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 development represents a significant step toward addressing systemic gaps in how children are protected during family court proceedings, particularly in high-conflict custody disputes where children often become collateral damage.
Built to serve clinicians, attorneys, evaluators, researchers and advocates, PACCS offers members exclusive resources, ongoing education and vital opportunities for collaboration, all grounded in child-first principles and evidence-based standards. The alliance's formation responds to growing concerns about the psychological impact of custody battles on children and the need for standardized approaches that prioritize child safety over parental rights disputes.
Steven P. Lindenberg, Ph.D., founder of PACCS, explained the motivation behind the alliance: "Now, almost 50 years into private practice and thousands of hours of sworn testimony in high-conflict custody disputes, I have inspired and led like-minded advocates in turning fulfillment of my vision for advocacy for, prevention of and healing of traumatized children and their dysfunctional family systems into a shared mission represented as the Professional Alliance for Child Centered Safety."
PACCS provides members with a comprehensive suite of tools and resources designed to support ethical, trauma-informed practice. These include access to a curated research library on assessment, coercive control, psychological harm, legislation and best-practice interventions. Members also gain exclusive attendance at practitioner-focused trainings, case rounds, panel discussions, continued education certifications and roundtables. The professional directory enables connection with local experts and peers nationwide, while weekly Lunch & Learn sessions with Lynn Brooks LMFT and monthly Reunification Seminar Series with Linda Gottlieb, LMFT & LCSW-R and Loretta Maase, LPC provide ongoing professional development.
The alliance has introduced the new PACCS Membership Circle App, a digital platform for connecting, resource sharing, and staying updated on practice standards and reform initiatives. This technological integration reflects the alliance's commitment to modernizing how professionals collaborate and share knowledge in the field of child protection.
PACCS is actively seeking founding members to help shape the future of child-first standards in family court practices. Early members will receive priority access to trainings, research insights and community leadership opportunities. The alliance also welcomes new members committed to ethical reform and collaborative practice. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, PACCS represents a collective effort to transform how family court systems nationwide approach child safety and well-being.
The establishment of this alliance matters because it addresses critical gaps in how children's psychological and emotional needs are prioritized within legal systems. Children caught in high-conflict custody cases often experience long-term psychological trauma that can affect their development and future relationships. By creating unified standards and providing specialized training, PACCS aims to ensure that professionals working with these families have the tools and knowledge necessary to protect vulnerable children effectively.
This initiative could significantly impact family court outcomes by promoting evidence-based approaches that prioritize children's well-being over adversarial legal strategies. The collaboration between various professionals—from clinicians to attorneys—creates a multidisciplinary approach that recognizes the complex nature of family dynamics and child development. As family court systems nationwide grapple with how to best serve children's interests, the standards and resources developed by PACCS may become influential in shaping future reforms and professional practices.
