Definitions of Parenting Coordination

Use the menu at the left to jump to the various definitions. They are divided into three categories according to the source: legislation, published literature, and professional marketing material. Note that many of the definitions and descriptions focus on the aspect of decision authority for resolution of impasses, particularly the legislative definitions. While this is an important component of co-parenting coordination, the factors that contribute to a change in the way that the parents interact is the most important component. In addition to reducing the amount of conflict in the short term, the objective of co-parenting should always be to develop the skills, insights, and attitudes necessary to effectively co-parent without third party intervention. Things that contribute to this include: modeling, informative education, experiential education, which would include participating in mediation processes, therapy and counselling.

The Vermont Family Court definition is unique in that it is focused on the creation of a parenting plan rather than the implementation of an existing one. The Canadian Co-Parenting Centres believe that co-parenting coordination can be useful in creating parenting plans as well as implementing ones that have already been established.

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Legislative Definitions

Florida

PROPOSED PARENTING COORDINATION STATUTE (Florida)

(January 15, 2004, draft of the parenting coordination statute.)

Definitions

"Parenting Coordination" is a process whereby an impartial third person called a parenting coordinator helps the parties to implement their parenting plan by facilitating the resolution of disputes between parents and/or legal guardians, providing education, making recommendations to the parties, and, with the prior approval of the parties and the court, making decisions within the scope of the court order of appointment.

"Shared Parenting Plan" is either a temporary or final order established by the Court setting out the residence, parental responsibility, visitation and other parental responsibility issues in a dissolution of marriage proceeding or any other civil action involving custody or parenting of children. This statute is not intended to apply to a proceeding under Chapter 39.

Obtained from http://www.flafcc.org/Documents/PCStatute-011504.pdf on September 8, 2004

The above definition was modified at some point and the definition in Senate Bill 2640 - 2004 was:

"Parenting coordination" means a process in which a parenting coordinator helps the parties implement their parenting plan by facilitating the resolution of disputes between parents or legal guardians and, with the prior approval of the parties and the court, by making decisions within the scope of the court order of appointment.

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Massachusetts

PARENTING COORDINATOR BILL

A "Parenting Coordinator" is a neutral third party appointed by the Probate and Family Court upon written agreement of the parties in accordance with the qualifications established by the Chief Justice of the Probate and Family Court. A court-appointed Parenting Coordinator shall be a quasi-judicial officer with continuing authority to act during the designated term of service.

Obtained from http://www.mcfm.org/winter04.pdf on September 8, 2004

Parenting coordinator: a neutral person appointed upon written consent of the parties to assist the parties in addressing disputed child related issues. Appointment of a parenting coordinator does not divest the court of its exclusive jurisdiction over entry and enforcement of orders related to the parties and any child. The parenting coordinator has no authority to modify child custody orders of the court. The parenting coordinator’s duties and scope of authority shall be set forth in the order of appointment. When a child related issue is disputed, the parenting coordinator shall first attempt to facilitate agreement between the parties, but absent agreement, the parenting coordinator shall resolve the contested issue. After a decision by the parenting coordinator, either party may, by motion, submit the disputed issue for de novo review by the court. Notwithstanding a motion filed by a party, the interim decision of the parenting coordinator shall remain in effect until the court enters an order. The parenting coordinator shall not file a report.

The above definition is from the proposed bill, Senate, No. 952, An Act Relative to the Appointment of Parenting Coordinators in the Probate Courts.

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Oklahoma

From Oklahoma Statutes, Title 43, Section 120.2 (Parenting Coordinator Act)

1. "Parenting coordinator" means an impartial third party qualified pursuant to subsection A of Section 120.6 of this title appointed by the court to assist parties in resolving issues and deciding disputed issues pursuant to the provisions of the Parenting Coordinator Act relating to parenting and other family issues in any action for dissolution of marriage, legal separation, paternity, or guardianship where a minor child is involved; and

2. "High-conflict case" means any action for dissolution of marriage, legal separation, paternity, or guardianship where minor children are involved and the parties demonstrate a pattern of ongoing:

a. litigation,

b. anger and distrust,

c. verbal abuse,

d. physical aggression or threats of physical aggression,

e. difficulty in communicating about and cooperating in the care of their children, or

f. conditions that in the discretion of the court warrant the appointment of a parenting coordinator.

Oklahoma's Parenting Coordinator Act (enacted June 2001)

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Texas

"Parenting coordinator" means an impartial third party appointed by the court to assist parties in resolving issues relating to parenting and other family issues arising from an order in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.

From bill 79R624 KKA-F.

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Published Literature

AFCC (2005)

Parenting coordination is a child-focused alternative dispute resolution process in which a mental health or legal professional with mediation training and experience assists high conflict parents to implement their parenting plan by facilitating the resolution of their disputes in a timely manner, educating parents about children’s needs, and with prior approval of the parties and/or the court, making decisions within the scope of the court order or appointment contract.

The overall objective of parenting coordination is to assist high conflict parents to implement their parenting plan, to monitor compliance with the details of the plan, to resolve conflicts regarding their children and the parenting plan in a timely manner, and to protect and sustain safe, healthy and meaningful parent-child relationships. Parenting coordination is a quasi-legal, mental health, alternative dispute resolution process that combines assessment, education, case management, conflict management and sometimes decision-making functions.

AFCC, Guidelines for Parenting Coordination, May 2005

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Bartlett (2004)

Parenting coordination is a process wherein an impartial third party is given authority by the court to decide disputed parenting and other family issues in any action of dissolution, legal separation, paternity or guardianship where a minor child is involved.1 The parenting coordinator will aid the parties in identifying disputed issues, reducing misunderstandings, clarifying priorities, exploring possibilities for compromise, developing methods of collaboration in parenting, and complying with the court's orders of custody, visitation and guardianship.2 Using skills such as mediation, conflict resolution and psychology, the parenting coordinator will discuss and attempt to resolve these issues with the parents.3 If the parties fail to resolve the problem, the statute then allows for the parenting coordinator to decide the issues for the parties.4

Bartlett, Barbara Ann (2004) Parenting Coordination: A new tool for assisting high-conflict families, The Oklahoma Bar Journal, February

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Vermont Family Court

In cases where there is great conflict between parents, the court may order Parent Coordination. Parent Coordination is a child-centered process in which trained professionals make recommendations to the parents and judge regarding parent-child contact if the parents are unable to agree.

The above definition is from a document titled Part 4. Resources for

A more complete description of the parenting coordination services that the Vermont Family Court provides is available from their website. (link to Vermont Family Court website)

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Parenting Coordinators Associations

Canadian Parenting Coordinators Association, CPCA

Parenting coordination is a child-centered, solution-oriented process where a qualified professional uses a mixture of education, mediation, arbitration, and counselling to reduce the amount of conflict that a family is experiencing. The objective is to help the family transition through the separation process with as little conflict as possible, and if the conflict is already quite high, manage the conflict and help them progress more quickly to a point where they can function on their own.

From http://www.parentcoordinators.ca/CCCA_coPC_What_is.htm May 4, 2006.

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National Parent Coordinators Association, NPCA

Parent Coordinators are usually licensed mental health specialists especially trained in child development, mediation and high conflict family situations. A parent coordinator educates, mediates, monitors and may refer parents out for additional services. A Parent Coordinator is a neutral person working to ensure parental access and protect children from unnecessary stress. It is a form of dispute resolution for those parents who are not good candidates for standard mediation. This unique service offers parents involved in high conflict family situations a productive option that may be used during the separation/divorce process or years after. Parent coordinators help parents prioritize the needs of their children above their own disappointments and resentments.

The goal of parent coordination is to reduce parental conflict, increase parental cooperation, improve communication, eliminate inappropriate behaviors and minimize the child’s stress. The child is the only focus of joint meetings associated with parent coordination.

As part of the process, the parent coordinator (P.C.) may speak with all professionals involved with the family as a means of “coordinating” service. The process of parent coordination is not considered psychotherapy and is not confidential. Therefore, as part of the monitoring aspects, the P.C. may report back to the attorneys if they reach an impasses or if either parent is non compliant with the process or with their settlement agreement.

A parent coordinator may be appointed pre-divorce, post decree or years post divorce. Appointment may be initiated as a stipulation of the parties, as a recommendation from the Court, guardian ad litem, mediator, custody evaluator or attorneys. Some Courts will order parents to parent coordination.

From http://parentcoordinators.org/web_about/about.htm May 4, 2006.

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Parenting Coordinators Association of New York, PCANY

Parenting Coordination is a child-focused alternative dispute resolution process in which a mental health or legal professional with mediation training and experience assists parents to implement their parenting plan by facilitating the resolution of their disputes in a timely manner, educating parents about children’s needs, and with prior approval of the parties and/or the court, making decisions within the scope of the court order or appointment contract.

From http://nypcgroup.org/pcany/en/?choice=section&xid=2 May 4, 2006.

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Professional Marketing Material

Children in the Middle (undated)

Parenting coordination is a problem-solving service offered to parents raising children between homes who seek professional assistance in working together to keep their children free from the parents’ conflicts. Parenting coordination is a child-centered dispute resolution service that assists parents in developing and implementing workable parenting plans when they are unable to do so on their own.

