The Family Relations Department provides services to litigating parties in order to help resolve issues of conflict during the pre and post-decree stage of the litigation at the Judges'/Magistrates' discretion. The department provides guardian ad litem appointments, parenting time investigations, home studies, including home studies at the request of out-of-the-area courts or agencies. The Family Relations Department also assists parties engaged in parenting disputes through parenting facilitation services. Upon request of attorneys or parties, a list of outside guardian ad litem providers or psychologists will be provided. 

Summarized below is information regarding the services provided by the Family Relations Department to divorcing parties in the process of a divorce and parties already divorced who have a motion before the court.  
 
GUARDIAN AD LITEM:
 
This service is provided upon a referral from both Judges and/or Magistrates. An extensive assessment is conducted on all of the family members regarding custody and/or parenting time issues. The parents are interviewed individually and family sessions are held for each parent and the children.  Significant others in the household may also be included. The children are also interviewed individually at the time of the family sessions. A home study is conducted on both homes if it is deemed necessary and appropriate. Written and/or telephone contact is made with other agencies involved with the family, such as schools, doctors, counselors, police agencies, and references. A report with recommendations in regard to custody and/or parenting time is mailed to the attorneys of record seven to ten days prior to the hearing date. If the attorneys have the expectation that they will need the Guardian ad Litem to testify at the hearing, the counselor must be subpoenaed. 
 
PARENTING TIME INVESTIGATIONS:
 
This service is provided on a referral from the Judges or Magistrates concerning parenting time issues. Parents and children are interviewed and provide their input in regard to their feelings about the parenting time issues. Information may be gathered by using collateral community contacts. A report will be mailed to the attorneys of record seven to ten days prior to the hearing, which include observations of the parents and children together, with specific recommendations for parenting time arrangements. 
 
HOME STUDY INVESTIGATIONS:
 
This service is provided on a referral from the Judges and Magistrates requesting a home visit on the parties' homes. The home study assesses the home for parenting time and/or custody purposes. The home should meet community standards for cleanliness and floor space. The home visit is normally scheduled with the parties in advance. 
 
PARENTING TIME FACILITATION:
 
This service is provided on a referral from the Judges or Magistrates in order to facilitate and implement the court-ordered parenting time schedule. All parties needed to implement the parenting time schedule will be interviewed.      The approach of intervention used by the Family Relations Department is designed to assist the parties in working out viable parenting time schedules.