In the high-stakes world of family law, the role of a parent coordinator is
both pivotal and complex. This program 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 MBA is happy to share the news that Chief
Justice John D. Casey will be one of our distinguished attendees and will
provide brief remarks. We are also honored to welcome as attendees Domenic
DiCenso, Deputy Court Administrator, Probate and Family Court and Denise
Fitzgerald, Assistant Deputy Court Administrator, Probate and Family
Court.
This program will qualify for 1.5 credits towards Category V
requirements for Parenting Coordinators. Attorneys attending the Live
Webinar can receive Certificates of Attendance by emailing education@massbar.org after the
program. Certficates of Attendance are not available to those who view the
On Demand Recording.
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.