Richard Maxfeild Custody Evaluation 4-5-1997_1

8/8/2019 Richard Maxfeild Custody Evaluation 4-5-1997_1

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/richard-maxfeild-custody-evaluation-4-5-19971 1/7

Richard B. !\1axfield, Ph.D.

LICENSED PSYCliOLOGIST

t ( I e - e t + lill~ r eLLL~

\A X iS ho t C o ~ ie d

A P R - 5 1 9 9 7

I IEV.-\LVATION

Name: Hal Richardson and CI3"~in~o:::wsk~)

These parents were court ordered to involve themselves in a cus tody evaluat ion with me.

This evaluat ion concerns their e ighteen month o ld daughter who currently res ides \vi th

the mother, with weekend vis itat ion available to the fa ther . I met with Mr. Richardson

on June 19 and 16. July 18 . and September 13 for individual hour long diagnostic

s ess io ns . I n a dd iti on I m et w it h h im f or on e h ou r w ith h is da ug hte r o n Oc to be r 4 , 1996.

I met with Ms. Dombrowski for a two hour consultat ion session on July 10. 1996, a

second two hour consultat ion session on September 11, 1996 and a one hour consultation

with her daughter on October 4 . . 1996. In addition I administered the M1'vlPI-II to both

parents . Fur ther , I have spoken with or received repor ts f rom Joel Nance, M.D., Bernard

Nobo, MSW, Mrs. Barger , who is Claudine's current counselor , Ms. F isher who is the

chI ld 's current day care provider. In addit ion I have received and revicv, :ed mult ip le faxes

f rom Ms. Dombrowski, numerous pol ice repor ts concerning the h is tory of v io lence in

this relationship and I have lis tened to and reviev,:ed a taped telephone conversation

p ro vid ed to m e b y M r. R ic ha rd so n. T ha t c on ve rsa ti on w as o ne b e tw ee n h im a nd M s.

D om bro ws ki . I t is o n t he b a sis o f t he a bo ve c on ta cts a nd in fo rm at io n th at I c om e t o m y

findings and conclusions.

This was an extraordinari ly d if ficult evaluat ion to conduct . In par t that d if ficulty arises

f rom the extreme violence which has been par t of this re la tionship f rom nearly the

beginning of their relat ionship. Fur ther . that d if ficulty arises. and perhaps primari ly ,

f rom my opinion that neither member of this couple was for thright in their approach to

m e a nd t o th e e va lu atio n. T ho ug h it is to be e xp ec te d t ha t a ny p ar en t u nd er go in g s uc h a n

evaluat ion wil l "put theI r best foot forward," my assessment of each member of this

couple is that they 3re prone to fabr ic3t ion and to b laming the o ther for a ll , or near ly a ll ,

of the problems in their relat ionship. On mult ip le occas ions they provided information

which was f rankly and boldly contradictory to the information that the o ther had

provided. Sor ting out where the truth lay in those s ituations was not possible.

E ac h m e m be r o f th is co up le d esc rib es th eir re la tio ns hip a s b eg in nin g im pu lsi\ ely E ac h

ofthcm descr ibe i t as "love a t fi rs t s ight ." though they do not both use that verbalization .

At the t ime that they met Mr. Richardson \Vas marr ied to h is f i rs t wife . Almostim m ed ia te ly u po n m e etin g M s D om br ow sk i h e b ec 3m e in tim at el y in vo lv ed w it h he r.

