Professional Alliance for Child Centered Safety Launches to Reform Family Court Practices
The newly formed Professional Alliance for Child Centered Safety brings together practitioners to establish unified standards and improve outcomes for children in high-conflict family court cases through evidence-based approaches.
The Professional Alliance for Child Centered Safety officially launched on September 10, 2025, as a practitioner-led network dedicated to advancing education, training and unified practice standards that prioritize the emotional, psychological and physical well-being of children. This initiative represents a significant development in family court reform efforts, addressing long-standing concerns about how children are impacted by high-conflict custody disputes and legal proceedings.
Founded by Steven P. Lindenberg, Ph.D., who brings nearly 50 years of private practice experience and thousands of hours of sworn testimony in custody disputes, PACCS aims to transform how professionals approach cases involving traumatized children and dysfunctional family systems. The alliance serves clinicians, attorneys, evaluators, researchers and advocates who work within family court systems, providing them with exclusive resources, ongoing education and collaboration opportunities grounded in child-first principles.
The timing of this launch is particularly important as family courts nationwide face increasing scrutiny regarding their handling of cases involving children's welfare. By establishing evidence-based standards and promoting trauma-informed practices, PACCS addresses critical gaps in how professionals assess and intervene in situations involving coercive control and psychological harm. The alliance's comprehensive approach includes access to a curated research library covering assessment techniques, legislation analysis and best-practice interventions available through their platform at https://paccs.global.
Membership benefits extend beyond traditional professional development, offering exclusive attendance at practitioner-focused trainings, case rounds, panel discussions and continued education certifications. The organization has developed specialized programming including weekly Lunch & Learn sessions with Lynn Brooks LMFT and monthly Reunification Seminar Series with Linda Gottlieb, LMFT & LCSW-R and Loretta Maase, LPC. These regular educational opportunities ensure members stay current with evolving standards in child-centered practice.
The alliance has introduced the PACCS Membership Circle App, a digital platform designed to facilitate connection, resource sharing and updates on practice standards and reform initiatives. This technological component reflects the organization's commitment to modernizing how professionals collaborate and share knowledge across geographical boundaries. The digital infrastructure supports the alliance's mission to create a nationwide network of experts working toward common standards.
As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, PACCS is actively seeking founding members to help shape the future of child-first standards in family court practices. Early members receive priority access to trainings, research insights and community leadership opportunities. The organization's practitioner-led structure ensures that standards and resources remain grounded in real-world experience and scientific expertise, addressing the complex challenges professionals face when working with traumatized children and families.
The establishment of PACCS represents a coordinated effort to address systemic issues in family court proceedings that can negatively impact children's wellbeing. By creating unified practice standards and fostering collaboration among diverse professionals, the alliance aims to drive meaningful reform that prioritizes children's safety and emotional health above procedural considerations or parental conflicts.