Recognizing the Importance of Family Violence for Children's Best Interests in Family Law Contexts
Tracks
Ballroom 4: In-Person Only
| Tuesday, November 24, 2026 |
| 11:35 AM - 11:55 AM |
| Ballroom 4 |
Overview
Katreena Scott, Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women and Children
Three Key Learnings
1. Analyze the intersection of children's best interests and family violence within family law frameworks.
2. Navigate a novel, free, evidence-based online assessment guide (the e-SAFeR) designed to evaluate the nature, severity, and impact of family violence.
3. Evaluate empirical data regarding the usability, practice implementation, and systemic impact of utilizing structured professional judgment tools in family law contexts.
Speaker
KATREENA SCOTT
Professor And Academic Director
Centre For Research And Education On Violence Against Women And Children
Recognizing the Importance of Family Violence for Children's Best Interests in Family Law Contexts
Presentation Overview
The 2021 amendments to Canada’s Divorce Act marked a critical shift by explicitly naming family violence (FV) factor to be considered in determining a child’s best interests regarding post-separation parenting time and decision-making. The amended legislation defines FV broadly, encompassing patterns of coercive control and direct or indirect child exposure. To support the implementation of these legislative changes, the Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children (CREVAWC) collaboratively developed, disseminated, and evaluated the e-SAFeR—a free, online, structured professional guide designed to help family law professionals assess FV and prioritize child and survivor safety in parenting plans.
This presentation introduces the e-SAFeR tool and shares findings from its multi-phase evaluation. First, we present results from "think-aloud" usability research detailing how the e-SAFeR guides legal professionals through complex assessments of FV nature, severity, and frequency, including coercive control, survivor and child impact, and change in the person who harmed. Second, we share findings from surveys and interviews with 40 legal professionals trained on the tool. These empirical results illuminate how the guide improves practice, leading to more robust collection and presentation of FV evidence in family law contexts.
This presentation introduces the e-SAFeR tool and shares findings from its multi-phase evaluation. First, we present results from "think-aloud" usability research detailing how the e-SAFeR guides legal professionals through complex assessments of FV nature, severity, and frequency, including coercive control, survivor and child impact, and change in the person who harmed. Second, we share findings from surveys and interviews with 40 legal professionals trained on the tool. These empirical results illuminate how the guide improves practice, leading to more robust collection and presentation of FV evidence in family law contexts.
Biography
Dr. Katreena Scott is a Psychologist, a Professor, and a Tier I Canada Research Chair in Ending Child Abuse and Domestic Violence. Katreena serves as the Academic Director of the Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children, where she leads a dedicated team of students and research associates who are working to understand and prevent violence in relationships. Katreena is internationally recognized for her research on empirically and ethically sound policies and practices for intervening with men who have used violence against their partners and/or children.
