T6: When It's Not Abuse-But Still Not Safe: Introducing a New Two-Track Curriculum for DSS and High-Conflict Custody Cases

Child welfare agencies are increasingly drawn into custody disputes where allegations stem not from abuse or neglect, but from unresolved conflict between parents or caregivers. Shared Roots is a trauma-informed, two-track co-parenting curriculum designed to fill this critical service gap. One track supports high-risk, DSS-involved families; the other targets families in ongoing custody battles engaged in the DSS and/or Court system, but without formal findings of abuse or neglect. This session introduces participants to the curriculum's structure, its grounding in attachment and systems theory, with deliverable, measured outcomes. Attendees will learn how Shared Roots reduces system strain, improves parental functioning, and keeps the child at the center of care-even when the adults can't agree.