Parent Coordination

At Olney Counseling Center

Parent coordination is a structured, child-focused process used in high-conflict family situations after custody or parenting orders are entered. It’s designed to help parents carry out court orders and resolve ongoing disputes about child-related matters without returning to court unnecessarily. The goal is to reduce conflict, support compliance with parenting plans, and protect children from repeated exposure to parental hostility. When parents struggle with communication or frequent disagreements, parent coordination provides a consistent, neutral resource to help keep the focus on the children’s needs and well-being. AFCC+1

Parent coordination aligns with the guidelines of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts and supplements, rather than replaces, judicial authority. Parent coordinators are impartial professionals who make recommendations that reflect the children’s best interests. They do not offer legal advice, provide therapy, or make major legal decisions like changing custody status. Instead, they help parents work through routine disputes, improve communication, and implement existing court orders in practical ways.

Who Parent Coordination Helps

Parent coordination is especially valuable in situations where:

Benefits for Children and Parents

Protecting Children from Conflict

When parents are entrenched in ongoing conflict, children are at risk for emotional, behavioral, and developmental challenges. Research shows that exposure to parental conflict is linked with increased anxiety, lower academic performance, and higher risk for long-term mental health issues. By helping parents manage disagreements outside of court and reducing the intensity and frequency of disputes, parent coordination aims to shield children from that exposure and support healthier adjustment.

Improved Decision-Making and Stability

Parent coordination often leads to quicker, child-focused decision-making. Instead of waiting months for a court date, parents can resolve many day-to-day issues through a parent coordinator. This timeliness reduces uncertainty and stress for the family.

Reduced Court Involvement

Empirical research suggests that engaging in parent coordination can significantly reduce reliance on the court system. In one large pilot study, parents participating in a coordinated process showed a 50–60 percent reduction in applications to court and to court-appointed social workers during and after the process. This type of reduction not only conserves judicial resources but lessens the adversarial cycle that often fuels conflict. ResearchGate

Greater Cooperation and Communication

Participation in parent coordination has been associated with measurable improvements in co-parent communication and cooperative problem-solving. In structured outcome studies, parents demonstrated better conflict management and an increased ability to reach agreements on child-related decisions after working with a parent coordinator.

Reduced Violence and Negative Interactions

Data from outcome research show a significant reduction in both inter-parental and child-directed aggression following parent coordination. These reductions contribute to a safer, more predictable environment for children, supporting their emotional security and overall adjustment.

Encourages Parental Skill Building

Beyond resolving immediate disputes, parent coordination often includes skill-building around communication, co-parenting strategies, and conflict resolution. These tools help parents at a foundational level, promoting more effective interactions over time. High Conflict Institute

Summary

Parent coordination is a proactive, child-centered approach that helps families move from repeated conflict to constructive cooperation. It supports parents in carrying out court orders, enhances communication, and reduces the family’s overall reliance on the legal system. For children, it offers a more stable and supportive post-separation experience, reducing the negative impact of ongoing parental conflict.

How to get started

Getting started is simple: