A parenting assessment is a comprehensive process that identifies a parent's strengths and needs and provides a specific list of recommendations to assist the parent in becoming the best parent they can be. A combination of extensive interviews with the parent and children, a thorough case file review, review of collateral information, parent-child observations and standardized instruments are utilized to provide specific information related to a parent's strengths and needs.

Parent assessments are helpful to social service professionals, courts, and parents in determining a focus for interventions and services. Parenting assessments have been utilized as part of a comprehensive custody evaluation in families where the parents are divorcing.