June 18, 2021

Reminder to Register for June 23 Workshop on Parenting Assessments in Context of Domestic Violence Allegations

The College, co-sponsored by the BC Psychological Association, is pleased to offer the virtual session: Parenting assessments in the context of domestic violence allegations: From research to clinical practice. The workshop will be held from 1:00pm to 4:00pm on June 23rd.

Registration for the workshop will be open until end of business day June 22, 2021, and is available by clicking the link https://collegeofpsychologists.bc.ca/parenting-assessments-in-the-context-of-domestic-violence-allegations-workshop/

Registrants who have already registered but not yet paid the nominal fee of $50 are urged to return to the link above and follow the instructions provided regarding paying the fee online, by cheque or by money order.

Information on accessing the virtual session will be provided via email to those who have registered and paid the nominal fee.

The College plans to record the presentation in order to offer it to registrants at a later date.

The workshop will be presented by Dr. Peter Jaffe, Professor of Education and Academic Director of the Centre for Research and Education on Violence against Women & Children at the University of Western Ontario and Director Emeritus for the London Family Court Clinic. It is designed to assist mental health professionals who undertake parenting assessments (custody and access evaluations). Some of the major challenges involve assessing the disclosed history of domestic violence and potential cross-allegations of parental alienation. Current research and standards of practice raise concerns about several issues that will be addressed in the workshop such as:

  • Understanding domestic violence and coercive control (changes to Divorce Act)
  • The impact of domestic violence on children at different stages of development
  • Risks and resilience for children
  • The victim as a parent – understanding victim behaviour
  • The abuser as a parent – understanding abuser behaviour
  • Working with other agencies – collateral sources of information and intervention planning
  • Risk assessment. Safety planning and risk management and the prevention of domestic homicides

Dr. Peter Jaffe is a Professor of Education and Academic Director of the Centre for Research and Education on Violence against Women & Children at the University of Western Ontario. He is the Director Emeritus for the London Family Court Clinic. For over 40 years, most of his research and clinical work involves adults and children who have been victims of abuse and involved with the criminal, family and civil court systems. He has co-authored 11 books, 40 chapters and over 80 articles related to children, families and the justice system including Children of Battered Women and Child Custody & Domestic Violence: A Call for Safety & Accountability. He has presented workshops across the United States and Canada, as well as Australia, New Zealand, Costa Rica and Europe to various groups including judges, lawyers, mental health professionals and educators. He has been an expert witness in three Ontario inquests into domestic violence. He is a founding member of Canada’s first Domestic Violence Death Review Committee through the Office of Ontario’s Chief Coroner.