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The Sieve Model: An Innovative Process for Identifying Alternatives to Custody Evaluations

Silver, Robert B.; Silver, Deborah Coe. Conflict Resolution Quarterly, Jan. 1, 2009

This article describes the Sieve Model of collaborative dissolution of marriage and places it within a broader historical context of divorce proceedings. Adopting the example of Florida's innovative Judge Hugh Starnes, this model promotes resolution rather than victory and is sensitive to the effects of legal battles on the parties and children involved. The Twentieth Judicial Circuit of Florida implemented the model through differentiated case management and the use of educational, mediative, and therapeutic strategies. The model is tailored to suit individual couples, and the "sieve" works to channel these couples through whichever processes may be useful, avoiding those that are unproductive or excessively adversarial. A study of 50 cases found that focused evaluations were cheaper and took less time than typical custody evaluations and that "this model best supports the needs of family where immediate safety issues are present" (p.345). The authors conclude by advocating the Sieve Model as a "kinder, gentler path" (p.347) to addressing divorce and child custody.

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