Parents with minor child who separate and/or divorce, must resolve the issues of child custody and visitation. Parents acting in the best interest of their children may seek guidance related to co-parenting and how to make the transition in the family as smooth as possible. Despite the status of the parents' relationship, and the stress they are under, parents remain responsible for the care and development of their children.
Whether or not they were ever married, parents need to work together to create a mutually agreeable plan for co-parenting their children. In the State of Maryland circuit courts may order parents in contested family cases to attend mandatory parenting classes. Even if the case is not contested, the court encourages all parents who are separating to attend a co-parenting program. Most Maryland counties have co-parenting classes available. To locate a program in your county, contact the Family Support Services Coordinator at the circuit court in your county.
Co-parenting programs provide parents assistance with keeping their children healthy and safe. Course topics include the following: explaining divorce to children; the effects of divorce on children and parents; coping strategies for parents; strategies for helping children cope with change; discipline; avoiding inappropriate interactions with children; communication skills between parents, and between parents and children; problem solving; decision making; and conflict resolution. Programs also offer resources for child abuse, neglect, and domestic violence.
In my Maryland mediation practice, I assist parents develop co-parenting plans with provisions for child custody and visitation. Additionally, I assist parents discuss issues which are in dispute, and/or the modification of an existing parenting plan. A Maryland mediator, I help parents, including those with "strong personalities," communicate and make decisions which are in the best interest of their children. Skills acquired during mediation assist parents to recognize patterns of communication which spark conflict and make negotiating more difficult. Mediation helps parents learn communication skills which help them manage conflict.
For more information about mediation programs in your county, visit the Maryland Judiciary Department of Family Administration website.