He very quickly , f rom his point of v iew, began to provide for her f inancial ly and

emotionall:-- . . She describes herselfas being "struck o tT her feet" by his "chJrm."

qI ,)-.2(-)1-) ():;{)()

r,\,\; ')1::--":'/1':, !)~ .~Il

: 2 ~ () I ~ \ V ~:!1 ) I . . .. ; ,r iI\ f ' ~ - ; \ \ h. ,\ ......•...,\ < . . . ; . I~,"-J I 1



Hal Richa rdson & C 1 aL .le D o m br o w sk i

Richard B. MaxfIeld. Ph.D.LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST

A s t he ir r ela tio n sh ip d ee pe ne d t he re b eg an a s er io u s o f v io le nt in te rc ha ng cs . A t le as t h a lf

d o ze n o ft ho s c in tc rc ha n! .!c s c am e t o t he at te nt io n o f t he p o lic e a nd o n at le as t o n e

o cca sio n t he re \v er e c ha rg es file d a ga in st b o th o f th em . M r . Ric har ds on d esc rib es M s .D o m br ow sk i as e xt ra or din ar ily m o o dy . H e t ells m e t ha t sh e b eg an t he vio le nce b y

" te ar in g u p" a n um b er o f h is p o ss ess io ns . H e t ells m e th at h e b ec am e v io le nt in r et ur n a s

a m at ter o f s elf d e fen se . M s . D o mb ro \',s ki, o n th e o th er h an d, d esc rib es h er se lf as t he

v ic tim o f t he v io le nc e w h ic h, in h er m in d, \v as e ss en tia lly u np ro v o ke d. S he t ells m e th at

s he n ee de d t o de fe nd h er se l f a ga in st h im ~ l! ld t ha t w h at ev er d am a ge s he m i gh t h av e d o ne

t o him o r to h is p ro pe rt y w as a r esu lt o f her e ffo rt s o f se lf d efe ns e. In re view in g t he

p olic e r ep or ts o f th ese v ar io u s e pis od es it is im po ss ib le t o so rt o u t w h o d id w ha t t o w ho m

an d in \v ha t o r der . C le ar ly , h ow ev er , b o th m em b er s o f th e co up le a ct iv ely e ng ag ed in

v io le nt b eh av io r t o w ar d o n e a no t he r.

B o th m e m be rs o f t his c o u ple a cc us e t he o th er o f c ur re nt ly p er pe tu at in g t he a nim o s it y

b et we en t he m. M r . Ric har ds on , fo r h is p ar t, c o m m un ic at es t hat M s . D om b ro w sk i

fr eq ue nt ly ca lls h im . H e sa ys t ha t s he h as c alle d h im a t t wo a nd fo u r in t he m o r nin g a nd

h as r id icu le d h im o v er s om e p ie ce o f c ur re nt o r pa st b eh av io r. H e te lls m e th at sh e

s ou nd s d ru nk in th e p h o ne c alls a nd h e is ab le t o he ar th e b ab y in th e b a ck t,'T o u nd . H e i s

f ea rf ul fo r t he b ab y 's s af et y a t s uc h t im e s. F o r h er p a rt M s . D o m b r o w sk i a bs o lu te ly

d en ie s p la cin g a ny p ho n e c alls t o M r . R ic ha rd so n . S h e te lls m e t ha t it is h e w h o c alls

h er . S he sa ys t hat s he f ee ls t hr ea te ne d a nd h ar ass ed b y h im a nd w ish es t o h av e

ab so lu te ly n o co nt ac t w it h h im . A ga in , it is im po ss ib le fo r m e to s o rt o u t th e ve rac it y o f

e it h er o n e o f th es e c la im s o r co u n te r cla im s .

T h e an im o s it y b et w ee n t he se p ar en ts IS su ch t ha t th e ex ch an ges o f t he ir b ab y n ee d t o

o c cu r in t he p r es en ce o f a t hir d p ar ty . W h en I in it ia lly b eg an t he e v alu at io n t ho s e

e x ch an g es w e r e t ak in g p la ce i n a h o s pi ta l i n S a lin a \ vi th a s o c ia l \ vo r k er p a rt ic ip at in g .

