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

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

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

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

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

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

When should a PC be appointed? Ongoing disagreements between the parents about implementation of parenting plan 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 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 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%) Small group of chronic high conflict custody situations (10%)

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

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 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 Transitions/ exchanges of the children including date, time, place, and transportation and transporter Health care management including medical, dental, orthodontic, and vision care. Health care management including medical, dental, orthodontic, and vision care. Child-rearing issues Child-rearing issues Psychotherapy or other mental health care including substance abuse assessment or counseling for the children Psychotherapy or other mental health care including substance abuse assessment or counseling for the children

Psychological testing or other assessment of the children and parents 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 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 Enrichment and extracurricular activities including camps, teams and jobs Religious observances and education Religious observances and education Children’s travel and passport arrangements Children’s travel and passport arrangements Personal possessions of children, including clothing and equipment Personal possessions of children, including clothing and equipment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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