Parenting Coordination:Parenting Coordination:Practice Opportunities Practice Opportunities

for Psychologistsfor Psychologists

APA Annual ConventionAPA Annual Convention

Boston, 2008Boston, 2008

Matthew J. Sullivan, Ph.D.Matthew J. Sullivan, Ph.D.

Characteristics of High Characteristics of High Conflict FamiliesConflict Families

High rates of litigation and High rates of litigation and relitigationrelitigation

Lack of trust between parentsLack of trust between parents High level of angerHigh level of anger Ongoing difficulties communicating Ongoing difficulties communicating

about their childrenabout their children

Call for a new roleCall for a new role

Colorado lawyers and mental health Colorado lawyers and mental health professionals (1992)professionals (1992)

Northern California model derived Northern California model derived from mediation and special master from mediation and special master statutes (early 90’s)statutes (early 90’s)

The Parenting The Parenting CoordinatorCoordinator

Court ordered neutral to assist the parties Court ordered neutral to assist the parties toto::

Implement safe and workable parenting planImplement safe and workable parenting planMonitor compliance with details of planMonitor compliance with details of planResolve conflicts in timely mannerResolve conflicts in timely mannerProtect and sustain safe, healthy and meaningful Protect and sustain safe, healthy and meaningful

parent-child relationshipsparent-child relationshipsMay be necessary when parental communication May be necessary when parental communication is is conflicted or ineffective, or to promote conflicted or ineffective, or to promote safety of safety of vulnerable parties, including children vulnerable parties, including children and parents.and parents.

Objectives of a PC modelObjectives of a PC model Reduce conflict between parentsReduce conflict between parents Reduce chronic litigation (preserve family Reduce chronic litigation (preserve family

resources)resources) Raise parents’ skill level in collaborative Raise parents’ skill level in collaborative

planning and decision making for their planning and decision making for their childrenchildren

Assist parents to coparent in a way that Assist parents to coparent in a way that promotes well being of the childrenpromotes well being of the children

Implement, Maintain, modify, viable Implement, Maintain, modify, viable parenting plansparenting plans

How ??How ??

Intensive case managementIntensive case management Court delegated authorityCourt delegated authority Immediate resolution of disputesImmediate resolution of disputes Non-adversarial forumNon-adversarial forum

When should a PC be When should a PC be appointed?appointed?

Ongoing disagreements between the Ongoing disagreements between the parents about implementation of parents about implementation of parenting planparenting plan

Parties agree to decision maker outside of Parties agree to decision maker outside of the Court to reduce cost and burden of the Court to reduce cost and burden of continued litigationcontinued litigation

Some states: if history of extreme or Some states: if history of extreme or unremitting conflict that affects welfare of unremitting conflict that affects welfare of the children, court can appoint without the children, court can appoint without parties’ agreement parties’ agreement

Small group of chronic high conflict Small group of chronic high conflict custody situations (10%)custody situations (10%)

Does Parenting Does Parenting Coordination Work?Coordination Work?

T. Johnston, 1994: Santa Clara CountyT. Johnston, 1994: Santa Clara County 166 cases with 933 court appearances166 cases with 933 court appearances Following the appointment of a PC, Following the appointment of a PC,

court appearances for the 166 cases court appearances for the 166 cases reduced to 37 in one yearreduced to 37 in one year

Vick and Backerman (1996): client Vick and Backerman (1996): client satisfaction and self reported satisfaction and self reported decreased conflictdecreased conflict

APA DC Project, Pima ArizonaAPA DC Project, Pima Arizona

Scope of Issues to be Scope of Issues to be addressed by PCaddressed by PC

Minor changes or clarification of parenting Minor changes or clarification of parenting time/access schedules or conditions time/access schedules or conditions including vacation, holidays, and including vacation, holidays, and temporary variation from existing temporary variation from existing parenting planparenting plan

Transitions/ exchanges of the children Transitions/ exchanges of the children including date, time, place, and including date, time, place, and transportation and transportertransportation and transporter

Health care management including Health care management including medical, dental, orthodontic, and vision medical, dental, orthodontic, and vision care.care.