T O \ V ~H d t he e nd o f th e ev alu at io n p ro c es s t he e x ch an ge s w e re t ra ns fe rr ed t o t he S a lin a

p o lic e d ep an me nt . F o llo w in g o ne s uc h i nt er ch an ge t her e w as s o m e so r t o f d is tu rb an ce

b et \v ce n 1 \1 r. R ic ha rd so n a nd i \ls D o m b ro \'\'s 1- ;i. 1 \ls . D o m b rO \v sk i c o m mu nic at es t ha t

1 vIr . R ic har ds on fo llo w ed h er a ro u nd S alm a. t ha t s h e w en t b ac k t o th e p o lice s ta tio n t o

r ep or t h im fo r h ar as sin g h er a nd t hat t he p o lice " es co rt ed h im o u t o f to w n." ;'v ir .

R ic har ds on c om m un ic ate s t ha t h e w as s im p ly g et tin g g as fo r his tr uc k t ha t \ iIs.

D o m b rO \'is 1- ;l d ro v e b y a nd t ha t s he m a de a fa ls e r ep o n t o th e p o lic e t ha t h e w as h ar as sin g

h er a nd h e 15 d ee ply o ffen ded t hat t he po lic e e sco n ed h im o u t o f t ow n . r \g ain it IS

im po ss ib le fo r m e t o u nd er st 3n d w ha t m ay h av e t ran sp ir ed a nd \v ho m ay b e a t fa ult in t he

above in te rchange.

\\:hat IS a bu nd an tly c le ar is t ha t I t IS J mp o ss lb k fo r t he se p a re nts t o co -p ar en t N clt he r o f

t he m ca n s a\ a civ il \\o r d a bo ut t he o th er . E ach n flh em h as e xt rao r din ar \ J rlJ I1 10 Slt v. .

t o w ar d t he o t h er . Iv Is D o m b ro \\s 1- ;J C o m m U !lI C::lt es t ha t s h e is d ee ply f ea rf ul o f Iv Ir



Hal Richardson & C ia .n e D om bro ws ki

Richardson, not ing, for instance, that two members of her Bat tered Women's Task Force

Group have been murdered by their ex-husband's or boyfr iend 's . She says, convincingly,

that she is fear fu l for her l ife. How much that is conscious exaggerat ion is unknO\'vTI to

m e. M r. R ic ha rd so n c om m un ic ate s t ha t M s. D om bro ws ki , i n h is op in io n. is

psychiatr ical ly d is turbed. unable to be t rusted and extraordinari ly manipulative. He

communicates that he cannot have a reasonable conversat ion with her as she is a " liar"

who will dis tort the truth to her O\\oTIends. Currently there is virtually no communicationb etw ee n t he m in re ga rd to th eir d au gh te r. A s n ote d a bo ve e ac h o f t he m sa ys th at t he

other one is making inappropr ia te and accusatory or threatening phone cal ls to the o ther,

both, however , admit that they are unable to have any1hing approaching a c iv il d iscuss ion

about their daughter or her circumstance.

E ac h m em be r o f th e co up le a cc use s th e o th er o ne o f h av in g a p ro ble m w ith e ith er

alcohol or substances. Each of them denies the use of a lcohol themselves . My

assumption and conf irmed by repor ts of previous evaluators, i s that each of them has had

dif ficulty with the use of subs tances and/or a lcohol in the past . Whether that i s a current

problem is unclear to me, though as noted they each deny those possible d if ficult ies.

There is l it tle doubt that each member of this couple has s ignificant d if ficult ies \ \i th their

impulse control . Each of them involved themselves qui te impulsively in this

relat ionship. Fur ther , each of them admit to interactions with the other dur ing this period

of separat ion when there are , so far as I know, mutual res training orders. Each of them

speaks without thinking in their appointments with me. They provide information that is

contradictory to vv'hat the other one has said and what they have previously

communicated without much, i f any, awareness of having done that .

