top of page

Parent Facilitation/Coordination

Helping Parents to Co-Parent Better

Co-Parenting...

It is not a competition between two homes. It is a collaboration of parents doing what is best for the kids.

midd.jpg

​

It is difficult to co-parent with someone toward whom you feel anger, hurt, distrust, and resentment. You may think that he or she is the worst possible excuse for a human being. You might find it hard to imagine what you ever saw them in the first place. But, for the sake of your kids, none of that matters. Being able to effectively co-parent, is extremely vital to the emotional well-being of your children.

​

A big part of co-parenting often involves making joint decisions concerning the children. We know that making decisions with the other parent can often times end in conflict, especially when it comes to custody and visitation matters. If the court becomes involved in co-parenting disputes too many times, the judge may assign the parents to a Parent Facilitator or Parent Coordinator.

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is a Parent Coordinator and Parent Facilitator?

​

A Parent Coordinator is a neutral third party that the court appoints to help parents work through conflicts and implement their parenting plans. Parent Coordinators work with the families to help parents make joint decisions about things such as education, health care issues, extracurricular activities and similar matters. The work that the parent coordinator does with families is confidential, meaning that the parent coordinator cannot testify in court about what happens during the sessions with families.

​

A Parent Facilitator also helps parents to resolve conflicts; however, the work that the parent facilitator does is not confidential. Parent facilitators can testify about their work with families. Parent Facilitators often take more of a supervisory role, making sure that parents comply with the parenting plan and act in the best interests of their children.

​

Neither Parent Coordinators or Parent Facilitators  are allowed to modify any order,

judgment or decree of the court.

lovedad.jpg

   A Parent Coordinator or Parent Facilitator can help parents:

​

  • Improve the co-parenting relationship and increase parental cooperation

  • Develop an effective communication system between homes to reduce misunderstandings

  • Teach parents communication and negotiation skills and effective anger management

 

  • Identify disputed issues and areas of conflict;

  • Clarify priorities as co-parents;

  • Learn how to problem solve;

  • Learn to collaborate for their children’s benefit;

  • Understand and reach agreements about their co-parenting plan.

  • Comply with the court’s order regarding parenting time, rights and responsibilities;

  • Implement their parenting plans while minimizing conflict;

  • Learn and practice co-parenting skills, problem solving skills, conflict management skills, and communication skills for two-home families

  • Assist in preparing a proposed joint agreement regarding parenting issues for attorney review and court approval.

​

 

​

 

 

 

​

 

“The sign of great parenting is not the child’s behavior. A sign of truly great parenting is the parent’s behavior.”

bottom of page