Community House Cooperative

Serving Cocke, Jefferson, and Sevier Counties

WHAT IS THE COURT CLINIC?

The 4th Judicial District of Cocke, Sevier, and Jefferson Court Clinic was established in cooperation with several academic disciplines at East Tennessee State University and Community House Cooperative Inc. in order to provide the judges with more information about your family before a decision is made in the case brought before the court.

If you have any questions about the court’s decision to refer you, you will need to contact your attorney.

PURPOSE OF THE COURT CLINIC

The Fourth Judicial District Court Clinic intends to be a support system to Judges who struggle to make decisions when faced with high conflict divorcing or re-litigating families. In their effort to make a decision based upon the “best interest of the children”, the court system sometimes requires more information about the families. Upon court referral, the Court Clinic uses an interdisciplinary team of mental health and family studies professionals to interview and assess families in order to investigate and clarify those issues that are getting in the way of effective co-parenting.

REFERRALS

Typically, Judges refer litigants to the Court Clinic, but attorneys are invited to make referrals as well. If you think your client(s) might benefit from an interview with the Court Clinic staff, please discuss this support option with your clients and, upon their agreement, contact the court for an “order” from the Judge. A “generic” order has been developed and approved by the judges and can be obtained at your request by e-mailing or phoning the Clinic Coordinator. A copy of the order will be forwarded for you to prepare and present to the judge for a signature. Completed orders can then be faxed or mailed to the Court Clinic Coordinator. Other referrals range from the Department of Children’s Services or parents simply seeking support with parenting skills, mediations, or divorce.

PARENTING SEMINARS

The Court Clinic personnel have developed a questionnaire that measures couples’ potential level of conflict as they progress through divorce and/or re-litigation. The University of Tennessee Extension Agency conducts these seminars at each of their county offices within the Fourth Judicial District. The Court Clinic is receiving completed questionnaires from the participants as they register for the seminar. Information about these data will be included in forthcoming newsletters.

• Our location is upstairs in the Tanner Cultural Center, 115 Mulberry Street Newport, TN (between CVS and the Community Center), parenting classes are the first and third Wednesdays of every month. Please call for time and availability. Classes will be taught by Dr. Jamie Branam Kridler Listed Rule 31 Family Mediator.

WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO?

In order for you to begin this process, you will have to contact the Court Clinic:

After you contact the office, the clinic will gather some information from you and begin the process of mediation or visitation and/or register you for parenting classes.

If you have any questions that have not been answered, please feel free to contact the

Court Clinic Assistant for more information.

In Affiliation with
East Tennessee State University’s Department of Human Development & Learning
and
Quillen College of Medicine
Department of Psychiatry.

The Fourth Judicial District Court Clinic is funded through a grant by the

Administrative Offices of the Courts
Parent Education and Mediation Fund