Both members of this couple deny having problems with v io lence that predated their

current relat ionship. However, there is a pol ice repor t available on Ms. Dombrowski thatconcerns a v io lent interchange with a former boyfr iend. She has an explanation for that

which she provides me in the consul ta tion which completely , in her mind, exonerates her

f rom responsibi li ty . Mr . Richardson, despi te Ms. Dombrowski's accusat ions to the

contrary, communicates that v io lence was never a problem in h is f ir st marr iage.

However, he freely admits that he has had t rouble with the law in the pas t and that he has

b ee n i n m ulti pl e fig ht s. H e p ro vid es t he re aso nin g t ha t h e w as a lw ay s c om in g to

someone's defense who was unable to defend h im or herself or that he was SImply

attacked in an unprovoked way.

There is l it tk doubt that both members of this couple suffer from a s ih '11Jflcant psychiatric

dif ficult ies. I t seems qui te l ikely to me that each of them suffers f rom Border linePersonali ty Disorder. In regard to that character izat ion Ms. DombrO\vski has

demonstrated a pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships. s ih '11itlcant

impulsivi ty . affective ins tJbi li ty with c leJr proneness to depress ion on the one s ide and

Iff itabil i ty or anxiety on the o ther She addi tional ly has demonstr3 ted Intense and

in:.lpprOpf13te : .Inger. She cle3rly has engaged in dTons to :.Ivoid re31 or Imagined

abandonment. In fact. her gre:.l test fear in reg:.Hd to this custody evaluation is the



Hal Richardson & C l: in e D om bro \v sk i

complete loss of her daughter , perhaps , she says, f rom Mr. Richardson's k idnapping of

the daughter . For h is par t ~ \'f r. Richardson has demons trated a pat tern of intense and

uns table interpersonal relat ionships , impulsiveness , affective ins tabi li ty with periods of

s ignificant depress ion though he denies inappropr ia te and in tense anger h is behavior

suggests o thef \v ise and I suspect that he suffers f rom feelings of boredom or emptiness,

though I d id not do a thorough inquiry in that area. The psychological tes ting

demons trates that both of these people l ikely minimize their d if ficult ies in repor ting theirsymptoms and behavior. In addit ion, however, the test ing would be consistent, with the

presence of Borderline Personality Disorder.

Each member of this couple has a h is tory of s ignificant d is rupt ion in family relat ionships .

rvfs. Dombrowski 's h is tory is marked by mult ip le abandonments by her mother ,

p lacement in fos ter care throughout her l ife and d if ficult ies in relat ionships with her

s ib lings. She descr ibes an upr inging which is pos it ive for her observing parental abuse a t

the hands of her s tepfather to\vard her mother and some indicat ions that she \vas abused

physically by her stepfather.

Mr. Richardson descr ibes that he parent 's d ivorced rather ear ly in h is l ife, he is the th irdoldes t of seven chi ldren. He communicates that fo llowing the d ivorce h is parent 's

remarr ied, he descr ibes h is mother as being inconsistent, having s ignificant problems of

her 0\\11 and one gets the sense, though he does not qui te say i t, that h is mother was less

available to h im than he would have l iked.

E ac h m em be r o f th is c o up le d es cri be d th em se lv es i n a n e xt re me ly p osi tiv e lig ht . T he y

communicate good work h is tories , pos it ive relat ionships " ,, ri th o thers and a sense of

respons ibil ity about their l ives . However , there is evidence to the contrary , for ins tance,

each of them dropped out of h igh school, that despi te their tel ling me that their

a do le sc en ce w as a r ela tiv el y c al m o ne . A ga in I a m th wa rt ed i n m y e va lu ati on o f th em b y

their portrayal of themselves as essentially being \vithout difficulties.

I have l it tle doubt that each member of thIS parental pair loves and is concerned about

their daughter. However , there is a lso l it tle doubt that the daughter is p laced squarely in

the middle of their confl ic t. Each of them accuse the other of p!ac:r,g the daughter in

s ituations that were phys ical ly dangerous and threatening to the daughter . Ms .

