FOR ATTORNEYS

A neutral child-development specialist for co-parents deadlocked on a decision about their child.

Dr. Baila Drucker, LCSW. Advisory and facilitative work with separated and divorcing parents who cannot agree on treatment, diagnosis, providers, schooling, or residential placement — and, where both parties stipulate in writing, parenting coordination within a defined scope.

ROLES I ACCEPT

  • Neutral consultant to both parents on a specific decision about their child

  • Ongoing decision facilitator across a defined set of parenting decisions

  • Parenting coordinator by private written stipulation, within a scope both parties and counsel agree

  • Consulting resource to a family on the appropriateness of a proposed residential or therapeutic placement

ROLES I DECLINE

  • Custody evaluator, court-appointed or private

  • Expert witness, retained or testifying

  • Guardian ad litem or any court-appointed role

  • Unilateral engagement by one parent against the other

I do not conduct custody evaluations, provide expert testimony, or submit reports to any court. I will not become an opposing expert in your matter. I hold no appointment and report to no court. Any decision-making authority I exercise arises solely from a written agreement executed by both parents, and is revocable by either of them. I do not use the terms forensic, evaluator, or expert to describe my work.

ENGAGEMENT STRUCTURE

Three levels of engagement

The levels run in order. Parenting coordination is not offered as a first engagement — the stipulation is realistic only once both parties have experienced the neutral role and are willing to delegate to it. In practice, most matters resolve at the first or second level.

BACKGROUND

Where the expertise is unusual

Doctorate in social work. Fifteen years in child development and family systems, including more than a decade working inside residential and therapeutic treatment programs before leaving that industry.

That last point is the relevant one in a contested matter. Where one parent proposes a wilderness program, a therapeutic boarding school, or a residential placement and the other opposes it, the dispute usually turns on what the program actually does — a question neither counsel nor a general co-parenting therapist is positioned to answer. Dr. Drucker has worked inside those programs and can advise the parents directly on whether a specific placement is appropriate for their child.

That advice is given to the parents. It is not an opinion for the court, is not reduced to a report for filing, and is not offered as testimony.

PRACTICAL TERMS

Format — remote by default; in person by arrangement.
Jurisdictions — [STATES — client to confirm].
Fees — hourly for consultation and facilitation; scoped retainer for parenting coordination. Schedule provided on inquiry.
Retention — by both parents jointly, or by counsel for both parties jointly. Never by one side.
Turnaround — initial response within two business days.

Declination. Some matters are not suitable for a facilitative neutral. Where that is the case Dr. Drucker will say so at the outset rather than accept the engagement.

Matter Inquiry

For counsel only. Client inquiries are handled through a separate route.