ABSTRACT
Synopsis ....................................................................................................................................... 622 Child Maltreatment Parental Assessment .............................................................................. 622 Child Maltreatment Parental Assessment: Construct .......................................................... 622 Child Maltreatment Parental Assessment: Evaluative Process ........................................... 623 Correlates of Child Maltreatment ............................................................................................ 624 Methamphetamine Use ............................................................................................................. 625 Domestic Violence ..................................................................................................................... 626 Clinical Assessment Evaluations and Forensic Assessment Evaluations ........................... 627 Essential Components of a Child Maltreatment Parental Assessment .............................. 628 Th e Forensic Referral Question ................................................................................................ 628 Th e Clinical Interview ............................................................................................................... 629 Collateral Information Review ................................................................................................. 629 Th ird-Party Interviews .............................................................................................................. 630 Psychological Testing ................................................................................................................. 630 Specialized Psychometric Instruments ................................................................................... 631 Psychological Testing and Ethnic Racial Groups .................................................................. 632 Child Maltreatment Parental Assessment: Recommendations Section ............................. 633 Substance Abuse Treatment Recommendations ................................................................... 634 Mental Disorders and Treatment Recommendations ........................................................... 634 Domestic Violence and Treatment Recommendations ........................................................ 635 Child-Parent Visitation Recommendations .......................................................................... 635 Professional Insight ................................................................................................................... 636 Expert Witness Testimony ........................................................................................................ 637 Ethical Guidelines for a Child Maltreatment Parental Assessment ................................... 639 Dual Relationships ..................................................................................................................... 639 Privacy .........................................................................................................................................640 Misconceptions of the Child Maltreatment Parental Assessment ......................................640 Referral Agencies and Ethical Dilemmas ...............................................................................640 Future Directions ....................................................................................................................... 641 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................642 References ....................................................................................................................................642
Assessing parents who maltreat their children is an important subspecialty of forensic psychology. A Child Maltreatment Parental Assessment (CMPA) formulates data compiled from collateral and interview information, assisting state courts and social services in arriving at a disposition toward family reunifi cation or parental right termination. Th e chapter discusses child maltreatment and the relationship with methamphetamine use and domestic violence. Th e basic components of a CMPA will be outlined as well as the diff erences between forensic assessments and clinical assessments. Key points of expert witness testimony in court proceedings will be off ered. Ethical considerations specifi c to CMPA will be discussed. A work sample of a CMPA has been attached in Appendix S to illustrate the forensic work product.