D om br ow sk i c om m un ic ate s th at M r. R ic ha rd so n o nc e p oin te d a sh ot g un a t h er a nd h er

d au gh te r, M r. R i ch ard so n a cc us es M s. D om bro ws ki o f b ein g q ui te d ru nk a nd d riv in g th e

car with the daughter in the car. Again i t i s impossible to sor t out the t ru thfulness of

either one of those accounts.

Each member of this couple g ives an accurate and complete de5cr ip tJon of their daughter.

They clear ly are involved and inves ted in her l ife. Both ofthe;,1 have substantial goals

for her in li fe . Each of them wishes to provide her the most s table environment possible.

Mr. Richardson is proud of his beIng :in extremely 1 0 : '- '3 1 ~.lnddevoted person. He

describes himselfas neH~r givlT1g up on others . fVl[ Rlchardson is par11cularly concerned

that h is daughter grow up \vnh relJt ionshlps WIth her half SIbl ings . h is three chi ldren



Hal Richa rdson & Cb. . n e D o m b r o w s k i

f ro m h is f ir st m a rr i:1 ge . H e b elie ve s t h:1 t f am ily t ie s : 1r e e xt ra o rd in ar ily im p o rt an t a nd h e

\v is he s t ha t h i s d au gh te r w o u ld h av e t h at e xp er ie nc e o f f am ily . H e als o c o m m un ic at es

g ra ve a nx ie tie s a bo ut h is d au gh te r b ein g e xp os ed t o M s . D o m br o ws ki's m o th er \v ho h e

h as co n sid er ab le n eg ativ e o pin io n o ffo r w ha t s he h as " do n e t o C lau din e." H e b elie ve s

t ha t h e c o uld p ro v id e a Illo r e st ab le c o ns is te nt J nd lo v in g h o m e e nv ir o nm e nt t ha n c o u ld

M s . D o mb rO \v sk i. O n th e o th er s id e M s . Do m br o ws ki d es cr ib es h er self as b ein g q uite

d ev ot ed t o he r d au gh te r. S he s ay s t h at sh e w is he s fo r he r d au gh te r t o hav e in lifea dv an ta ge s t ha t s h e d id n't h av e. S he p ar tic ula rly n o te s t ha t h e r g ro w in g u p y ea rs v ,,'e re

s ub st an tia lly d is ru pt ed b y h er va rio u s p la ce m en ts in fo s te r c ar e a n d s he ce rt ain ly w a nt s t o

a vo id a ny s uc h d is ru pt io ns fo r h er ch ild . S he c om m un ic ate s t ha t p ro vid in g fo r h er

d au gh te r is h er n um b er o n e g oa l i n l j fe. S he s ay s t ha t s h e is c ur re nt ly d oin g a g o od jo b a t

t ha t a nd b elie ve s t ha t s h e sh o uld c o nt in ue w it h t ha t.

I o b se rv ed e ac h m e mb er o f t his c o up le in de pe nd en tly in te ra ct in g \v it h t he ir d au gh te r.

T h e in it ia l h o ur o f in te ra ct io n w as \ \'it h ~ 1s. D o m br o\v sk i. S he b ro ug ht t he d au gh te r t o

t he a pp oin tm en t. T h e d au gh te r \v as ale rt, t ho ug h o b vio us ly tir ed fr om th e lo n g c ar t rip .

