Interprofessional Network Psychology - Research Paper Example

They merge domestic relations matters (paternity, visitation, dissolution and custody) with probate, mental health, juvenile (adoption, dependency, delinquency, abuse and neglect), and criminal cases (felony, misdemeanor and domestic violence). An integrated family court therefore has psychologists, judges, mental health professionals, family law lawyers, mediators, statutory authorities, accountants and community workers (Horwath & Morrison, 2007). All these people work together to ensure that the conflicting individuals are assisted with the pre-filing procedures and that, they obtain timely out of court resolution of disputes.

The integrated family court aims to increase use of non-adversarial processes such as Alternative Dispute Resolution in resolving family law cases. These methods are very important in the sense that, they help discourage litigation in all ways possible. They encourage mediation and custody evaluations before decisions regarding the cases are made. The courts also provide openings for the expansion of services in family law cases. It is as a result of the enhanced delivery of services that the expansion occurs.

Specialized family services that are offered by the integrated family courts are conducted by the professionals involved. . They also help by providing vital information about both parties that could be used in determining their behavior (Bai, Wells, & Hillemeier, 2009). Integrated family courts have successfully implemented a ‘one family-one judge’ approach. This approach in handling cases is aimed at reducing conflicting orders and improving the ability of the judge handling the case to have knowledge of the family needs.

With better understanding of the family needs, the judge is in a better position to convince the conflicting families into entering a mediation process which would result into an amicable way of solving the problem (Community 2009). The judge may also have more time to best prepare for judgment summary motions and to focus on complex issues of the case being handled. Additional training to superior judges involved in hearing cases related to family law has also been beneficial in ensuring that they are better equipped to handle new cases that arise with the changing trends of human life.

Integrated family law courts has achieved in streamlining case flow procedures and at the same time eliminating duplicative efforts occurring in cases related to family law. These have led to dependency and family law cases being expedite. Working under the principles of inter-professional network, integrated family courts has enabled conflicting parties minimize their legal fees expenses. Due to the fact that the professionals work together and share a common pool of resources, a unified system of management and common governance the parties involved in the disputes does not spend much.

The conflict may be resolved in a record short time because of the few sessions involved in the discussion of