Children's Rights Expert Witnesses: 3

Steven Elson, PhD, has 35 years in executive leadership of not-for-profit organizations providing Mental Health and Residential Services to Children and Youth with complex trauma and/or presenting challenging and disruptive behavioral/emotional issues. 

Dr. Elson has overseen services provided to more than 50,000 vulnerable children and youth and their families in a highly regulated, compliance driven industry. Payors have included both public (Medicaid) and private (commercial insurance and private pay) and involve multiple and complex funding streams. Significant growth and new lines of business were attained in all leadership positions/organizations while achieving state and national recognition for training and service excellence. 

Background Experience - As CEO, Dr. Elson launched training and consultation services directly impacting organizations in 15 states and seven foreign countries. He has been actively involved in virtually all significant public policy initiatives affecting child welfare and children's mental health in California. Industry leadership includes Board membership on five state-wide and one national association.  Dr. Elson has been elected and served a term as President in each of the six associations. 

Begun in 2020, independent consultation has included work with five California nonprofits ranging in size from $2 million to $60 million, a state-wide industry association and a California County Child Welfare Agency.  Consultation has included serving as Interim Executive Director for an organization undergoing a leadership transition.

Litigation Support - With three decades of experience as a CEO of multi-service child and family agencies, Dr. Elson has extensive knowledge of children's mental health service delivery, residential treatment, regulatory/licensing issues, oversight, and compliance. His services are available to Plaintiff or Defense Attorney seeking expertise concerning civil lawsuits.

Children's Residential Treatment and Mental Health Areas of Expertise:

View Dr. Steven Elson's Consulting Profile.

Dr. Robert Evans, PhD,  is a Licensed School Psychologist with over 30 years of experience in the behavioral sciences, including completing over 100 Child Custody Evaluations. Dr. Evans serves as a consultant to the medical, legal, and law enforcement community in Florida on Psychological and Educational matters. He consulted with Orange County Public Defender with cases involving arrest and incarceration of children, including Competency Assessments and Insanity Determinations. He has also provided Critical Incident Stress Debriefings to victims of crime in the Central Florida area. 

Litigation Support - Dr. Evans specializes in Parental Alienation cases which are commonly among those classified as High Conflict Divorce cases and he has written a book on Parental Alienation. He provides litigation support to counsel for both Plaintiff and Defense. His services include support with hearing / trial preparations, review of current evaluations, and support during and after the litigation process. 

Dr. Evans has given sworn testimony as a Forensic Psychology expert witness in NY, IL, PA, GA, FL, IA, ID, CO, OH, TX, TN, LA, MA, MD, MO, NC, SC, WA, and OR. 

Areas of Expertise:

• Parental Alienation
• Child Custody Evaluations
• False Allegations of Abuse
• Treatment Considerations for Alienated Children
• Workplace Violence

• Adolescence
• Teenage Pregnancy and Early Parenting
• Assessments - Day, Age, Emotional, Outpatient, and Community assessments
• Psychopathic Personalities
• Borderline Personalities
• Learning Disabilities
• Physical, Emotional and Sexual Abuse
• Factitious Illness (Munchausen)
• Family Conflicts such as Child Alienation

• Member of the Academy of Experts (Checked expert)
• Fellow of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (for whom she is also an assessor for Paediatric Consultants)
• Fellow Royal Institute Public Health
• Fellow of Royal College of Physicians
• Fellow of the Society for Adolescent Medicine (USA).