Post-Separation Visitation Disputes: Differential Interventions

BACKGROUND PAPER

(2001-FCY-6)

APPENDIX 4: INTERVIEW SCHEDULE

OFFICE OF THE CHILDREN'S LAWYER

INTERVIEW SCHEDULE

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

Thank you for agreeing to fill out this form about your experience with the Children's Lawyer. We want to learn as much as possible about how the service can help families facilitate parenting plans for their children.

Your responses will be completely confidential, meaning that your individual responses will not be identified.

  1. a) What are the current living arrangements for the children (Prompt: what is actually happening?)

    b) Is this the same as when you were first involved with the Children's Lawyer? (Prompt: children residing/access the same)

    If no, how is it different?

  2. Presently, how often are visits scheduled to occur?

    1. Number of days/month
    2. Frequency
      • weekly
      • every other week
      • monthly
      • less than monthly
      • not at all
      • no specific visitation schedule
    3. Is this the same as the previous arrangement?

    If no, how is it different?

  3. How regular are the visits?

    • always
    • very often
    • often
    • sometimes
    • rarely

  4. How did you arrive at the current decision-making and visitation arrangement?

    • settled at The Children's Lawyer
    • settled with lawyers after The Children's Lawyer involvement
    • settled with a mediator and lawyers
    • settled at court
    • the matter is still unresolved
    • with respect to the original difficulties
    • with respect to another matter
    • other (i.e. other parent withdrew)

  5. How satisfied are you with the present custody arrangements?

    • very unsatisfied
    • unsatisfied
    • neutral
    • satisfied
    • very satisfied

  6. How satisfied are you with the present visitation arrangements?

    • very unsatisfied
    • unsatisfied
    • neutral
    • satisfied
    • very satisfied

  7. How satisfied were you with the evaluator's attitude towards your dispute?

    • very unsatisfied
    • unsatisfied
    • neutral
    • satisfied
    • very satisfied

  8. Were you satisfied that the evaluator listened to your concerns?

    • very unsatisfied
    • unsatisfied
    • neutral
    • satisfied
    • very satisfied

    Were you satisfied with the thoroughness of the evaluation?

    • very unsatisfied
    • unsatisfied
    • neutral
    • satisfied
    • very satisfied

  9. 10. Were you satisfied with the length of time the evaluation took to complete?

    • very unsatisfied
    • unsatisfied
    • neutral
    • satisfied
    • very satisfied

  10. Were you satisfied with the report's recommendations?

    • very unsatisfied
    • unsatisfied
    • neutral
    • satisfied
    • very satisfied

  11. Thinking back to the beginning of the Children's Lawyer involvement, are the problems or concerns you identified at that time still of concern?

    • Yes
    • No

    If yes, what are these concerns?

  12. Since the involvement of the Children's Lawyer, how often has there been physical aggression (i.e throwing things at you, pushing, shoving) directed towards you by the other parent?

    • always
    • very often
    • often
    • sometimes
    • rarely

  13. Since the involvement of the Children's Lawyer, how often has there been verbal aggression (i.e. shouting, yelling) directed towards you by the other parent?

    • always
    • very often
    • often
    • sometimes
    • rarely

  14. Are there any new problems which have arisen since the Children's Lawyer involvement?

    • Yes
    • No

    If yes, what are these problems?

  15. How often do you now cooperate regarding issues around your children?

    • Very often
    • often
    • sometimes
    • rarely
    • never

  16. How often do you argue or disagree about issues related to your children now?

    • Very often
    • often
    • sometimes
    • rarely
    • never

  17. Overall, how would you rate the quality of the service you received?

    • very good
    • good
    • adequate
    • poor
    • very poor

  18. How helpful was the Children's Lawyer involvement with respect to the following?

    1. Improving communication between parents:

      • very helpful
      • helpful
      • neutral
      • unhelpful
      • very unhelpful

    2. Understanding problems between the two of you better:

      • very helpful
      • helpful
      • neutral
      • unhelpful
      • very unhelpful

    3. Understanding the children's feelings better:

      • very helpful
      • helpful
      • neutral
      • unhelpful
      • very unhelpful

    4. Establishing custody and/or access arrangements:

      • very helpful
      • helpful
      • neutral
      • unhelpful
      • very unhelpful

  19. Do you have any further comments about our service?