Used

To assess specific parental capacities, like concerns about substance abuse or neglect.
To evaluate the child's wishes regarding custody, especially when their developmental reasoning can be assessed in a developmentally appropriate way.
To help re-establish an interrupted parent-child relationship.
To determine if supervised visitation is necessary for a child's safety or well-being.
To assess threat or safety issues, or specific behavioral concerns, like co-sleeping with an infant.

Key Differences from Comprehensive Evaluations

Scope: BFAs have a narrower scope, focusing on specific issues, while comprehensive evaluations address broader questions about general family functioning.
Depth: BFAs are designed to be efficient, providing more descriptive data for well-defined questions.
Application: Comprehensive evaluations are more appropriate for complex, long-term custody disputes or when there are significant patterns of child maltreatment or domestic violence.

Theresa Barker MMFT, RMFT

Nationally Certified Custody Evaluator (PACE)

Brief / Focused Assessments

Purpose and Scope

When a BFA is Used

Key Differences from Comprehensive Evaluations