Merz Consulting, Inc. provides a number of different forensic assessments/evaluations. All of our evaluations include a thorough clinical intake process, valid and reliable instruments and appropriate recommendations and follow-up. Some assessments can be administered to persons who have a developmental disability. Our forensic evaluations have been developed with a Daubert and Fry standards approach to ensure the highest levels of validity and reliability.
Child Custody Evaluation (CCE)
Merz Consulting, Inc. provides custody evaluations in the following states: Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, New Jersey and New York. Other states are considered on a case by case basis. CCE are generally court ordered thereby allowing an objective review of both parties. We have provided hundreds of evaluations for Family & Juvenile courts.
CCE are designed to determine the best interests of the child(ren) by thoroughly assessing the family system. Depending on the complexity of the case, CCE can take from 30-90 days to complete.
Evaluations typically include the following:
1. Case Record Review
2. Parent-Child Observation
3. Parent(s) Clinical Interview
4. Child Clinical Interviews
5. Collateral Interviews
6. Assessment Instruments
7. Recommendations
Sometimes CCE have one or more complicating situations.
Following is a sampling of issues addressed in previous evaluations:
1. Developmental Disabilities
2. Chronic Mental Illness
3. Abuse/Neglect
4. Incest
5. Grandparent/Extended Family Rights
6. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
7. Shaken Baby Syndrome
8. Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy
9. Domestic Violence
10. Substance Abuse
Home Evaluation (HE)
The HE takes approximately two hours to complete. Merz Consulting, Inc. provides home evaluations for relative placement and adoption. Most referrals are generated from attorneys and child welfare agencies.
Parental Fitness Evaluation (PFE)
The PFE takes approximately four hours to complete and is typically performed in office and visitation settings. A PFE is conducted in order to identify areas of need in relation to parenting skills and abilities. The PFE is primarily administered to parent(s) involved with child welfare services or for private courts when concerns arise related to custody conflicts between the parents. The PFE is primarily administered to adults but can be administered to
Substance Abuse Evaluation (SAE)
n The SAE takes approximately two hours to complete and is typically performed in an office setting. The SAE is conducted in order to determine the seriousness of substance abuse issues and to generate treatment recommendations. The SAE can be administered to adults & adolescents 14 and older.
n Merz Consulting, Inc. employs substance abuse professionals, such as Certified Addictions Counselors Level II (CAC II) and Certified Forensic Addictions Examiners (CFAE).
Violence Risk Evaluation (VRE)
The VRE takes approximately two hours to complete and is typically performed in an office setting. This assessment is conducted
in order to determine whether a person has domestic violence and/or anger management issues and to generate treatment recommendations.
The VRE can be administered to adults & adolescents 14 and older.
Sex Offender Evaluation (SOE)
The SOE takes approximately four hours to complete and is always performed in an office setting. This evaluation is not conducted to determine guilt or innocence, but rather to determine whether or not the client fits the profile of a sex offender and to generate treatment recommendations. The SOE can be administered to adults and adolescents 14 years and older. Certain stipulations
must be in place for this evaluation to be conducted for minors.
Developmental Evaluation (DE)
The DE takes approximately two hours to complete and can be performed in an office, home, daycare or school setting. We evaluate children birth to four years of age for the purpose of detecting possible developmental delays.
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