Parenting Coordination Info Sheet
What is a Parenting Coordinator?
A parenting coordinator (PC) is a neutral third party who helps divorced or separated parents implement their parenting plan and resolve conflicts in a child centred way. Their role begins after parenting orders are established and focuses on helping parents manage day-to-day issues, implement agreements, and reduce conflict to improve outcomes for the children. This is different from a mediator, whose role is to help parents reach their initial agreements.
See below for how a Parenting Coordinator can help:
Resolves disputes:
| A PC helps parents resolve disagreements about daily decisions, such as drop-off times, schedules, and holidays, parental work travel etc without going to court. |
Improves communication:
| They teach parents skills to communicate more effectively and work together as co-parents. |
Manages and implements orders:
| PCs help ensure both parents comply with court-ordered parenting plans and can make necessary adjustments to them.
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Addresses complex issues:
| They can help with more complex issues like disputes over a child’s healthcare or education, and ongoing disagreements about court orders.
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Protects children:
| By reducing conflict between parents, PCs help create a more stable and less stressful environment for children.
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Non- confidential:
| Importantly, unlike therapy or counselling, the parenting coordination process is non-confidential and reportable in a Court, so both parties are held accountable for their actions and behaviour. As well as coaching, education and conflict management, parenting coordination may also involve a degree of monitoring to ensure each party complies with any relevant court orders as well as the monitoring of emails and messages to evaluate communication skills and identify any improvements needed.
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PC Role vs. Mediator:
| A PC’s role is to help implement existing orders, while a mediator helps parents reach those initial agreements. |
PC’s Focus:
| The PC’s primary focus is on the child’s best interests and ensuring decisions are made with the child’s needs in mind. PC’s are able to consult with teachers, therapists or children themselves (or with the assistance of a Child Consultant) with consent by both parental parties. |
Not therapy:
| While the process can be supportive, it is a dispute resolution process, not a form of therapy for the parents. |
Source of referrals: | Parenting coordination can also facilitate referrals to mental health, counselling, therapy and community providers when necessary and involve input from other professionals who may already be working with the family. |
Mandatory reporter: | PC’s are a mandatory reporter to authorities if they perceive any parties or children are at risk to harm, abuse or compromised safety. |
Appointment of a PC: | Appointment can be done by a judge through court orders at interim or final stages, within mediation agreements or if privately agreed by all parties. |
Length of employment: | It is recommended that PC’s work with parents for a minimum of two years on a standard monthly review joint basis with an agenda guideline. Parents are able to request extra consultations/support outside of this as required in individual consults or further joint consults at the discretion of the PC or as needed. |