Ep 191: What the Research Shows About Family Court, Abuse, and Child Safety with Joan Meier & Danielle Pollack

What happens when survivors of domestic violence and coercive control enter family court isn’t just anecdotal — it’s documented, researched, and deeply concerning.In this episode of The Rising Beyond Podcast, Sybil is joined by Joan S. Meier, Professor of Clinical Law at George Washington University Law School and founder of the National Family Violence Law Center, and Danielle Pollack, Policy Manager at the Center, to unpack what decades of research and policy work reveal about how family courts respond to abuse allegations — and why so many protective parents feel disbelieved, punished, or silenced.Together, they explore how concepts like parental alienation are frequently weaponized against survivors, how unregulated reunification programs put children at risk, and what policy efforts like Kayden’s Law are doing to change the system. This conversation also speaks directly to therapists, advocates, and professionals, offering insight into how research can inform ethical practice, advocacy, and trauma-informed testimony.NSPO: https://www.nationalsafeparents.org/ About the GuestsJoan S. MeierProfessor of Clinical Law at George Washington University Law School and founder of the National Family Violence Law Center. Joan is a leading national expert on domestic violence, child abuse, and family court outcomes, and the lead author of the landmark study examining how courts respond to abuse allegations in custody cases.Website: https://www.nfvlc.org/Danielle PollackPolicy Manager at the National Family Violence Law Center. Danielle works at the intersection of research and legislation, helping states adopt laws that better protect children and survivors, including implementation efforts related to Kayden’s Law. She also supports survivor-led advocacy through the National Safe Parents Organization (NSPO).Join me on February 18th at 12pm MST for the Parenting to Combat Coercive Control Live Workshop for protective moms focused on protecting and repairing the parent–child relationship: https://mailchi.mp/risingbeyondpc/coercive-controlPlease leave us a review or rating and follow/subscribe to the show. This helps the show get out to more people.If you want to chat more about this topic, I would love to continue our conversation over on Instagram! @risingbeyondpcIf you want to support the show, you may do so here at Buy Me A Coffee. Thank you! We love being able to make this information accessible to you and your community.If you've been looking for a supportive community of women going through the topics we cover, head over to our website to learn more about the Rising Beyond Community. - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/Wondering where to start? Check out our top free resources - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/resources.htmlIf you're interested in guesting on the show, please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7Where to find more from Rising Beyond:Rising Beyond FacebookRising Beyond LinkedInRising Beyond Pinterest