Episode 20: What Is Your Why? – Jasmine Allen on Parental Evaluations and Child Custody

In this compelling episode of the Florida Family Law Attorney Podcast, host Gerard sits down with Jasmine Allen, In-House Parental Evaluator at Nolin, Nolin, & Associates Private Investigations, for an in-depth conversation about parental evaluations, child custody cases, and what truly serves the best interest of the child.

Jasmine brings over 25 years of experience in social work and child advocacy to this discussion. As the in-house parental evaluator at Nolin, Nolin, & Associates for the past five years, she specializes in conducting comprehensive parental evaluations for child custody cases, providing detailed Risk Assessment Reports, and testifying as an expert witness in Florida courts.

With a Master of Social Work from the University of Alabama and a Bachelor of Social Work with a minor in Psychology from Florida State University (summa cum laude), Jasmine's educational foundation is as impressive as her career trajectory. She has held pivotal leadership roles including Program Director for the Juvenile Diversion Alternatives Program at DISC Village Behavioral Health, Component Director for the Healthy Families Bay program, and lead social worker for the Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida.

Throughout this episode, Jasmine and Gerard explore critical questions: What is the role of an in-house parental evaluator at a private investigation firm? How can parental evaluations help or hurt a child custody case? What does "best interest of the child" truly mean from both a legal and social work perspective?

Gerard shares personal lessons learned throughout his family law career, while Jasmine dives deep into childhood trauma, developmental needs, and the psychological factors that statistics and statutes alone cannot capture. Despite their different professional approaches—Gerard navigating Florida law and statutes, Jasmine conducting comprehensive social investigations—both share an unwavering commitment to protecting and advocating for children in Florida's family court system.

Jasmine's dedication to vulnerable populations has earned her recognition as Florida DCF's Children's Mental Health Advocate of the Year and the 'Rising Star' of the year at Life Management Center. Beyond her professional work, she has demonstrated exceptional civic engagement as Region 1 Director for the Florida JCI Senate, President of the Bay County Domestic Violence Task Force, and through various leadership roles in community organizations.

This episode is essential listening for family law attorneys, parents navigating custody disputes, social workers, and anyone involved in Florida family court proceedings who wants to understand the critical role parental evaluations play in custody decisions.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The role and responsibilities of an in-house parental evaluator
• How parental evaluations and Risk Assessment Reports are used in custody cases
• When hiring a parental evaluator can strengthen or weaken your case
• Understanding childhood trauma and its impact on custody decisions
• What "best interest of the child" means from legal and social work perspectives
• Expert witness testimony in Florida family courts
• Personal lessons learned advocating for children