parenting coordination: practice opportunities for psychologists apa annual convention boston, 2008...
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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