Effective Parenting Coordination for High-Conflict Families

1. Parenting Coordination:Practice Opportunities for Psychologists APA Annual Convention Boston, 2008 Matthew J. Sullivan, Ph.D.

2. Characteristics of High Conflict Families • High rates of litigation and relitigation • Lack of trust between parents • High level of anger • Ongoing difficulties communicating about their children

3. Call for a new role • Colorado lawyers and mental health professionals (1992) • Northern California model derived from mediation and special master statutes (early 90’s)

4. The Parenting Coordinator Court ordered neutral to assist the parties to: Implement safe and workable parenting plan Monitor compliance with details of plan Resolve conflicts in timely manner Protect and sustain safe, healthy and meaningful parent-child relationships May be necessary when parental communication is conflicted or ineffective, or to promote safety of vulnerable parties, including children and parents.

5. Objectives of a PC model • Reduce conflict between parents • Reduce chronic litigation (preserve family resources) • Raise parents’ skill level in collaborative planning and decision making for their children • Assist parents to coparent in a way that promotes well being of the children • Implement, Maintain, modify, viable parenting plans

8. How ?? • Intensive case management • Court delegated authority • Immediate resolution of disputes • Non-adversarial forum

9. When should a PC be appointed? • Ongoing disagreements between the parents about implementation of parenting plan • Parties agree to decision maker outside of the Court to reduce cost and burden of continued litigation • Some states: if history of extreme or unremitting conflict that affects welfare of the children, court can appoint without parties’ agreement • Small group of chronic high conflict custody situations (10%)

10. Does Parenting Coordination Work? • T. Johnston, 1994: Santa Clara County • 166 cases with 933 court appearances • Following the appointment of a PC, court appearances for the 166 cases reduced to 37 in one year • Vick and Backerman (1996): client satisfaction and self reported decreased conflict • APA DC Project, Pima Arizona

11. Scope of Issues to be addressed by PC • Minor changes or clarification of parenting time/access schedules or conditions including vacation, holidays, and temporary variation from existing parenting plan • Transitions/ exchanges of the children including date, time, place, and transportation and transporter • Health care management including medical, dental, orthodontic, and vision care. • Child-rearing issues • Psychotherapy or other mental health care including substance abuse assessment or counseling for the children

12. Psychological testing or other assessment of the children and parents • Education or daycare including school choice, tutoring, summer school, participation in special education programs, other major educational decisions • Enrichment and extracurricular activities including camps, teams and jobs • Religious observances and education • Children’s travel and passport arrangements • Personal possessions of children, including clothing and equipment

13. Communication between the parents about the children including telephone, fax, email, notes in backpacks etc. • Communication by a parent with children including telephone, cell phone, pager, fax and e-mail when not in that parent’s care • Alteration of appearance of the children including haircuts, ear and body piercing, and tattoos • Role of and contact with significant others and extended families • Substance abuse assessment or testing for either or both parents or child, including access to results • Parenting classes for either or both parents.

14. Distinct Role of Parenting Coordinator • Hybrid role: help implement, modify, parenting plans • Assess impasses to coparenting • Educate about child development, communication, conflict resolution • Facilitate the settlement of disputes • Arbitrate

15. Role Definition • PC is NOT: • Therapist • Advocate for one party • Coach • Parent Educator • Counsel • Mediator • Custody Evaluator • Judge

16. Functions of the PC: Assessment • Assessment • Review of custody evaluation • Review other evaluations/reports • Divorce Impasse, derailing communication • Parenting strengths and weaknesses • Coparenting Skills • Children’s functioning and needs

17. Functions of the PC: Education • Education • Child Development • Short term and long-term needs of the children • Communication skills • Effects of conflict on children • Collaboration strategies • Conflict resolution • Perspective taking • Family Issues (new transitions, relationships)

18. Functions of the PC: Coordination/Case Management • Coordination/Case Management • Communication with family members and significant other caretakers • Communication with schools • Communication with therapists • Communication with physicians • Communication with child protection agency • Referrals for treatment, testing

19. Functions of the PC: Intervention and Conflict Management • Assistance interpreting and implementing court-ordered parenting plan • Dispute Resolution: facilitating agreements, arbitration, referral • Facilitate communication between parties as appropriate

20. Qualifications of the Parent Coordinator: AFCC Guidelines • Legal, mental health or mediation professional • Practice at least 5 years in that profession with high conflict, litigating parents • A certified/qualified mediator under the rules or laws of that jurisdiction, or completion of at least a 30 hour mediation training course

21. Personal Qualifications Organized Fair with sound judgment Tolerant, patient Decisive Ability to set limits (what’s an emergency?) Peer support Critical Listening skills