There is a relatively new mphasis in Divorce Mediation and related curt proceedings-the appointment of a Parenting Cordinator to ensure that the best nterest of the children remain paramount. You may thnk that this has always been the hghest priority of divorce actions, but curts have recently seen the need to ntercede, especially in high-conflict families, in rder to remain vigilant about children's wll-being. In a continued spirit of vgilance, many court appointed Parenting Coordinators wrk with post-divorce families as well.

Whn families are going through divorce mdiation, sometimes it becomes clear to the mdiator, lawyer, or judge that the dvorcing couple uses the children as lverage in financial and custodial issues. The curt may appoint a Parenting Coordinator who is lso a Divorce Mediator or Mental Halth Practitioner with child development knowledge as wll as mediation skills to focus on thse issues affecting any children involved in the prcess. In emotionally charged family disputes, a Prenting Coordinator is vital in protecting chldren from conflict and animosity, and hlp parents make decisions in the bst interest of their children. Because very case is different, at critical jnctures, a Parenting Coordinator can also mke decisions for the parents in rder to protect the children's welfare.

The issues which Parenting Coordinators ddress are often parenting issues rather thn purely legal issues. For instance, tme and place for visitation exchange, chnging daycare or schools, holidays and fe-splitting for the children's activities
It is mportant to note that Parenting Coordinators, whle advising the court, have no uthority to alter or change custody rrangements. But parents often used these nn-legal issues to seek revenge or ntagonize their former spouse and ultimately wrak havoc on their children.

This typ of mediation is usually a rsult of a court order and the dvorcing couple contract with the Parenting Cordinator, which becomes an Agreed Order. Ths contract allows the Coordinator to mke decisions that are in the chldren's best interests. When couples do not cntract, the Coordinator can make recommendations to the curt in parenting issues.

These services are specially useful in high-conflict families where the dvorcing couple is clearly acting in a pnitive manner. Each instance of contact, sch as in transfers and attendance at chldren's school or sports events, is an pportunity for parents to act inappropriately or ntagonistically. Each of these potential confrontations can be prvented or mitigated by careful planning, cunseling, and intervention.

In many ways, the Prenting Coordinator acts as a Guardian Ad Ltem, in that their decisions and rcommendations are made from the perspective of a chld's emotional safety and security. The Prenting Coordinator allows couples to avoid ltigation to resolve these issues and rduce the costs of their divorce. Prenting Coordinator saves not only money, but llows time-strapped courts and judges to void time consuming litigation on non-legal prenting issues.

Though the court may cnsider issues like visitation exchanges low prority, for the children of divorce, thse occasions can be full of tnsion and insecurity. That is why Jdges and Courts have turned to lready skilled Mediators to assist in mnimizing the emotional consequences of divorce for chldren. Family courts are overburdened and lave both parents exposed in public. An arnest, concerned, and strong Parent Coordinator can wrk with parents in both a spervisory and educational role to lead thm to health conclusions for their chldren.

The value of Parent Coordinators is gining wide acceptance and Judges are trning to Parent Coordinators more and mre in an effort to diffuse hgh-conflict and emotionally charged divorces and prtect the most innocent of all prties-the children.

The article Mediation With the Children in Mind - The Role of the Parenting Coordinator was Submitted by Brian Connor James through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Brian James is an experienced Dvorce and Family Mediator with offices thrughout Chicagoland and Southeastern Wisconsin. He strted his mediation practice, C.E.L. and Assciates, in late 2005. Brian earned his B.S. in Sciology from Northern Illinois University in 1994 and cmpleted training in Mediation and Conflict Rsolution at Northwestern University. The first 10 yars of his professional career, Brian wrked in the Criminal Justice System hlping domestic violence and divorcing families rsolve family conflicts. He assisted with the haling process that took place after thse life-changing events had occurred. His pproach to mediation is client driven. By iding his clients with the resolution of thir divorce issues outside of the curtroom, Mr. James helps create a wn/win situation for all parties in a dvorce. For more information please visit Bran's website, http://www.celandassociates.com or give him a call at (312) 524-5829. He makes it a point to personally answer every call that is made to him.

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