From http://www.childreninthemiddle.com/ParentingCoordination.htm May 4, 2006.

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DeGeorge (undated)

Parenting Coordination – Dr. Joseph DeGeorge, Conflict Resolution Center, Florida

What Is Parenting Coordination?

The past several years have evidenced an increase in the number of high conflict divorces where the services of a Parenting Coordinator have been successfully utilized to help resolve parenting disputes in Florida. The Parenting Coordinator helps the parents (parties) to either create or implement a parenting plan that will work and one that will endure. The use of the Parenting Coordinator is primarily driven by two factors:

a desire to help high conflict families to minimize the negative impact on the children, and
to reduce the over-burdened family court system.

Who Performs Parenting Coordination?

Parenting Coordinators must have the credentials, skill and experience necessary to manage these high conflict cases to resolution. As a general rule, the Parenting Coordinator is a Licensed Mental Health Professional and is Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator. The Conflict Resolution Center provides Parenting Coordination services and has been highly successful in resolving difficult disputes.

How Can Parents Receive Parenting Coordination Services?

Many of the referrals for Parenting Coordination come from the Family Courts. The intent is to save the court's time and to relieve the volume of cases that demand resolution. An increasing number of referrals, however, are being made by Family Law Attorneys who would prefer that their clients would resolve the points of contest as opposed to making another motion for contempt. This is being done with the expectation that courts would probably refer the case to a Parenting Coordinator anyway. There is also evidence that parents, of their own volition and wanting to avoid prohibitive legal fees, come to a Parenting Coordinator to reach some agreement that can be enduring.

Obtained from http://degeorge.dws0111.divorcesource.com/pcoordination.shtml on September 8, 2004

This link, http://www.conflict-center.com/pcoordination.shtml, for the Conflict Resolution Center – Florida brings up the same web page. As of September 8, 2004.

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Rodrigues (undated)

Parent Coordinator

As a therapist who specializes in custody and access matters, Debra Rodrigues offers this specialized service that includes mediation and arbitration between parties who are in conflict about the needs of their children or how to meet those needs. Assessors, lawyers or the court will refer clients to a parent coordinator when they need ongoing assistance to resolve issues as they arise well beyond what any court order can address or resolve. It helps the parties to further define or interpret the terms of the order or agreement, and to work out issues not addressed by those documents. This service can be implemented at the point of separation as a service agreed upon by the parties, or it can be part of any ongoing intervention. From http://www.pccs.ca/ September 8, 2004

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Thomas (undated)

Dr. Judith Thomas, Creative Resolutions

Parenting Coordination

Parenting coordination is a problem-solving service offered to divorced parents who seek professional assistance in working together to keep their children free from the parents’ conflicts.

While conflict is a normal part of divorce, how well parents manage that conflict affects both the short-term and long-term well being of their children.

For some parents, conflict continues to create distress for them and their children beyond the divorce. Problems may arise over issues that are not specifically addressed in their parenting plan. For example, the parenting plan may say that parents decide together on extra-curricular activities for their children but may not indicate how to deal with disagreements about these activities. When a conflict arises, children often feel caught in the middle. This situation may put them at greater risk for emotional and behavioral problems—e.g., poor school performance, anxiety, uncontrollable anger, and depression.

Even parents who have been able to protect their children from divorce-related conflict may encounter problems when new situations arise—e.g., remarriage.

Returning to court with these conflicts is both financially and emotionally costly. Even more, courts are poorly equipped to provide lasting resolutions.

In all these situations, a Parenting Coordinator can support parents to resolve conflicts more readily and protect children from stress.

As a parenting coordinator, my activities are matched to the specific needs of each divorced family. I may do any or all of the following:

help parents identify sources of conflict between them and consider ways to address them;
facilitate communication between the parents and between parents and others who relate to the children—e.g., grandparents, school personnel, and therapists;
use mediation techniques to deal with specific issues;
apply arbitration procedures in certain defined areas when parents are otherwise unable to resolve a dispute.
I will not give legal advice or provide mental health services. If such services are needed, parents are advised to seek a licensed professional in the relevant field.

Obtained from http://www.creative-resolutions.com/parenting.htm

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APA Online October 18, 2007

Parent coordination is an alternative dispute resolution process in which a trained and experienced psychologist would assist high conflict parents with the implementation of their parenting plan by facilitating timely resolution of disputes, educating parents about children’s needs and issues, making decisions within the scope of an agreement and/or court order, and promoting healthy and meaningful parent-child relationships. Parent coordination is a quasi-legal, mental health, alternative dispute resolution process that combines assessment, education, case management, conflict management and sometimes decision-making functions. In many jurisdictions, the Parent Coordinator is appointed by and be responsible to the court.