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MASIC-S

MEDIATOR’S ASSESSMENT OF SAFETY ISSUES AND CONCERNS-SHORT (MASIC-S) ATTORNEY VERSION

FOR PARTIES WHO ARE THE PARENTS OF THE CHILDREN IN THE CASE, OR WHO ARE CURRENTLY OR WERE PREVIOUSLY SPOUSES OR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS

Modified, shortened version (Rossi, Applegate, Beck, Timko & Holtzworth-Munroe, 2022; Rossi, Applegate, Tomlinson & Holtzworth-Munroe, 2023) of the original MASIC (Holtzworth-Munroe, Beck, & Applegate, 2010)

PARTY EVALUATION FORM

Accessible on odr.com/masic-s-attorney

ADMINISTERED VERBALLY IN FAMILY LAW CASES

NOTES AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SCREENER

  • For more detailed instructions about each of these notes or instructions, and more detailed information about the MASIC-S (including citations and references to supporting research), review the Comprehensive Guidance for Using the MASIC-S (“Comprehensive Guidance”) in the mediation context. We recommend that screeners review the Comprehensive Guidance before their first time using the MASIC-S. CLICK HERE FOR COMPREHENSIVE GUIDANCE
  • For a short video introduction of the MASIC-S, click here.

WHAT IS THE MASIC-S?

  • SCREEN FOR IPV/A: The MASIC-S screens for intimate partner violence and abuse (“IPV/A”, also known as domestic violence or “DV”) and related concerns between current or past intimate partners (spouses or significant others). The questions in the MASIC-S primarily address behaviors that are associated with severe or concerning levels of DV. After you complete a MASIC-S screen for the client, you will be prompted to consider:

Does the client need to be referred to a DV advocate?

Based on your client’s report, is this case appropriate for litigation or some form of settlement process?

If this case is appropriate for some form of settlement process, are accommodations needed for your client to help ensure a safe, voluntary, and appropriate process? 

    • May the parties meet together in joint session, or
    • May the parties meet directly for some or all of the mediation, remotely (online), or
    • Should the settlement process be conducted entirely in shuttle format, either in person or remote (online)?
    • What additional accommodations are needed for your client to help ensure a safe, voluntary, and appropriate process?

WHEN CONDUCTING THE INTERVIEWS:

  • WHO YOU WILL SCREEN: You will only be screening the client.

  • CLINICAL JUDGMENT: The term “clinical judgment” in this tool means the application of one’s knowledge, skills, abilities, and experiences in making decisions about the appropriate process and/or services to be offered to the parties.

ASKING QUESTIONS:

  • DO NOT EDIT THE MASIC-S QUESTIONS: Ask each question exactly as it is written, except to 1) substitute the other party’s name for [the other party], and 2) use pronouns (e.g., he/she/they). 
  • QUESTIONS MARKED AS RECOMMENDED BUT OPTIONAL: The decision whether to ask these questions is discretionary although it is strongly preferable to ask these questions of the client.
  • QUESTIONS MARKED AS REQUIRED: These questions must be asked.
  • DO NOT OFFER “DON’T KNOW” AS AN OPTION: Only mark “don’t know” as a response if the party truly is unable to respond to a question. (Note that these will be scored as “Yes” answers.)

IDENTIFYING AND REFERRING TO THE PARTIES AND OTHERS:

  • “OTHER PARTY”: This refers to “the other parent, other spouse, or significant other in the case. We recommend using the other party’s name verbally (rather than saying “the other party”) during the screening, if this is possible.
  • DO NOT RECORD ANY IDENTIFYING INFORMATION ON THE FORMS: When typing in details to questions, do not type in any names or initials. We suggest these abbreviations:

     

  • Use “Client” for your client and “Respondent” or “Defendant” for the other party.
  • When referring to child/ren: If one child, use “child.” Otherwise “younger” or “youngest,” “older” or “oldest,” “middle,” or another appropriate adjective before “child.”
  • USE “SURVIVOR” RATHER THAN “VICTIM”: Do not describe your client as a “victim.” If a label is necessary, use the term “survivor.”

JANUARY 2025 UPDATE TO SECTION 3:

  • Section 3 of the MASIC-S (optional other safety questions) was updated in January 2025 after discussions with a mental health advocate who flagged the concern of bias against those with mental health issues. After considering this concern and our own experience with the MASIC-S, we agree the question may encourage litigants to focus on actual or fictional mental health problems and not the concerning behaviors reflected in the MASIC-S generally and the other Section 3 questions (concerns about overuse of alcohol or prescription drugs, illegal drug use, criminal history, and child abuse or neglect). We removed the question about mental health problems and added a more a general question about any other concerns that might affect the party’s and/or their children’s physical safety and emotional wellbeing. This change is not intended to suggest that the mental health of the parties and children in a family law case is somehow irrelevant. We also added “other substances” to the question about overuse of alcohol or prescription drugs, and renumbered the questions in Section 3.

DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY:

  • DISCLAIMER: The MASIC-S (including the current version and any and all prior, future, and derivative versions) is intended for screening purposes only and does not provide any formal diagnosis of anyone screened or discussed in screening. The MASIC-S authors have no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy and/or completeness of information obtained though screening done with the MASIC-S, or for evaluations and/or recommendations made based upon information obtained through MASIC-S screening. Users of the MASIC-S, or information obtained through MASIC-S screening, are deemed to have accepted the conditions set forth in this disclaimer.