FY 26 Approved Operating Budget

JUDICIAL Family Court Services Cost Center 417000

ORIGIN & PURPOSE :

The role of the Social Worker is to develop , implement and direct a program that will include evaluation / mediation for parties to domestic cases who have disputes over custody , visitation and similar issues . Working directly with the parties in both individual and joint sessions , the Social Worker addresses issues that may arise such as mutual cooperation , child development , and child safety . The goal of the program is to assist parties in resolving their problems themselves instead of resorting to time consuming and unproductive court hearings . The Court also established a Facilitated Visitation Program . In cases where a claim is made that a parent has not seen a child for such a signi fi cant period that they are a stranger to the child , or there are allegations of sexual abuse , the Social Worker is retained to supervise visitation . The facilitator fi les a report after each visit and assists the Court in the evaluation of the case . Psychological / Psychiatric Evaluations : properly done evaluations which assist the Court in determining whether further psychological / psychiatric counseling is needed and greatly expedites any referral for such assistance . Parenting Program : aimed at assisting single / divorced parents in understanding such areas as child development , the separation process , and the psychological aspects of divorce . Home Studies : a quali fi ed individual evaluates a home suitability or other physical aspects of the environment where a child will be and reports to the Court . In every case where services are needed , every attempt is made to have those services provided privately with the expenses to be paid by either parties or their medical insurance . Where this is not possible , the parties are assessed on a sliding scale basis and the monies paid into the County ' s General Fund . AGENCY GOALS : To continue to re fi ne and improve the quality of services o ff ered in domestic cases as well as develop new services to assist families and the court to promptly and e ffi ciently resolve custody and visitation disputes ; To reduce the time from the fi ling of a case to the resolution of any custody or visitation dispute ; To decrease the number of custody / visitation disputations that require resolutions by trial .

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