M o t he r a nd d au gh te r in te ra ct ed in a p o sit iv e a nd c o mfo rt ab le m an ne r. T h e m o th er

b ro u gh t ag e a pp ro p ria te t oy s f o r th e da ug ht er t o pla y w it h an d in vo lv ed t he d au gh te r in

m u lt ip le a nd a pp ro pr Ia te a ct Iv itie s th ro ug ho ut t he h o ur . T h er e \v as a h in t o f a nx ie ty in

t he in te ra ct io n , t ho u gh t ha t w e ll c o uld b e a cc o un te d fo r by th e f a ct t h at s he w a s b e in g

o b se rv ed a nd t he fa ct t h at sh e k new t ha t M r . R i ch ar ds on w o uld b e c om in g fo r th e s ec on d

hour . r s aw n o th in g in t he ir in te ra ct io n s t ha t r a is ed c o nc er ns in my m i nd a bo u t h er a b ilit y

t o b e in tu ne \v it h h e r d au gh te r. T h eir le ve l o f in te ra ct io n s ug ge st s t he p o sit iv e b o nd a nd

o b vio us o ng o in g c on cer n o n M s . D o m br o ws ki's p ar t.

W h en M r . R ic ha rd so n c am e f o r h is a pp o in tm e nt t he d au gh te r h ad a p er io d o f s ig nif ic an t

s ep ar at io n d it T ic ult y f ro m h er m o th er . S he w as t ea rf ul t hr o ug h t he f ir st f if te en o r s o

m in ut es o f th e se ss io n. E ven tu ally sh e fe ll a slee p o n M r. R ich ar ds on 's s ho uld er . D u rin gt ha t p er io d o f in it ia l t e:.lr fu ln es s a nd s ep ar at io n d if lic ult ie s M r . R ic ha rd so n a tt em p te d t o

d is tr ac t h er , a tt em p te d t o r ea ss ur e h er :.ln d c alm ly h eld h er . M y im p re ss io n is t ha t h e is a

lo v in g a nd c o nc er ne d f at he r w h o is c er ta in ly c :.lp ab le o f h 'T e at t en de rn es s w it h h is

d au gh te r. A g ain I s aw n o th in g In IllS in te ra ct io n \v it h h is d au gh te r t ha t co n ce rn ed m e

a bo u t h is a b ilit ie s \v lt h h er . A s sh e n ap pe d d ur in g m o s t o f th e h o u r I d id n o t o b se rv e

t h ei r p la y , t h o ug h i t i s c le ar t ha t h e is a lo v in g :1 l1 d i m o lv ed p a re nt .

It is d if fic ult t o k no w t he p a re nt al a bI lit ie s o f e:.lc h m e mb er o f th IS co u ple o v er t im e . M y

c o nc er n a bo u t e ac h o f t he m is t ha t t he y a re i n co n sis te nt in t he ir p sy ch o lo g ic al s ta bilit y

a nd t h eir r elat io n sh ip s. H o w t ha t in co n sis te nc y m ay in 1lu en ce t he ir d au gh te r o v er tim e is

u nc er ta in . M y o bs er va tio n o f t he m o v er o n e h o ur o f in te ra ct io n w as p o sit iv e, t ho u gh t ha tc er ta in ly d o es n o t ad dr es s t he p r o b le m o f t he ir o n go in g c o ns is te nc y

T h e m ajo r p ro b lem in r eg :1 fd to ma ~in g a p o st d iv o rc e co -p ar en tin g r e!a tlo m hip \v o rk in

t hi s s it u at io n i s t h e ex tr :l O rd ln J rv a nJ m O s lt v, t t:. lr Jn d p o t en t ia l f o r v io l en c e I f1 I1 1 is c o u ple .

In :. lddl t ion thef l~ IS t he \e rv s lg nit ic l1 1t p o ss ib ilit y u fc o ns cio u s m J nlp ui:.lt lo n J nJ

d is to rt io n o n th e ran o r cJ ch m em b er o f t he co u ple T h us r ar t he y h J\c b ee n c o m ple tc ly



