Parenting Coordinators
The 25th Judicial Circuit's parenting coordinator program is a form of alternative dispute resolution that helps parents put their conflicts aside in order to make the best decisions for their children.
Often divorce, separation or child custody cases involve feelings of anger or bitterness between the parties involved. Sometimes, these feelings can result in parents' unwillingness to cooperate with one another when it comes to decisions involving their children. The job of a parenting coordinator is to help parents who have shown a long-term inability to cooperate work together to implement their parenting plan.
"In situations where there is a battle over custody and there are hard feelings, there is a tendency for parents to look at a judgement and think, 'How can I get what I want?'" said parenting coordinator Frank Schweitzer, attorney and guardian ad litem. "A parenting coordinator is able to sit with parents, together and separately, and look at the court order from the standpoint of what is best for the child."
A parenting coordinator's role is to help parents resolve disputes and reduce conflicts, which can have a negative impact on children. They also are there to educate parents about the needs of their children and are authorized to make decisions within the scope of parents' existing court orders.
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In either situation, the decision of the parenting coordinator is binding. Parenting coordinators may also be contacted to assist with decisions as simple as choosing a safe place for parents to exchange their children during visits.
"There is one thing that we know, and that is – things change. Sometimes, a decision evolves," said parenting coordinator Dr. Gary Evans, Ph.D. and Licensed Clinical Social Worker with Breakthrough Counseling in Rolla. "As parenting coordinators, we have the latitude to say, 'Let's try this one time and see how things work out.'"
Other issues a parenting coordinator may address include healthcare management, school-choice issues, decisions regarding personal possessions belonging to the child and the need for parenting classes or other services.
Reducing conflict between parents also benefits the 25th Judicial Circuit by allowing cases to move more quickly through the court system. When parents are able to solve their differences with the help of a parenting coordinator, it eliminates their need to go to court, saving them time and money.
"When you reduce the time and money families spend in court, it allows that time and money to be spent on the kids," said parenting coordinator Mark Calvert, an attorney with the Rolla law firm Williams, Robinson, Rigler & Buschjost.
In addition to Schweitzer, Evans and Calvert, who have served as parent coordinators since Jan. 1, 2008, the 25th Judicial Circuit has chosen and trained four other individuals: Katie Anderson, a guardian ad litem and an attorney with the Houston law firm Anderson Law Offices; Megan Heitman, an attorney with Heitman Law Firm, LLC, in Houston; Ralph Muxlow, an attorney with Muxlow Law Offices in Richland; and Dawn Clayton, a guardian ad litem and private practice attorney in Vienna.
Calvert said the addition of four new parenting coordinators will benefit a rural circuit like the 25th where attorneys often can encounter conflicts of interest in small communities.
"We need to have a bigger pool of parenting coordinators to serve to eliminate conflict of interest issues," Calvert said. "The more people who are involved, the better this program is going to work."
For more information on parenting coordinators and other services provided by the 25th Judicial Circuit's family court program, please visit www.familycourt.us. Information also can be found at the circuit clerks' offices in Phelps, Pulaski, Texas and Maries counties.