Parenting Co-ordination: A Guide to Reducing Conflict

Parenting can be challenging, especially after a divorce or separation. When conflict persists between parents, it can have a profound impact on children’s well-being. If you’re facing challenges in co-parenting, Parenting Co-ordination might be the solution you’ve been looking for.

Parenting Co-ordination is a unique process that helps reduce family conflict and encourages better communication between parents. In this guide, we’ll explore what Parenting Co-ordination is, its benefits for your family, and how it differs from other services like mediation. This comprehensive overview is designed to show how this approach can support healthier co-parenting for the well-being of your children.

What is Parenting Co-ordination?

Parenting Co-ordination is a dispute resolution process specifically aimed at addressing and resolving post-separation or post-divorce parenting conflicts. This process is focused on helping parents communicate more effectively and make decisions in the best interest of their children.

Key Objectives of Parenting Co-ordination:

• Minimising Conflict: A Parenting Co-ordinator assists you and your ex-partner in transitioning from former partners to effective co-parents, focusing on what is best for your children.

• Conflict Resolution: Parenting Co-ordination addresses everyday disputes that might arise about things like changeover times, extracurricular activities, or holiday arrangements. This helps reduce ongoing conflict and creates a cooperative parenting environment.

• Reducing Court Involvement: Parenting Co-ordination aims to reduce the need for family court involvement by resolving misunderstandings or disagreements about existing orders or parenting plans. It helps avoid costly legal proceedings by addressing issues in a structured, supportive way.

How Parenting Co-ordination Works

Parenting Co-ordination is a collaborative process that involves an experienced professional who guides parents through their post-separation challenges. The process typically involves a few key steps:

1. Initial Assessment: The Parenting Co-ordinator will meet with each parent separately to understand the issues at hand, review any existing court orders or parenting plans, and assess the overall family situation.

2. Setting Goals: The Parenting Co-ordinator works with both parents to establish clear goals, focusing on the children’s well-being and ensuring both parents understand their roles in the co-parenting process.

3. Ongoing Support and Monitoring: The Parenting Co-ordinator monitors communication between parents, ensuring that it remains respectful and focused on the children’s needs. They may help with decision-making when issues arise and provide strategies for managing disputes in the future.

4. Adjustments and Follow-Up: The Parenting Co-ordinator will adjust strategies as needed, ensuring that the family remains on track and that the children’s needs continue to be met. Follow-up sessions may be scheduled to address ongoing challenges.

Why Should You Use Parenting Co-ordination?

There are several reasons why Parenting Co-ordination can be an invaluable resource for families navigating post-separation challenges:

• Reduces Ongoing Conflict: When parents continue to argue over day-to-day parenting decisions, it can cause significant distress for children. Parenting Co-ordination helps resolve these conflicts by teaching both parents how to communicate better and focus on their children’s needs.

• Minimises Impact on Children: High-conflict environments can lead to negative outcomes for children, including emotional, academic, and social challenges. By reducing conflict between parents, Parenting Co-ordination can ensure that children are not caught in the middle.

• Prevents Legal Disputes: Parenting Co-ordination can help avoid returning to court over disputes related to parenting orders or plans. By resolving conflicts early, parents can avoid costly legal battles and lengthy court proceedings.

• Improves Co-Parenting Relationships: One of the primary goals of Parenting Co-ordination is to foster a cooperative co-parenting relationship. This process allows parents to become more effective partners in raising their children, even after a separation or divorce.

How is Parenting Co-ordination Different from Mediation?

While both Mediation and Parenting Co-ordination involve resolving disputes, they differ significantly in their scope and purpose:

• Mediation: Typically, mediation is used to develop a parenting plan or to negotiate changes to existing arrangements. The mediator facilitates discussion but does not make binding decisions. Mediation is generally confidential.

• Parenting Co-ordination: Parenting Co-ordination, however, is an ongoing process that helps manage existing arrangements. It focuses on resolving day-to-day issues, monitoring communication, and making practical decisions for the children. Unlike mediation, Parenting Co-ordination is not confidential and is typically ordered by the court or agreed upon by both parents.

Who Can Benefit from Parenting Co-ordination?

Parenting Co-ordination is ideal for families experiencing ongoing conflict after a separation or divorce. It can be particularly helpful in situations where:

• Parents struggle to communicate: If there’s difficulty in making decisions together or agreeing on parenting arrangements, Parenting Co-ordination helps facilitate respectful communication.

• There are frequent disputes over existing orders: Parenting Co-ordination assists in resolving disagreements about the interpretation or application of court orders or parenting plans.

• There is high conflict between parents: If ongoing conflict is affecting the children’s well-being, Parenting Co-ordination can help reduce the stress and negative impact on children by focusing on cooperative parenting.

What a Parenting Co-ordinator Does

A Parenting Co-ordinator brings a range of skills to the table, including:

• Education and Guidance: They provide information on the developmental needs of children, effective co-parenting strategies, and conflict management techniques.

• Dispute Resolution: The Parenting Co-ordinator uses their expertise to help parents reach agreements on key issues and avoid escalating conflicts.

• Monitoring and Accountability: They help ensure that parents comply with court orders or parenting plans and provide guidance on how to manage future conflicts independently.

• Encouraging Positive Change: The Parenting Co-ordinator works with both parents to develop strategies that reduce conflict, making co-parenting easier and more effective over time.

Next Steps: Getting Started with Parenting Co-ordination

If you think Parenting Co-ordination could benefit your family, you can initiate the process in one of the following ways:

• Court Order: A judge may order Parenting Co-ordination as part of a family law decision.

• Agreement: Parents can agree to Parenting Co-ordination through a Parenting Plan or Consent Order.

• Legal Advice: If you’re unsure whether Parenting Co-ordination is the right solution for your family, seek legal advice to understand how it can fit into your unique situation.

Parenting Co-ordination is a vital resource for families navigating post-separation life. By addressing and resolving conflicts early, it allows parents to focus on raising their children in a more cooperative and low-conflict environment. Whether through education, guidance, or dispute resolution, Parenting Co-ordination is designed to make life easier for parents and healthier for children.

If you have questions or would like to learn more about how Parenting Co-ordination can help your family, please feel free to contact us. We’re here to help you navigate these challenges with compassion and professionalism.