CoPC: How coPC Works, From a Political & Public Perspective

Everyone knows a someone who has experienced divorce.

While the general public seems to be removed from the struggles that such families face, they are impacted in a variety of ways.

"The PC model has been repeatedly recommended by professionals as an intervention to help families structure, implement, and monitor viable parenting plans and to reduce re-litigation rates where high conflict threatens the family adjustment process."

(Sydlik et al, 2003, pg. 1)

At one time or another, many people are impacted directly. Some are professionals who work directly with such families, and they are obviously impacted very directly. Others are professionals that serve families in other capacities, and they will have a considerable number of clients that have, are, or will experience the breakup of their family. Conflict between parents can often complicate the work that these professionals do and make their job more difficult. Many other people are volunteer coaches and instructors, neighbours, employers, friends, and family who know and interact with such families.

Using a co-parenting coordinator to reduce the conflict and help the family make the necessary transitions will be bring some relief to all of the above relationships.

Collectively, the impact of family conflict is enormous. It is estimated that 10% of separating families are in very high conflict and those 10% of families use an estimated 90% of the resources. Much of those resources come from the public through taxes and donations.

Co-parenting coordination can effectively manage this very high conflict group and result in a public savings of millions of dollars.

Using co-parenting coordination for many of the families outside this very high conflict group will result in additional savings.

What can you do as a member of the public?

Spread the word.

Co-parenting coordination needs to become a household word. As more and more people become aware of co-parenting coordination and the multitude of benefits that it realizes, there will be a fundamental shift in how separation and divorce is approached.

Most importantly, millions of children will not have to experience what millions more already have.

What can our elected officials do?

Lead, follow, or get out of the way!

One specific initiative that the Canadian Co-Parenting Centres supports is the enactment of co-parenting coordination legislation. For more information about that, review the Canadian Co-parenting Coordinators Association's website, www.parentcoordinators.ca.

"Over time, parental wars take a greater toll on a child's development than any other single factor in divorce"

(Garrity & Baris, 1994, p. 35)

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