In the high-stakes world of family law, the role of a parent coordinator is both pivotal and complex. This virtual program, on Tuesday, Feb. 4, from noon-1:30 p.m., will delve into the unique challenges faced by parent coordinators when managing both high-conflict and non-high-conflict cases when one or both parents are on the brink of abandoning the process or defying agreed-upon parenting plans. Whether it is due to entrenched emotions, distrust, resorting to dysfunctional marital communications, or the inability to move on from the combative litigation process, a parent coordinator's ability to keep parents engaged can make or break the outcome for children and families.
Led by highly respected and experienced faculty, this program will equip parent coordinators, mediators and family law professionals with practical tools and strategies to:
- Identify early signs of disengagement or resistance from parents.
- Utilize effective communication techniques to address emotional and psychological barriers that prevent parents from fully participating.
- Promote collaboration and cooperation, even in adversarial situations, to ensure parents remain "in the boat" for the benefit of their children.
- Understand the psychological dynamics that underlie parents' behaviors, including conflict, fear of loss, control issues, lingering feelings about the bruising divorce process, and perceived power imbalances.
- Develop strategies to ensure that agreements made in the parenting coordination process are respected and adhered to by both parents.
- Use the parent coordinator’s various tools to creatively manage the process in the best interests of the family.
- Consider when and whether to engage adjunct professionals to participate in the process (e.g., lawyers and individual and/or family therapists).
- Obtain a guardian ad litem report, if one exists, and other aspects of court involvement if the parent coordinator believes it is warranted.
- Determine when to consider resigning as a parent coordinator.
The Parent Coordinator’s Challenge:
How to Keep Parents in the Boat if They Want to Jump Ship
Tuesday, Feb. 4, noon-1:30 p.m.
MBA Zoom Webinar
Click here to register.
This webinar will be hosted using Zoom. Registration for this program is required by 4 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 3, in order to participate in this program. An email from MassBar Education will be sent before the program.