13th Judicial Circuit
PARENT COORDINATOR REQUIREMENTS

Attachment B: Comprehensive Parenting Coordination Training

A Comprehensive Training Program in Parenting Coordination shall be a minimum of 20 hours in length and shall include all of the following topics:

A. Parenting Coordination Concepts and Ethics

1. principles and functions which define the parenting coordinator's role and distinguish it from the other forms of dispute resolution intervention
2. limitations of the parenting coordinator
3. examples of ethical dilemmas that may confront parenting coordinators and how to avoid them.
4. ethical issues concerning the parenting coordinators disclosure and non-disclosure both in relation to the entire parenting coordination process and separate sessions within the process
5. responding to complaints against the parenting coordinator
6. understanding concepts of confidentiality and privilege regarding information obtained by the parenting coordinator

B. Family Dynamics in Separation and Divorce

1. impact divorce has on individuals and on family dynamics and the implications for the parenting coordination process
2. psychological research and theories applicable to the interventions for families that display high conflict co-parenting patterns
3. impact of emotions on a party's ability to effectively participate in the parenting coordination process
4. impact of grandparents, stepparents and significant others on family systems and the parenting coordination process
5. needs of children and the effects of divorce on their relationships with their mother, father, step families, siblings and others in the family relationship
6. impact the parenting coordination process can have on the child(ren)'s well-being and behavior and recognize when and how to involve children in the parenting coordination process
7. concepts of co-parenting and shared parental responsibility
8. child(ren)'s developmental stages and how they relate to divorce and parenting arrangements
9. impact of parental conflict on child(ren)'s well-being, and the phenomena of parental alienation and estrangement and its many causes, including bona fide parental abuse and/or neglect
10. options for parenting arrangements which consider the needs of the child(ren) and each parent's capacity to parent

C. Parenting Coordination Process

1. stages and components of the parenting coordination process including “teaching,” “facilitation,” and “arbitration” stages, and when and how to switch between stages
2. role of the parenting coordinator in structuring the parenting coordination process
3. personal experiences, biases, prejudices, and styles which are the product of one's background which may affect the ability to offer parenting coordination services
4. socio-economic, cultural, racial, ethnic, age, gender, religious, sexual orientation and disability issues which may arise in parenting coordination and/or affect the parties' negotiation style, ability or willingness to engage in the parenting coordination process
5. situations in which participation of non-parties (e.g.: grandparents, children, new spouses) may be necessary in the parenting coordination process
6. identification of issues which are appropriate for parenting coordination and those that are not appropriate
7. identification of individuals who are appropriate to participate in the parenting coordination process and those who may not be appropriate
8. situations in which the parenting coordinator should suggest that the parties contact independent legal counsel, postpone or cancel the parenting coordination session, suspend the parenting coordination process, or refer the parties to other resources.
9. special needs of the pro se party.
10. appropriate interaction between the parenting coordinator and parties’ attorneys and the elements and impact of the attorney/client relationship on the parenting coordination process

D. Parenting Coordination Techniques

1. empathy, building rapport, establishing trust, setting a cooperative tone, sympathetic listening and questioning, empowering parties, and remaining non-judgmental
2. creating, developing, monitoring, and modifying a Parenting Plan
3. use of outside experts
4. assisting parties in deciding on appropriate community and social service resources, including for domestic violence situations
5. clarifying party’s unproductive behavior and handling difficult situations
6. applying useful psychological research and theories concerning parents, children and families that apply to the parenting coordination process
7. setting boundaries as a parenting coordinator, including how to construct safety procedures for those participating in the parenting coordination process, particularly if there is evidence of domestic violence
8. maintaining appropriate records
9. avoiding burn-out by understanding effects of toxic clients on the parenting coordinator
10. promoting awareness by the parties of the interest of persons affected by actual or potential agreements who are not represented during the parenting coordination process.

E. Family Court Procedures

1. role of the parenting coordinator as an extension of the court
2. forms pertaining to parenting coordination and circuit specific procedures
3. legal concepts such as geographic relocation, equitable distribution, modification, impact of parenting time on child support calculations, due process, ex parte communication, and privilege
4. statutory constraints where domestic violence exists
5. reasons that a parenting coordinator should decline an appointment, withdraw or request appropriate assistance when the facts and circumstances of the case are beyond the parenting coordinator's skill or experience
6. roles of other professional disciplines in the parenting coordination process and promotion of cooperation between parenting coordinators and other professionals, including attorneys and GALs
7. interface with the court system, including the appointment and discharge process of a parenting coordinator

F. Domestic Violence, Child Abuse and Neglect and Other Special Needs

1. ramifications of domestic violence on the parenting coordination process including the impact domestic violence has on the parties and their capacity to participate meaningfully in the parenting coordination sessions
2. impact of and restrictions imposed by an injunction for protection against domestic violence, a party’s criminal arrest or conviction of domestic violence or other evidence of domestic violence, on the parties’ interaction with each other and their child(ren).
3. indicators of domestic violence
4. impact of domestic violence on children
5. identify appropriate courses of action when confronted with domestic violence during the parenting coordination process
6. impact of substance abuse on the parenting coordination process
7. appropriate courses of action when confronted with substance abuse during the parenting coordination process.
8. implications of a referral of parties to services for child or vulnerable adult protection, and the issue of confidentiality as it applies to each
9. American with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements and strategies for handling situations when faced with disability issues or special needs, including the need for interpreters
10. impact of the involvement of the Department of Children and Families or pending dependency proceedings on the parties’ interaction with each other and their child(ren)
11. indicators of child abuse and/or neglect and the process and duty to report allegations of child abuse and/or neglect.