Instructor: Stefanie Peachey, BA, MSW, RSW, Acc.FM

Approved for 3.0 Hours of CE Credit

Fulfills License Requirements

Program Description:

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) profoundly impacts family dynamics, often leaving enduring effects on co-parenting relationships, child well-being, and custody decision-making processes.

In the context of parenting plan evaluations, assessing the presence, severity, and implications of IPV is critical to developing plans that prioritize the safety and emotional health of children and survivors. This presentation will explore the intersection of IPV and parenting plan evaluations through a trauma-informed and evidence-based lens, with a focus on the unique challenges evaluators face across North America. Key topics will include:

• Understanding IPV’s direct and indirect effects on children
• Recognizing the manipulative behaviors of abusive partners during custody disputes
• Addressing the nuanced safety concerns of survivors within shared parenting arrangements

This session will also discuss the evaluator’s responsibility to differentiate between high-conflict dynamics and coercive control, ensuring that parenting plans do not inadvertently perpetuate harm. Attendees will gain practical tools for conducting comprehensive evaluations that integrate IPV risk assessments, survivor perspectives, and child-centered approaches. The presentation will highlight best practices for IPV-related parenting plan evaluations, drawing on North American case studies, research, and legal frameworks to provide actionable insights for professionals working in family law, mental health, and custody evaluation. By the end of the session, participants will better understand how to create parenting plans that uphold the safety, stability, and developmental needs of children while addressing the complexities of IPV in the family court context.

Applicable CA Rules of Courts: 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 13, 21

Goals & Objectives:

At the conclusion of this program, participants will be able to:

1. Identify IPV’s impact on children and parenting
2. Address manipulative behaviors and safety risks in custody and access disputes
3. Identify best practices in IPV-related Parenting Plan Evaluations

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CE Approval Information The Steve Frankel Group, LLC is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for Psychologists. This course is also approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) for its licentiates' CE license renewal requirements. The Steve Frankel Group, LLC maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This course meets the qualifications for 3.0 hours of CE credit for Psychologists, MFTs, LCSWs, and LPCCs. The course outline or agenda for Child Custody training have been approved as corresponding to subject areas specified in California Rules of Court, rules 5.225 and 5.230, et. seq. The views expressed in these trainings are those of the trainers and do not necessarily represent the official positions or policies of the Judicial Council of California.