SLR 21-8.137: PARENTING COORDINATORS

Parent coordination is a child-focused alternative dispute resolution process in which a mental health or legal professional with mediation training and experience assists high conflict families with implementation of parenting plans. (1) The Parent Coordinator (PC) facilitates the resolution of disputes quickly; educates parents about children’s needs and communication and conflict resolution strategies; and makes decisions to resolve conflicts between parents. (2) Qualifications. Parent Coordinators in Benton County shall meet or exceed all the following qualifications and will continue to meet ongoing requirements as described: (a) Education. A terminal or doctoral degree from an accredited college or university in law, psychiatry, or psychology; (b) Licensure. A current and active professional license in good standing in the area of law, psychiatry, psychology, counseling, marriage and family therapy, mental health, or social work; (c) Training. Have or acquire within twelve (12) months of assuming the PC role, training or education in all of the following: Twenty-First Judicial District, Benton County Circuit Court Page 14 of 22 (i) Substance abuse addiction and recovery, including identifying need for treatment; (ii) Conflict resolution and theory, including mediation skills and collaborative processes; (iii) Child development and psychology; (iv) Divorce and separation adjustment, including high conflict families and co- parenting strategies; (v) Basic knowledge of child and adult psychopathology; (vi) Family dynamics and family systems theories; (vii) Parenting education models and techniques; (viii) Domestic violence issues and concerns, including safety protocols; (ix) Cultural and implicit bias sensitivity and awareness of the needs of minority populations; (x) Domestic relations law; (xi) Ethical standards, including confidentiality, dual roles, boundaries, and objectivity; (xii) Training comparable to that set forth in UTCR Chapter 12. (d) Continuing education. As an ongoing obligation, a PC must complete any continuing education requirements of their profession. (e) A circuit court judge, notwithstanding the qualifications listed above, may authorize the waiver of any or all of these requirements in ordering the appointment of a specific PC. (3) Conduct. As an ongoing obligation, a PC shall subscribe to the specific ethics identified by their profession. (a) No individual whose professional license has been revoked or surrendered while disciplinary proceedings are pending before professional licensing entities shall be eligible for initial or continued appointment as a PC. (b) Individuals who have served as a counselor, attorney, mediator, or evaluator to parties will not serve as a parenting coordinator to the same parties without the express written and informed consent of the parties, and careful consideration of potential conflicts of interest. Prior to appointment by the court, attorneys or self- Twenty-First Judicial District, Benton County Circuit Court Page 15 of 22 represented litigants should confer with the assigned PC as to conflicts of interest, waivers of conflicts of interest if necessary, and availability of PC to confer on another case. (4) Motion for appointment of a PC shall contain certification that the appointee meets the qualifications of this rule. (5) The parties shall use a court-approved Order Appointing Parenting Coordinator. A copy of the order may be obtained from the court’s website, by calling the Domestic Relations Clerk at 541-243-7846, or requesting by letter to: Trial Court Administrator Benton County Courthouse, Room 101 120 NW 4th Street Corvallis, OR 97330 CHAPTER 9 —Probate and Adoption Proceedings