1. How can I know if my child(ren) is/are having
difficulties?
a) Please review the developmental task stages and the
cognitive and emotional stages. If your child is not at the appropriate stage
for his/her age, this is one indication of difficulty.
b) Any significant changes in mood and/or behavior should
be investigated.
c) Any changes in socialization patterns with peers
should be investigated.
2. How is Parenting Coordination different from Parent
Training?
Parent Training, like
Parenting Coordination, helps parents create a better environment for their
children. Parent Training teaches parents the behavioral techniques and
parenting skills to use with their children. The main difference, however, is
that Parenting Coordination is strictly for parents that do not live together, and incorporates
issues unique to separation and divorce.
3. Does Parenting
Coordination have to be court ordered?
No. Parenting
Coordination can be court ordered, but it does not have to be. If both
parents agree to use a Parenting Coordinator, then they may do so without having
to ask the court. Nevertheless, either parent can petition the court for appointment of a court-ordered Parenting Coordinator.
4. Is Parenting
Coordination covered by insurance?
No. Parenting
Coordination is not therapy or a medical procedure. There is no premise of
pathology and no medical diagnosis. Parenting Coordination is a productive
conflict resolution process facilitated by a professional who is knowledgeable about
children’s psychological needs.
5. How long are
Parenting Coordination meetings?
They vary. The Parenting
Coordinator examines the court documents, the Marital Settlement Agreement, and does
extensive data gathering. In the first session, the Parenting Coordinator
usually meets with the parents and the children. The initial session can last
as long as 2 hours. After the first meeting, the subsequent sessions are
usually 1 to 1 ½ hours. In these meetings, the Parenting Coordinator will
typically meet with the parents only.
6. How frequent are
Parenting Coordination meetings?
They vary. Depending on
the issues, the initial visits may be as frequent as two times a week. Once the
preliminary issues are resolved, meetings could take place once a week, once a
month, or even every other month. The number of visits depends on the
particular needs of each family.
7. What qualifications
does a Parenting Coordinator have?
The standards vary. Broward County is in the process of establishing
specific guidelines. Dade County guidelines have required a background in
mental health or law and specialized training in family mediation as well as parenting coordination.
8. What are the goals of
Parenting Coordination?
The goals of Parenting
Coordination include:
a) providing an alternative method for parents to communicate about child-focused issues via a third-party professional
b) taking children out of the middle of parental conflict
c) fostering the development of creative problem solving to maintain the involvement of both parents in the children’s lives
9. A Parenting Coordinator may not be in a dual role with
the clients. What dual roles are to be avoided?
A Parenting Coordinator
cannot serve as a custody evaluator or investigator, a divorce mediator, a
psychotherapist, a guardian ad litem, an attorney, or a visitation supervisor involved in your case.
10. What research is
available on Parenting Coordination?
Parenting Coordination is a relatively new development with
the research just beginning to be conducted. Following is some relevant
information:
a) Studies since 1994 have found that with the services of a Parenting Coordinator, court appearances in the cases studied were reduced by up to 90%.
b) Children exposed to conflict in the home are four times more likely to experience psychological problems.
c) The single most common cause of poor adjustment in children following a divorce is continual parental conflict. Current research notes that the range of divorcing parents that display high conflict behaviors is 25-35%.
d) Unfortunately, 25% of the children of divorce have major problems. Parental conflict injures children.
e) More than one million children are affected by divorce
each year.
f) The incidence of divorce continues to rise, and nearly 50% of children are growing up in a single parent environment.
11. How do I arrange a
Parenting Coordination meeting?
There are a number of
ways to arrange a Parenting Coordination meeting. You can
do one or more of the following:
a) Discuss it with your attorney to present the idea to your child(ren)'s other parent
b) Either parent can petition the court for appointment of a court-ordered Parenting Coordinator
c) Both parents can mutually agree to work with a parenting coordinator and call Children First directly at 954-583-8831 or 1-800-714-COPE
12. I have some unanswered questions and would like to
contact the Center of Psychological Effectiveness for Parenting Coordination
services.
Please call us at 954-583-8831 or 1-800-714-COPE, and then
press 1 for the new patient line. Your call will be returned promptly.
|
