Out of Court and In Collaboration

Evaluating a New Model for Separation and Divorce in a University Setting
Image of Marsha Kline Pruett
Marsha Kline Pruett Marsha Kline Pruett
Maconda Brown O'Connor Professor, Smith College School for Social Work
June 30, 2016

This report chronicles and analyzes the two-year pilot project of IAALS' out-of-court model for separation and divorce at the Resource Center for Separating and Divorcing Families. It includes information on:

  • The service process;
  • The families who came into contact with the Center;
  • Service utilization and program progression;
  • Well-being outcomes;
  • Feedback from parents, supervising staff, and members of the community; and
  • Student intern self-assessments.

The purpose of this report is to provide insight into one implementation of the IAALS model, both as a broad demonstration of how family-centered innovations can improve our family law system and as a tool for building upon and replicating the model. The primarily positive results will be useful for policy makers and decision makers nationwide.

With completion of the on-campus demonstration project, IAALS supported the creation of a community-based version of the Center. The Center for Out-of-Court Divorce – Denver (COCD) was in operation until 2017 and was evaluated in a similar fashion.

Whether on-campus or community-based, the IAALS interdisciplinary model has the potential to serve separating and divorcing families across the country and well into the future.