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Through its Family Rebuilding and Reorganizing Services, Catholic Charities
provides help to adults and children during this transition to find hope,
strength, and new ways to maintain peaceful family relationships.
Services are available before, during, and after break-up whether a
marriage occurred (dissolution) or not (paternity). The goal
is to help parents plan for their children’s future so conflict is minimized
and the children maintain positive relationships with each parent and
each parent ’s
extended family.
Counseling
For adults and/or children regarding divorce adjustment.
Fees are assessed on a sliding fee and are insurance and
medical assistance reimbursable. See Clinical
Counseling programs for more information.
Custody Study Evaluations
Catholic Charities
provides court ordered custody study evaluations to establish
first time permanent custody. Studies can be done by order of courts
in Winona,
Wabasha, Goodhue, Olmsted, Houston, Dodge and Fillmore counties. Studies
are done within 90 days of the time the court order is received and
arrangements
for payment are made. Studies consist of interviews with
parents, children, references; home visits in each parent’s home if within 225 miles
of Rochester or Winona. (Extra fee is charged if home is more than 60
miles from evaluator’s office.) Fees must be prepaid in full before
services can proceed.
Chemical dependency evaluations or psychological evaluations
may be required and if so, are added to the financial responsibility
of the parties.
Evaluators
have been trained by the Minnesota Association of Custody
Resolution Specialists
and are licensed in social work.
Evaluations for Change of Permanent Custody
This is an impartial recommendation and evaluation that can
be provided to the court. Services must be court ordered
based on an agreement by the parents to use Catholic Charities
staff as a neutral
family expert.
Abreviated Custody Assessments are also available if requested by both attorneys attempting to help their clients reach an out of court settlement.
Catholic Charities staff will be an experienced Licensed
Independent Clinical Social Worker.
A pre-paid retainer will be collected. Extra time will be
charged for, and unused time will be refunded.
Mediation
of Custody and Parenting Time Issues
A neutral, trained,
facilitative mediator can assist couples before or during court involvement
to work out their own
agreement for their children’s future. This is a voluntary service
and no information from the mediation can be shared with the court unless
agreed to by both
parents.
The mediator is certified as a Rule 114 Alternative Dispute
Resolution neutral and is a Licensed Independent Clinical
Social Worker. Mediation sessions are held in the Winona
office.
A free orientation for this service is available. Subsequent
time requires a pre-paid retainer.
For more information
on Family Rebuilding and Reorganizing Services, contact
Mary Chase Borgen at the Winona office,
507-454-2270. All services, focused on the best interests of the children
involved, will be provided in a fair, objective, and impartial
manner.
Services are provided regardless of faith practice or ideological beliefs.
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