PARENTING FACILITATION

What is needed to begin Parenting Facilitation?

• Parenting facilitation intake form
• A signed copy of the advisement form with initials on each page
• A Certificate of completion for the Children in the Middle live or online class
• Copy of the Court order
• $600.00 retainer from each parent mailed to the 1540 Keller Parkway, Suite 108-205, Keller, TX 76248. Credit cards are not accepted for the initial retainer.

Please mail, scan, or fax these forms to us. Once all the forms are fully completed and on file by both parents and the deposits have been paid, an initial appointment letter will be sent to the parents to schedule the initial appointment. Because of the nature of high conflict families, it is important for us to maintain a written paper trail so phone calls will not be returned. If you have questions, please send questions in e-mail.

What is Parenting Facilitation?

Parenting facilitation is a child-focused alternative dispute resolution process in which a mental health professional with mediation training assists high conflict parents to implement their parenting plan by facilitating the resolution of their disputes in a timely manner, education parents about children's needs, and with prior approval of the parties and/or the court, making decisions within the scope of the court order or appointment contract.

The overall objective of parenting facilitation is to assist high conflict parents to implement their parenting plan, to monitor compliance with the details of the plan, to resolve conflicts regarding their children and the parenting plan in a timely manner, and to protect and sustain safe, healthy and meaningful parent-child relationships.

The goals of parenting facilitation are to:

1. Educate parents regarding the impact of their behaviors on their child(ren)'s development.
2. Reduce parental conflict through anger management skills, communication, and conflict resolution.
3. Decrease inappropriate parental behaviors to reduce stress for the child(ren).
4. Work with parents in developing a detailed plan for issues such as discipline, decision-making, communication, etc.
5. Create a more relaxed home atmosphere allowing the child(ren) to adjust more effectively with the new family structure.
6. Collaborate with professionals involved with the family in order to offer coordinated services.
7. Monitor parental behaviors to ensure that parents are fulfilling their obligations to their child(ren) while complying with the recommendations of the court.

The parenting facilitator may do this by reviewing written evaluations and reports, and talking with other significant individuals involved with the family (doctors, therapists, school personnel, lawyers, etc.) The parenting facilitator will meet with the parents jointly, and communicate by fax and email. Home visits may be made to both parents homes. The parenting facilitator can write status reports to the court as needed and defined in the order, testify in court and be contacted by other professionals, and will be present during hearings. The parenting facilitator may make recommendations to the parents.

Costs and Payment

The rate for parenting facilitation services is $150 per hour rounded up to the nearest 15 minute increment. This includes all services of the parenting facilitator including reviewing documentation, deliberation and issuance of decisions when parents are unable to resolve issues themselves, meetings, correspondences, phone contact, email, court time, legal expenses, and consultation with other family service providers.

Completion of the Children in the Middle class live or online class within the past 6 months is required prior to the first session.