Hal Richa rdson & Cia ne Dombrov , ' sk i

u na ble t o a rr an ge f or e ve n t h e s ha rin g o f m in im a l in fo r n1 3t io n b et \v ee n t he m a bo u t t he

n ee ds a nd d ev elo p m en t o f t he ir d au gh te r. B e in g c o m ple te ly u na ble t o p ut a sid e t he ir

p er so n al f ee lin gs fo r o n e ~ ln o th er f or th e b e ne fit o f th eir d au gh te r is c le ar ly p ro b le m at ic

in t he l o ng t er m fu tu re o f t his y o u ng st er . F ur th er , n eit he r o n e o f th em c an s up po rt t he

d au gh te r's r ela tio n sh ip w it h t he o th er p ar en t. T h eir le ve l o f d is tr us t a nd an im o s it y s im p ly

e lim in at es t ha t p o te nt ia l. A t t his p o in t I d o n o t b elie ve t ha t e it he r o n e o f t he m a re

a m en ab le t o c o up le 's t he ra py a nd I h av e s e rio u s r es er va tio n s t ha t s u ch t re at m en t \v o uldp ro vid e a ny b en efit a s [ d ou bt t hat e it he r o n e o f t he m c ou ld b e fo rt hr ig ht e no ug h w it h a

t he r ap is t t o ad d re ss t he s ig n if ic an t i ss u es i n t h ei r r e la ti o ns h ip .

I b elie ve t his y o u n gs te r's r ela tio n sh ip w it h e ac h o f h er p ar en t's is im p o rt an t a nd w o r t hy o f

m a in te na nc e. I t is u nf o rt un at e t h3 t t he re is s ub st an tia l d is ta nc e b et w ee n t he r es id en ce o f

t he m o th er a nd fa th er . T h e c hild is r eq uir ed t o tr av el m an y h o ur s b y car t o ha ve v isit s

v .,it h h er f at her . T h o ug h t he t ra ve l m ig ht n o t be t er rib ly b ur den so m e t o a y o un gs te r h er

a ge s u ch t ra ve l a s s he gr o w s a nd d e ve lo p s \v ilI b ec o m e m o r e b u rd en so m e a nd d is ru pt iv e

o f h er u s ua l lif e a ct iv it ie s. W e re it p o ss ib le t o e st ab lis h r es id en ce s le ss d is ta nt p hy sic ally

t ha t m i gh t b e i n t hi s y o u ng s te r's b e st i nt er e st .

I h av e sp o ken \v it h t he d ay c ar e p ro vid er a nd \v it h M s . D o mb rO \v sk i's c ou ns elo r . B o th o f

t he m d es cr ib e M s . Do m br O\v sk i a s a lo v in g a nd c o nc er ne d p ar en t. T h e co u ns elo r t ells

m e t ha t p ar en tin g is su es ar e th e m ain fo cu s o f t heir w o rk t og et her . T h e c o un se lo r is

c le ar ly a w ar e o f M s . D o m br o w sk i's d if fic ult u pr in gin g a nd t he d iff ic ult ie s t ha t u p rin gin g

m a y f or es ha do w in r eg ar d t o f ut ur e p ar en tin g a bilit ie s. I \v as im p re ss ed b y t ha t

c o un se lo r , h er k n o w le dg e o f t he s it ua tio n a nd h er a ss es sm e nt t ha t s h e h as a p o sit iv e

r ela tio n sh ip w it h M s . D o m br ow sk i. I als o s po k e w it h th e day ca re p ro vid er . S he t ells m e

t ha t t h e ch ild in it ia lly h ad s ig ni f ic an t s ep ar at io n a nx ie tie s w h en b ein g d ro p pe d o ff a t t he

d ay c ar e. S he t ells m e th at t h o se a nx ie tie s h av e d im in is he d s ub st an tia lly in t he tim e t ha t

s he h as k nO \v T I h er . S he d es cr ib es M s . D o m br o w sk i a s a c o nc er ne d a nd r e lia ble p ar en t

w h o b r in gs h er d au gh te r a t t he 3 .p po in te d t im e a nd p ic ks h er u p a t a n ap pr o pr ia te t im e .

