What is Parenting Coordination
Parents rarely move from conflictual to cooperative behavior - without first going through a step of disengagement.
When a Parenting Coordinator
Half of all divorcing couples
in moderate to high conflict will still be clashing three to four years later.
Who is a Parenting Coordinator
Not an authority in just one, a parenting coordinator possesses realistic insight, experience and knowledge in several disciplines.
What is Parenting Coordination
Fundamentally, the parenting coordinators goal is to minimize the conflict the children are exposed to by disengaging the parents. In simplest terms, the parenting coordinator must achieve two things - transforming the custody / visitation plan into a conflict reduction plan tailored to the dynamics of the divorce, and assist the parents in implementing it on an on-going basis. Some divorced parents require significant help and others need only an occasional tie-breaker.
Not aligning with either parent, nor being a neutral mediator, the coordinator will take on an active role specifically focused on helping the parents work together for the benefit of the children.
Some of the broad responsibilities are
Creating a plan to contain inter-parental conflict.
Ensuring execution of custody / visitation arrangements.
Monitoring visitation and mediating disputes between the parents.
Teaching parents communication skills, principles of child development, and children issues if divorce.
Maintaining communication among all parties by serving as a buffer between parents and a conduit for information.
Educating parents in techniques in co-parenting.
Building the parents insight into the dynamics of their conflicts and impasses..
Minor modifications to visitation as a means of reducing conflict.
Ensuring both parents maintain ongoing relationships with the children.
Act as an arbitrator on issues that the parents are at an impasses.