Parenting Coordination Services
Navigating Parenting After Separation
Hi, I understand that navigating parenting through family separation or divorce can be challenging. It's a journey filled with complex emotions and tough decisions, especially when it comes to your children. As a Parenting Coordinator, I'm here to guide you through this process, focusing on the well-being of your children and helping you find workable solutions.
What is Parenting Coordination?
Parenting Coordination is a child-focused approach to resolving ongoing parenting disputes outside of prolonged court battles. As a trained professional in child development, dispute resolution, and family law, I help mediate conflicts and, if necessary, make informed decisions to resolve disputes for the best interests of your children.
What Co-Parenting Issues Can I Help With?
Parenting Time: Creating a balanced parenting schedule.
Daily Routines: Establishing routines including homework, screen time, etc.
Holidays and Vacations: Planning for special times like summer vacations.
Discipline: Aligning approaches to child discipline.
Child Care: Deciding on babysitting and care by relatives.
Transportation and Exchanges: Coordinating pick-ups and drop-offs.
Healthcare: Managing medical, dental, and vision care appointments.
Extracurricular Activities: Discussing extracurriculars and their associated costs.
School Matters: Addressing issues related to education.
Benefits of Parenting Coordination
More affordable and less formal than court proceedings.
Timely Resolutions: Quickly scheduled sessions to address issues as they arise.
Continual assistance over time, with a consistent decision-maker who understands your family's unique dynamics.
Empowering you to be actively involved in creating solutions, often leading to more creative and specific outcomes than what a court might impose.
Parenting coordination is about creating harmony and stability for your children during challenging times. My role is to help you navigate these waters with compassion, understanding, and professional expertise. Let's work together to ensure your children's needs are met and their lives remain as unaffected as possible by separation or divorce.
Ready to start?
Schedule a consultation call to assess how this service can benefit your family.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Parenting Coordination is a child-focused Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process. It's designed to handle ongoing parenting disputes, aiming to reduce the need for prolonged court proceedings. Parenting Coordinators are often professionals like psychologists, social workers, or lawyers with specialized training in child development, dispute resolution, and family law.
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Yes, a Parenting Coordinator's authority is outlined in the court order or by the consent of the parents. They can make various decisions related to children's lives, such as parenting time schedules, health care management, and education choices. However, they cannot make decisions regarding primary residence changes, substantial changes in time-sharing, or modifying child support obligations.
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A Parenting Coordinator can assist with numerous co-parenting issues, including disagreements about the parenting schedule, education decisions, medical and dental care, pickup and drop-off logistics, and extracurricular activities. They can also help set guidelines for parent communication and devise strategies for resolving disputes.
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Parenting Coordinators must consider the best interests of the child in their decisions. They provide written decisions, or if an oral decision is made, written reasons are given. They may decide on an issue even if one parent does not participate in the information gathering or mediation work.
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If a parent disagrees with a decision, they may apply to the court to change or set aside the decision, especially if they believe the decision was beyond the authority of the Parenting Coordinator or based on an error in law or mixed fact and law.
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Families with frequent disputes about parenting schedules, exchange times, and other parenting issues can benefit. This is particularly true for "high conflict" families that experience ongoing hostility and frequent disputes.
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Parenting Coordinators usually conduct their work through meetings with parents, both individually and jointly. The process involves identifying concerns, assessing the family situation, and setting specific goals to resolve conflicts.
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Parenting Coordinators charge hourly fees similar to those of lawyers, psychologists, and other professionals. The cost depends on the time taken for the process, but it is generally considered cost-effective compared to recurrent court battles.
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Parenting Coordinators can be appointed through an agreement between parents or by a court order. They are hired for a term, usually between 6 to 24 months, and can be reappointed if necessary.
Insurance Coverage and Payment Methods
Some insurance plans cover sessions with a Registered Social Worker (RSW) and Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC). Check with your provider to see what's covered.
Payment: I accept Credit, Debit, and E-transfer.
Rescheduling or Canceling Appointments:
Life happens, and I get that. You can reschedule or cancel with at least 24 hours' notice.
For cancellations with less than 24 hours' notice, there's a charge for the full cost of the appointment.
