Determining Parental Alienation

This form has been developed to provide a simple and reliable means in which to reasonably determine the existence of Parental Alienation Syndrome or PAS as it is more commonly referred to. This form is intended to be used in conjunction with the “Risk assessment protocol to evaluate the risk of harm to children caused by Hostile-Aggressive Parenting (HAP)”

Criteria 1

The child is indicating a fear or hatred of the targeted parent or is claiming to be harassed by attempts by the targeted parent to make contact with him or her.
The child has denigrated the targeted parent privately to other friends, family or in public.
The child appears to be mimicking scenarios or accusations advanced by one of the parents in family court proceedings.
The child has created a scene in public which has embarrassed, humiliated or denigrated the targeted parent with the child using untoward language or violence
The child has made false allegations against the targeted parent or has attempted to have the targeted parent charged criminally by police or has supported such a complaint advanced by the other parent.
The child is displaying a severe opposition to contact with a parent or insisting on spending less time or is resisting reasonable attempts to engage in meaningful contact with the targeted parent.
The child expresses guiltless disregard for the feelings of the targeted parent or other family members who may support the targeted parent.
The child has attempted suicide or has self mutilated themselves and has indicated that it was because of the targeted parent.
The child has written a letter or note to the targeted parent telling the target parent that he/she does not want to see the parent or to have any further contact with the parent.
The child spits, bites, swears or has displayed other violent opposition to contact with a parent.
The child has assaulted, attempted to harm, harmed the target parent.

Criteria 2

There must be at least one person having influence over a child who is engaging in Hostile-aggressive parenting (HAP) directed against the targeted parent.

The targeted parent has suffered the loss of parenting time with the child due to the interference with access to the child by another parent or family member or due to the refusal of the child to spend scheduled time with the targeted parent or the target parent has care and control of the child for 40% of the time or less.

There would appear to be no compelling and credible evidence to support the reasons given by the child or the HAP parent to explain why the child is exhibiting one or more of the disorders listed under criteria 1. Some of the reasons given may appear to be weak, frivolous, contradictory from evidence given by others, exaggerated or in some cases totally fabricated or an extension of another person’s thoughts or feelings.

There would appear to be no compelling evidence or other compelling information which would indicate that the child’s relationship with the targeted parent was not considered within the limits of a reasonably healthy and normal relationship (for example, no violence or abuse against the child) under the circumstances up until the time that either the parents were separated or until such time as conflict between parents involving the child’s issues became an problem.