Strengthening evaluation strategies for divorcing family support services: Perspectives of parent educators, mediators, attorneys, and judges

Mediation and parent education are increasingly common support services provided to divorcing families. Although there is accumulating evaluation evidence, important questions remain. In this study we surveyed mediators, parent educators, attorneys, and judges in one state to identify the types of evidence that may be useful in further evaluation efforts and to obtain their professional judgements regarding the effectiveness of these programs. Most programs only obtain minimal evaluation, but professionals had helpful ideas about types of evidence that would be helpful. Judges, parent educators and mediators perceived the programs as more useful and effective than attorneys. Results are discussed in terms of ways to strengthen evaluation efforts of mediation and parent education programs for divorcing families.