S he t ells m e th at M s . D o m br ow sk l c alls s ev er al tim es e ac h d ay to c hec k o n th e c om fo r t

o f h er d au gh te r. S he d es cr ib es h aV in g n o co n ce rn s ab o ut M s . D o m br ow sk i's a bil it y a s a

p ar en t, n o r d oe s t h e c ou ns elo r w ho M s . D o m br o ws ki h as co n su lt ed w it h

Recommendations

I) [ b elie ve th is yo un gs te r's b es t in te res t w o uld b e s er ,,:e d by o ng o in g lD \o lv em en t

w it h b o th o f h er p a re nt 's . A s alr ea dy n o te d e 3c h o f t he m is lo v in g 3 nd c o nc er ne d.

s he i s at ta ch ed t o e ac h o f t he m an d m a in ta in in g t ha t at ta ch m en t \\o u ld b e

im p or ta nt fo r h er fu tu re d ev elo pm en t. E ach p ar en t h as a m ix tu re o f a ss et s a ndlia bilit ie s w h ic h a re pe rh ap s s o m ew h at m o d if ie d b y t he p re se nc e o f t he o th er

parent.

2 ) I b elie ve t ha t t he ch ild s ho uld h 3v e r m m ar y r es id en tia l c us to d y \\It h t he m o t her . I

b elie ve t ha t th e m o t he r's in vo h em e nt in c o um e iln g lS a cr U C Ia l b e n ef it a n d s h o ul d

n o t b e u nd er es tI ma te d I n r cg 3r d t o he lp in g h er t o r ro v id c t he ~ Jn d o t' C r l\lr O nm c nt

6



Hal Richardson & C ia le D om bro wski

tha t thi s youngster wil l need. I have some concerns about Ms. Dombrowski

l imit ing or dropping out of the counse ling should she be awarded cus tody.

Therefore I would <;t ron~lv encourage the court to court order Ms. Dombrowski to

continue her counseling rela tionship with Ms. Barger a t a f requency and for a

duration at Ms. Barger's sole discret ion.

3 ) G iv en th e le ng th y tra ve l t o tr an sp or t th is ch ild b etw ee n p ar en ta l h om es I b elie vethat i t would be in her best interest to have lengthy, but Jess frequent, visitat ion

with her father. I know tha t i t i s generally bet te r for younger chi ldren to have

frequent and less l engthy vis itat ion, ho\vever , the physical dis tance, I believe, out

weighs the benefit s f rom more f requent vis itat ion. I would suggest therefore, tha t

vis itat ion with the father occur on an every other week bas is \ \it l1 a three day

weekend beginning Friday af te rnoon and ending e ither Sunday evening or

Monday morning.

4) As these parent' s a re comple te ly unable to communica te I am not optimis tic about

the s tabil ity of any custody and visitat ion schedule . However , I do not be lieve

tha t they are currently in a posit ion to engage in any joint counse ling or otherform of joint communication. Perhaps inst itut ing some vvnt ten communica tion

th at c ou ld b e m o nito re d th ro ug h C ou rt S er vic es w ou ld b e of so me h elp in

beginning communica tions about the daughter.

5 ) G iv en th e p ote ntia l fo r v io le nc e a nd th e fe ar of v io le nc e a nd " ma nip ula tio n" I

would s trongly encourage the Court to order that exchanges of the child occur in a

publ ic place such as was a rranged through the socia l worker a t the Sa lina hospital

or the police department in Salina.

6 ) I s ug ge st th at ar e- ev alu atio n o f th e c ir cu m sta nc es o cc ur in s ix to n in e m on th s to

see i f the couple has been able to make any headway on the ir putt ing aside the ir

mutual animosi ty and dist rust . Further , an assessment of the ir abi lity to begin

appropriate communica tions about thei r daughter a t that point could be made .

Perhaps post -divorce parent counseling could be undertaken a t tha t time.

Richard B. Maxfie ld. Ph.D.

Date signed

7

Richard Maxfeild Custody Evaluation 4-5-1997_1

Documents