About: Parent Coordinator
How does divorce affect children?
Every child of divorce is impacted by the divorce. Every child of divorce reacts differently to divorce.
There are many reasons divorce can affect children. Here are just a few factors that can influence the impact divorce has on a child:
- Age of the child
- The child’s temperament – are they more or less sensitive?
- Parental alienation
- Access to both parents
- The level of conflict the divorced parents have toward each other.
As in all situations, there are some factors surrounding divorce that can be changed & others that cannot be changed. Being mindful of who your child is before, during, & after a divorce greatly influences their ability to process the life-changing event of divorce. Becoming educated about your role as a co-parent gives you & your child a better chance of processing the divorce in more healthy ways.
Don't let your divorce negatively affect your children.
A parent coordinator will equip you with the tools to help you alleviate the pain that divorce can inflict on your loved ones. If conflict is common in your household, take a moment to schedule your free consultation with us today. We’re here to help you and your family come out of this with a more stable & healthy future.
What Is A Parent Coordinator?
The Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) has established guidelines for parent coordination. The five primary functions of a parent coordinator (PC) are:
Assessment
The PC should review the custody evaluation, relevant records, temporary or final court orders and judgments, information from interviews with parents and children and other collateral sources, and domestic violence protection orders and related information. The PC should also review educational records of the child or children, and analyze the impasses and issues set forth by the parents.
Education
An important function of the PC is to help parents understand the serious, negative consequences that children suffer when exposed to high levels of parental and/or frequent conflict, and to provide parents with the tools to improve communication and parenting skills. A parenting coordinator may also educate and coach parents on topics such as child development, divorce research, the impact of the parents’ behavior on the children, parenting skills, and communication and conflict resolution skills.
Case Management / Coordination
The PC serves a case management and coordination function. The PC should work with the professionals and systems involved with the family (e.g. mental health, health care, social services, education, legal) as well as with extended family, stepparents, and significant others, when appropriate.
Conflict Management
The PC’s primary role is to minimize conflict by assisting parents in resolving disagreements regarding the children. The PC may utilize dispute resolution skills from principles and practices of negotiation, mediation, and arbitration. To assist the parents in reducing conflict, the PC may monitor written exchanges of parent communications and suggest more productive and less combative forms or styles of communication.
Decision-Making
The PC serves a decision-making role. When parents are unable to agree or resolve disputes on their own, the PC is empowered to make decisions to the extent described in the court order or PC Client Agreement, or to make reports or recommendations to the court for further consideration. PCs should communicate their decisions in a timely manner in person, by telephone, or (more likely) in a written communication. In the event that decisions are provided orally, a written version shall follow in a timely manner.
What are the fees for a parent coordinator?
There are many factors that go into the fees of a parent coordinator. At Hale Strategies we believe in pricing transparency and understand PC fees depend on your unique situation.
In the long run, working with a court-approved parent coordinator should save you money.
How could a PC save you money?
- Have you been to court multiple times for coparenting issues?
- Do the court officers know your name or the name of your coparent?
- Do you feel there is no end in sight to the legal fees you will pay because of conflict with your coparent?
Parenting problems are seldom resolved in the court system even when lawyers & judges are doing a great job.
Coparenting is unique, complicated, & can include high conflict. A PC works with coparents to reduce their conflict and their time in the legal system.
PC fees are usually shared by coparents & are typically less than long term attorney fees.
Billing Methods for Parent Coordination
Usually, the time a PC & coparents work together is renewable in time periods of six or 12 months. Coparenting is complicated & there are times when families work with a PC for longer periods.
Coparents who have lower conflict in their relationship may use the PC services less than coparents in high-conflict relationships.
Typically, PC services are billed hourly & the fees vary based on the help needed from the PC. This is why estimating total fees is impossible.
The educational component of the PC helps coparents improve their ability to resolve issues on their own. As the PC & coparents work together to resolve their conflicts the need for the PC lessens.
At Hale Strategies one goal for the PC is to work themselves out of a job.
Parents usually divide the PC fees in some way, but there can be exceptions when one parent may be ordered by a Judge to pay all of the fees. For cases involving the court, the fee details will most likely be part of the court’s order. Details of your relationship with the PC, including fees, retainer requirements, and other policies are included in your Parenting Coordination Client Agreement.
Our rate for a PC is $160.00 per hour per parent unless specified otherwise by the court, or agreed otherwise by the parents. For parents with low income, a reduced hourly rate may be available on a case by case basis and at our discretion.
What are the fees for a parent coordinator?
Are Flat Fees Available for Parenting Coordination Services?
A fixed fee for a certain period may be available in some private PC situations.
Coparents using PC services with us through a court order (or stipulation) will work with us on an hourly basis, and our services will be governed by the state order on Parenting Coordination.
Coparents without an open court matter that are looking to improve their coparenting experience and minimize conflict for themselves and their children may have the option to work with us on a customized flat-fee plan for Parent Coaching. This service is completely voluntary, non-binding, & without a court order.
Of course, the difficulty with a fixed fee with this type of work is that parents may come to rely on the parenting coach and over-rely on the parenting coach’s involvement, basically outsourcing too many parenting decisions and not learning how to parent together.
Because of this, the decision about fixed monthly fees is made after the intake process is completed.
Are There Other Costs or Expenses Related to Parent Coordination?
You may incur additional expenses, such as travel time, if necessary; although travel is not usually required. Your PC Client Agreement may require parents to agree to the use of a third-party application/tool, such as Our Family Wizard, that has an annual cost of approximately $120.00 per parent. Your PC Client Agreement will contain additional information regarding expenses.
If you have any other questions regarding Parent Coordination services through Hale Strategies LLC, please contact us at 325-999-3445, or email us at info@halestrategiesllc.com
Experience
Hale Strategies, LLC is a conflict resolution firm in West Texas. We have comprehensive and integrative services to deal with conflict and conflict management. Our coaching, training, and education provide you with tools to manage conflict effectively.
Education
Ph.D. Psychology; MA Conflict Reconciliation and Resolution; Certificate of Mediation; MS Organizational Human Resource Development; Certificate of Arbitration; AFCC Parent Coordinator; Active Parenting Facilitator & Trainer
Teaching Experience
2INgage a child welfare collaborative focused on meeting the unique needs of children and families in Texas; Urban & rural community advocacy; World wide with Come before Winter; Abilene Christian University - McMurry University - Oklahoma Christian University; NEABPD Family Connections facilitator; Active Parenting coach
10+ years mediating, teaching, coaching in the U.S. and overseas
Let Us Help You Manage Conflict
Our mission is to help individuals manage conflict. Our strategy is supporting individuals as they create balanced solutions at work, home, and in their communities.
