FAMILY LAW SERVICES FOR PROFESSIONALS

Parenting Coordination is fairly new to Texas. As a family law professional you may already understand the role of the parenting coordinator. It is our goal to offer you as much information as possible to fully understand when and how these services can be utilized. You can download a one-page or a two-page Order for Parenting Coordination Services and an Information Sheet that can be mailed or faxed to a parenting coordinator to expedite the parenting coordination process.

Parenting Partnerships, Inc. Parenting Coordinators use an educational model (as opposed to a therapeutic model) to facilitate the development and implementation of the parenting plan and improve communication between co-parents. For a clear understanding of our qualifications and training please visit our “About Us” section on this website. If you have other questions, please contact Deborah Cashen or Susan Marsh.

PARENTING PARTNERSHIPS FAMILY LAW SERVICES

ANGER MANAGEMENT

Parenting Partnerships Anger Management service is a personalized approach to learning to deal with the results of behavior when angry. Participants learn to identify anger triggers, discover comfortable, appropriate ways to get in control of anger responses without causing harm to self or others and learn skills that will help communicate nonviolently. Even though anger management may be mandated, participant’s cooperation and willingness to learn new ways to handle anger are an important component in this process.

CO-PARENTING EDUCATION

Parenting Partnerships offers three formats that meet the statutory guidelines outlined and mandated by many family courts – Confident Co-parenting Online – Confident Co-parenting Class – Co-parent Facilitation

Confident Co-parenting Online is designed for parents who experience low to moderate conflict with their child’s other parent. This course includes user friendly, practical information that provides insight as to what stress and adjustment mechanisms are at work for parents and their children. Each participant receives the equivalent of four hours of instruction. When both parents take this course and heed the guidelines prior to beginning the divorce process, the process is more likely to be a successful experience.

Confident Co-parenting Class is a four-hour course designed for parents who experience low to moderate conflict with their child’s other parent. Like the online course, the class provides practical information that provides insight as to what stress and adjustment mechanisms are at work for parents and their children. This class is held once a month at our St. James Place location. Please check Parenting Partnerships’ Calendar for dates.

Co-parent Facilitation is not a court ordered program. On a voluntary basis one or both parents seek the support of a communication facilitator for an unspecified period of time , or these services may be prompted by an agreement between both party’s and their attorneys for a specified period of time at any given stage of the divorce process. All meetings between parents and their facilitator are initiated by the parents. All that transpires between parties and their facilitator is confidential and cannot be used against each other in court. Anger management and the development of a parenting time plan may be included in this process.

Co-parent Facilitation is a one-to-one program designed to help parents who want more individualized information or those that consider the conflict with their child’s other parent to be moderate to severe. Whether the participant voluntarily decides on this format, or is court ordered to take more than four hours of co-parenting education, this approach is more intensive and personalized, but does not replace court ordered parenting coordination.

PARENTING COORDINATION

Parenting Coordination is a court ordered process. It combines family systems theory, parenting/co-parenting education and mediation services for distressed or highly conflicted families having difficulties implementing an effective co-parenting plan. The role of the parenting coordinator is to serve as a problem-solving consultant and family functioning coach to facilitate necessary family system changes. Meetings between clients and parenting coordinators are prompted by the parenting coordinator once a court order is received. Communication between attorneys and the parenting coordinator are crucial to the success of this process. See the drop down menu for communication tools.

MEDIATION

Mediation is usually one of the steps encountered during the course of a divorce. What most people fail to understand, however, is that it can also be an effective process if used before a divorce is begun in order to find common ground, clarify goals, exchange information, or reach a tentative agreement to be included in a divorce decree. Parenting Partnerships mediators work within the family system to facilitate healthy relationships between parent and child or between parent and parent to develop a mutually agreeable discipline and/or parenting time plans.

COLLABORATIVE LAW ALLIED PROFESSIONAL

Parenting Partnerships Family Specialists work within the Collaborative process to facilitate effective co-parenting and develop an agreeable parenting plan. The result is a less expensive, less emotionally destructive, more dignified divorce for more and more families. The family specialist uses an educational model to work with parents to help them:

• improve communication skills to facilitate effective co-parenting
• re-focus energy and power through education
• re-stabilize home environments
• design a parenting plan that works in the best interest of the children
• identify their goals and determine strengths they bring to assist them in reaching those goals
• look at behaviors and ways of thinking that get in the way of reaching their goals

For more information on Collaborative Law, visit: www.collablawtexas.com or www.collaborativepractice.com

POSSIBLE OUTCOMES OF SERVICES PROVIDED BY PARENTING PARTNERSHIPS

• Empowered parents that plan their own lives and choose their own support services without giving that power to the court – all within a private process.
• Clearly defined strengths and challenges so parents can make more informed decisions about how to co-parent.
• An individualized parent education program.
• Greater success in compliance with an agreed court order.
• Optimal parental support for children experiencing the divorce process.
• Less frustration for attorney/client relationships.

Practical, peaceful solutions to an emotionally traumatic process.