RE: Use of traditional psych testing in determining reunification plans

["Niki Delson" <niki@xxxxxxxxx>]

two articles on the use of the Rorschach  in Forensic Settings appear in the
commentary section of the Journal Of Forensic Psychology Practice Vol 1, No.
#3, 2001

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 Niki Delson at Delson-Kokish Associates, P.O. Box 476, Trinidad, CA 95570
        Clinical and Forensic Evaluations, Consultation & Training
                 (707)677-3181-voice   (707)677-0187-fax
                   niki@delko.net         www.delko.net
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-----Original Message-----
From: owner-CHILD-MALTREATMENT-RESEARCH-L@cornell.edu
[mailto:owner-CHILD-MALTREATMENT-RESEARCH-L@cornell.edu]On Behalf Of
BRubin525@aol.com
Sent: Sunday, December 16, 2001 6:53 PM
To: Child Maltreatment Researchers
Subject: Re: Use of traditional psych testing in determining
reunification plans


I recently ran into a disturbing situation.  A client I had just begun to
work with received a very negative psychological evaluation stating that she
was not fit to have her kids based on her rorshach.  It looked like a shoddy
evaluation, however, the social worker acted as if it came from Mt. Sinai
and
proceeded to block effort toward reunification.  The woman is six months
sober which I would imagine would also compromise the validity of her
rorshach.  I am going to appear in court to challenge this evaluation, as I
feel the woman could and should continue to move toward reunification. I was
going to challenge the report based on two points:  1.  I would assume the
Rorschach is not valid for determining either present  ability to parent
children or one's capacity to effectively parent in the future.  2.  I would
question the validity of a rorschach done on someone in early recovery.  I
wonder if anyone on the listserv knows of articles or research done about
the
use of a rorschach in determining reunification decisions.  Also about the
use of rorschach in early recovery.  I recall a while back reading e-mail
critical of using traditional psychological testing in reunification
decisions.

Thank You.