Parenting coordination is a dispute resolution process generally occurring after a parenting plan has been established, to assist parents in chronic high conflict coparenting. Mental health professionals and family law professionals provide parenting coordination to assist coparents to implement their previously agreed to or court-ordered parenting plan in a child-focused and expeditious manner to minimize parental conflict, thereby reducing risk to children. This chapter summarizes the parenting coordinator’s mandate (education, conflict resolution, case management, decision-making), identifies risks and benefits, and addresses considerations when intimate partner violence (IPV) is a factor. The parenting coordination process from start to finish is discussed—managing referrals, screening for IPV, risk factors, and suitability; conducting the informed consent process; intake and information gathering; consensus-building phase (conflict management, resolution, and negotiation) and decision-making (arbitration). Parenting coordination is not a panacea for all high conflict coparenting situations. Inappropriate cases are identified and guidelines, professional standards, and training requirements are summarized.
Through the Eyes of the Child: An advanced parenting coordination intervention for high conflict post-divorce families.