Child-rearing issuesChild-rearing issues Psychotherapy or other mental health care Psychotherapy or other mental health care

including substance abuse assessment or including substance abuse assessment or counseling for the childrencounseling for the children

Psychological testing or other Psychological testing or other assessment of the children and parentsassessment of the children and parents

Education or daycare including school Education or daycare including school choice, tutoring, summer school, choice, tutoring, summer school, participation in special education participation in special education programs, other major educational programs, other major educational decisionsdecisions

Enrichment and extracurricular Enrichment and extracurricular activities including camps, teams and activities including camps, teams and jobsjobs

Religious observances and educationReligious observances and education Children’s travel and passport Children’s travel and passport

arrangementsarrangements Personal possessions of children, Personal possessions of children,

including clothing and equipmentincluding clothing and equipment

Communication between the parents about the Communication between the parents about the children including telephone, fax, email, notes children including telephone, fax, email, notes in backpacks etc.in backpacks etc.

Communication by a parent with children Communication by a parent with children including telephone, cell phone, pager, fax and including telephone, cell phone, pager, fax and e-mail when not in that parent’s caree-mail when not in that parent’s care

Alteration of appearance of the children Alteration of appearance of the children including haircuts, ear and body piercing, and including haircuts, ear and body piercing, and tattoostattoos

Role of and contact with significant others and Role of and contact with significant others and extended familiesextended families

Substance abuse assessment or testing for Substance abuse assessment or testing for either or both parents or child, including access either or both parents or child, including access to resultsto results

Parenting classes for either or both parents.Parenting classes for either or both parents.

Distinct Role of Parenting Distinct Role of Parenting CoordinatorCoordinator

Hybrid role: help implement, modify, Hybrid role: help implement, modify, parenting plans parenting plans

Assess impasses to coparentingAssess impasses to coparenting Educate about child development, Educate about child development,

communication, conflict resolutioncommunication, conflict resolution Facilitate the settlement of disputesFacilitate the settlement of disputes ArbitrateArbitrate

Role DefinitionRole Definition

PC is NOT: PC is NOT: TherapistTherapist Advocate for one partyAdvocate for one party CoachCoach Parent EducatorParent Educator CounselCounsel MediatorMediator Custody EvaluatorCustody Evaluator JudgeJudge

Functions of the PC: Functions of the PC: AssessmentAssessment

AssessmentAssessment Review of custody evaluationReview of custody evaluation Review other evaluations/reportsReview other evaluations/reports Divorce Impasse, derailing Divorce Impasse, derailing

communicationcommunication Parenting strengths and weaknessesParenting strengths and weaknesses Coparenting SkillsCoparenting Skills Children’s functioning and needsChildren’s functioning and needs

Functions of the PC: Functions of the PC: EducationEducation

EducationEducation Child DevelopmentChild Development Short term and long-term needs of the childrenShort term and long-term needs of the children Communication skillsCommunication skills Effects of conflict on childrenEffects of conflict on children Collaboration strategiesCollaboration strategies Conflict resolutionConflict resolution Perspective takingPerspective taking Family Issues (new transitions, relationships)Family Issues (new transitions, relationships)

Functions of the PC: Functions of the PC: Coordination/Case Coordination/Case

ManagementManagement Coordination/Case ManagementCoordination/Case Management

Communication with family members Communication with family members and significant other caretakersand significant other caretakers

Communication with schoolsCommunication with schools Communication with therapistsCommunication with therapists Communication with physiciansCommunication with physicians Communication with child protection Communication with child protection

agencyagency Referrals for treatment, testingReferrals for treatment, testing

Functions of the PC: Functions of the PC: Intervention and Conflict Intervention and Conflict

ManagementManagement Assistance interpreting and Assistance interpreting and

implementing court-ordered implementing court-ordered parenting planparenting plan

Dispute Resolution: facilitating Dispute Resolution: facilitating agreements, arbitration, referralagreements, arbitration, referral

Facilitate communication between Facilitate communication between parties as appropriateparties as appropriate

Qualifications of the Parent Qualifications of the Parent Coordinator: AFCC Coordinator: AFCC

GuidelinesGuidelines Legal, mental health or mediation Legal, mental health or mediation

professionalprofessional Practice at least 5 years in that Practice at least 5 years in that

profession with high conflict, profession with high conflict, litigating parentslitigating parents

A certified/qualified mediator under A certified/qualified mediator under the rules or laws of that jurisdiction, the rules or laws of that jurisdiction, or completion of at least a 30 hour or completion of at least a 30 hour mediation training course mediation training course

Personal QualificationsPersonal Qualifications

OrganizedOrganized

Fair with sound judgmentFair with sound judgment

Tolerant, patientTolerant, patient

DecisiveDecisive

Ability to set limits (what’s an Ability to set limits (what’s an emergency?)emergency?)

Peer supportPeer support

Critical Listening skillsCritical Listening skills