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Parent
Coordination
for
High – Conflict Vermont Families
separation divorce parentage
civil union dissolution
post-divorce & blended families
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Parent Coordinators The Parent Coordinators are specially trained
experienced professionals under contract with the Court Administrator who
provide a specific type of dispute resolution service to high-conflict,
income eligible parents on a sliding fee basis.
About
Parent Coordination Parent Coordination
gives both parents and children a chance
to be heard in a
child-focused, non-confidential and non-neutral process. Separated parents meeting individually with the Parent Coordinator are encouraged to resolve the conflicts about their children. The goal of the process is to minimize the children’s exposure to adult conflict and to reduce the risk of danger to all family members. Parent Coordinators also assist parents
and children to connect with other resources in the community for help and
support.
Parent
Coordination Sorts Out the Issues of Families in Conflict. Parent Coordination helps parents work out issues such as: visitation and exchanges, health and safety issues, how decisions will be made for the children, how parents will communicate, etc.
The
Parent
Coordinator’s and The Court’s Roles The process begins with an Order of
Referral from the Family Court Judge. The parents contract with the Parent
Coordinator for up to 15 hours of the Parent Coordinator’s time. Time is spent meeting with each parent
separately, in home or community visits with the children, and in
consultation with counselors, teachers and others involved with the children. The goal of the process is a detailed and documented parenting plan, which is based upon existing Court Orders (including any existing Relief from abuse Orders), suggestions by the parents, and recommendations of the professionals involved with the children. These parenting plans are based upon the needs of the children. If parents are able to reach agreement, they submit the written parenting plan to the Court to be reviewed and ordered by the Judge.
If
Parents are Not Able to Come to Agreement
The Parent Coordinator may submit a
written parenting plan to the Court. It is at the Judge’s discretion to order
the recommendations at a hearing and/or a status conference.
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