Development of a triage-instrument for high-conflict divorces

Since high-conflict divorce is a major issue in Rotterdam, six youth care organizations worked together to develop a triage-instrument for high-conflict divorces, in order to stimulate better, evidence-based signaling and... [ view full abstract ]

Since high-conflict divorce is a major issue in Rotterdam, six youth care organizations worked together to develop a triage-instrument for high-conflict divorces, in order to stimulate better, evidence-based signaling and screening of indocators of high-conflict divorce, evidence-based triage and professionalisation of judges and professionals in youth care. A scoping review was performed to find the indicators of high-conflict divorce, for instance: a parent that cannot accept the separation, conflict during the relationship, mental health problems of a parent. High-conflict divorces van also be identified by the effects for children and parents, for instance: externalizing- and internalizing problems and declining school results. Focusgroups with children of parents in high-conflict divorce were also performed. We found out that there were four kinds of children, based on their needs. There were children who wanted: 1) to be ‘left alone’, 2) help with their emotions, 3) to share their feelings and experiences with peers in a comparable situation and 4) help with communicating with their parents. The researchers also performed a file search of high-conflict cases and interviewed caregivers about these cases. A lot of the indicators found in the scoping review were confirmed in this search. It also learned us that high-conflict divorces are roughly divided into three types: A) a type where parents cannot make decisions on their own, but can with some help of their friends, B) a type where parents are totally focused on their own needs, they forget the needs of the other parent and the needs of the children and C) a type where parents are so angry and frustrated they only focus on hurting the other parent. In most cases type B asks for help of a professional mediator. Type C needs an external party to make decisions for them, like a judge.