Parental Fitness Evaluation in Michigan
Focused psychological evaluations assessing a parent’s capacity to provide safe, stable, and adequate care for their child — conducted by Dr. Stacy Nuar, PsyD, LP, a licensed psychologist with specialized training in custody and parenting evaluations.
What Is a Parental Fitness Evaluation?
A parental fitness evaluation is a focused psychological assessment that examines whether a parent has the capacity to provide adequate care, safety, and stability for their child. Unlike a custody evaluation — which examines the family system as a whole — a parental fitness evaluation centers on one parent and addresses whether that individual is psychologically fit to parent.
These evaluations are typically initiated when serious concerns have been raised about a parent’s ability to care for their child, often in cases involving child protective services, termination of parental rights proceedings, or reunification planning following a child’s removal from the home.
At Bright Pine Behavioral Health, parental fitness evaluations are conducted by Dr. Stacy Nuar, PsyD, LP, who holds specialized training in child custody and parenting evaluations from Palo Alto University and is a member of the American Academy of Forensic Psychologists.
How Is This Different From a Custody Evaluation?
A custody evaluation assesses the broader family dynamic — both parents, the children, and the relationships between them. A parental fitness evaluation is narrower in scope. It focuses specifically on one parent and answers a direct question: is this parent psychologically fit to care for their child?
Parental fitness evaluations do not typically include in-home parent-child observations the way custody evaluations do. These are cases where the parent has been identified as potentially dangerous or harmful to the child, and the evaluation is designed to determine whether the concerns can be remedied.
Who Initiates a Parental Fitness Evaluation?
Parental fitness evaluations are most commonly initiated by Child Protective Services (CPS) or the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), family courts, or attorneys representing parents or children in child welfare proceedings. A court order is required before the evaluation can begin.
What the Evaluation Includes
The evaluation process is similar in structure to a standard psychological evaluation.
Intake Session
An initial session to review the referral questions, gather background information, and explain the evaluation process and its limitations.
Collateral Contacts
When appropriate, Dr. Nuar may contact additional individuals — such as caseworkers, therapists, or family members — to gather a more complete picture of the parent’s functioning.
Assessment Appointments
One to two sessions that include a comprehensive clinical interview, psychological testing as indicated, and review of relevant documentation including court records, CPS reports, and prior evaluations.
Comprehensive Written Report
The report addresses referral questions, presents clinical findings, assesses parenting capacity, and provides recommendations — often including parenting classes, therapy, substance use treatment, or reunification readiness assessment. Completed within 3–5 weeks.
Your Forensic Psychologist
Dr. Stacy Nuar, PsyD, LP
Dr. Nuar brings extensive clinical and forensic experience to every evaluation. With a Doctorate of Psychology and specialized training in child custody and parenting evaluations from Palo Alto University through the AAFP, she conducts each assessment with the thoroughness and objectivity that legal proceedings demand.
Dr. Nuar stays current with evolving forensic methodology and ethical standards. Her evaluations are structured to be clear, defensible, and directly useful to attorneys, judges, and the individuals she evaluates.
Who We Work With
Individuals & Families
- Parents involved in custody or parental fitness cases
- Individuals facing court-ordered evaluations
- Immigration applicants needing psychological documentation
- People involved in guardianship or conservatorship proceedings
- Personal injury claimants requiring neuropsychological assessment
Attorneys & Referring Professionals
- Family law attorneys handling custody and parental fitness cases
- Immigration attorneys seeking hardship or asylum evaluations
- Criminal defense attorneys needing competency assessments
- Employers and HR departments requesting fitness for duty evaluations
- Probate attorneys involved in guardianship petitions
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a parental fitness evaluation different from a custody evaluation?
A custody evaluation examines both parents, the children, and the family dynamic to help determine custody arrangements. A parental fitness evaluation focuses on one parent only and asks whether that individual is psychologically fit to provide safe, adequate care for their child.
Does a parental fitness evaluation include observing me with my child?
Not typically. Parental fitness evaluations focus on the parent’s psychological functioning and capacity rather than observing parent-child interaction, which is more characteristic of custody evaluations. There may be collateral contact appointments depending on the case.
Will the report include recommendations?
Yes. Most parental fitness reports include detailed recommendations aimed at helping the parent become a safer and healthier caregiver. These may include parenting classes, therapy, substance use treatment, or other supportive interventions.
How long does the evaluation take?
The evaluation typically involves one intake session and one to two assessment appointments. The written report is completed within 3–5 weeks after the evaluation is finished.
Does insurance cover a parental fitness evaluation?
No. Parental fitness evaluations are private pay. These assessments are conducted for legal purposes and are not billed through health insurance.
Child Custody Evaluation
Comprehensive custody evaluations examining parenting capacity, parent-child relationships, and the best interests of the child
Learn more →
Guardianship Evaluation
Assessments of cognitive and functional capacity for guardianship proceedings in Michigan probate courts.
Learn more →
Court-Ordered Psychological Evaluation
General psychological evaluations ordered by the court to address mental health status, behavioral functioning, or case disposition.
