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 ATTACHMENT AND BONDING ASSESSMENTS

An Attachment and Bonding Assessment evaluates the pattern of relatedness between children and their caregivers.  This addresses who in the child’s life offers the greatest centrality in a child’s emotional life, identifying strengths in relationships, and emphasizing areas of need.

WHAT IS AN ATTACHMENT & BONDING ASSESMENT?

An Attachment and Bonding Assessment is a comprehensive assessment that evaluates the quality of the caregiver-child relationship, the strengths and challenges of the caregiver, and how well the child uses the caregiver as a secure base/safe haven.

 

An Attachment and Bonding Assessment provides only one critical piece of information in an overall evaluation: the quality and nature of the caregiver-child dyad using research based and widely accepting scientific procedures to make the determinations. The purpose of this assessment is to provide information on the child’s development and recommendations to assist with a smooth adjustment to the current custody situation and promote a child’s healthy development.

WHY HAVE AN ATTACHMENT ASSESMENT?

Child at Psychologist

An Attachment Assessment provides information about the quality and nature of the caregiver-child dyad – information that is an integral piece of information when determining the cost/benefits of maintaining/disrupting a parent-child relationship.

 

Upon understanding the quality and nature of the caregiver-child dyad, parents and judges will be better prepared to make decisions regarding specific residential schedules and child-related decision-making procedures for the child of that family.

WHAT IS  INVOLVED IN AN  ATTACHMENT & BONDING ASSESMENT?

An Attachment and Bonding Assessment involves gathering information from a variety of sources.  

A comprehensive assessment may include the following:

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  • an assessment of the quality of the caregiver – child relationship

  • an assessment of the relationship between each child and parent in different settings on multiple occasions 

  • cost benefits of maintaining/disrupting caregiver-child relationship

  • recommendations for making the relationship disruption between child and caregiver smoother and with less trauma to the child and improving the quality of the caregiver child relationship supporting the best interests of the child

  • a comprehensive review of collateral information (interviews, reports, court documentation)if warranted

  • psychological and cognitive testing if warranted

  • mental health assessment if warranted

  • Other as deemed necessary

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