Wendy Jebb’s services aim to cater to the unique demands of your family, ensuring seamless transitions and fostering a sense of unity through Parent Coordination or a Practice Note 7 Intervention. Parent Coordination with or without Arbitration is a legal process where the Parent Coordinator guides you in decreasing conflict and resolving issues of the parent plan. Practice Note 7 Interventions are legal interventions where decisions around the children are in conflict. Here we provide Triage and Voice of the Child PN7 Interventions which are court ordered services.
Both these interventions are initiated by your lawyers or a judge.
Practice Note 7 relates to the use of independent parenting experts conducted for cases in the Court of King’s Bench. Practice notes define various processes available to parties by way of court order. The service is therefore provided through a Court Order and your legal counsel requests the service for you. Usually, the Order outlines funding, time-lines for funding and parent responsibility for funding. The Order also outlines the intended use of the letter or report provided by the parenting expert (for interim applications, trials or both).
It is used when: a) Families are experiencing an impasse; b) Intervention of the Court is required; and c) The court requires assistance from parenting experts. The practice note process is used to target specific issues in the family and facilitate resolution and, if a resolution is not possible, to provide for an objective assessment of the family by a parenting expert as a litigation aid to assist the court in addressing the best interests of the children. You will either be referred for intervention or assessment.
The parenting expert can consult the court at any time during the intervention or assessment provided legal counsel has also been consulted. First legal counsel has an opportunity to respond and then, the expert can consult the court. Usually, the parenting expert will consult if a party withdraws from an intervention or assessment, where a party fails to cooperate with the parenting expert or if the parenting expert fees for the intervention or assessment are not paid as directed by the court.
Two kinds of procedures may be utilized: Interventions (both long and short-term) and Evaluative. An intervention may include: counseling/therapy, educational sessions, parenting plan development, parallel parenting plan development, evaluation (evaluating a particular issue related to the family), canvassing (gaining the specific needs, or where appropriate, the wishes of the children), remedial facilitated access: between parent and child and recommendations of what the family needs – i.e., counseling, mediation/arbitration etc.
Evaluations may be ordered to assist the court in determining the best interests of the children and are generally used when parties are going to trial and the court has to determine parenting arrangements. Assessments are objective neutral evaluations carried out by a parenting expert. The assessment may include only one child and one parent/home or all parties.
Any written letters or reports go to the court and legal counsel. Provisions will be made for parties to review any written material either with the author or with legal counsel. Parents do not receive a copy of the report or letter(s). Assessments are not confidential and the only exception to this rule is if children are deemed to be placed at risk if particular information shared by them is disclosed. The court has the discretion to keep information shared by children confidential (if necessary). If the parenting expert feels that termination of services is necessary, the expert will write a report or letter to the court and legal counsel to describe why and to provide any further suggestions as to what the family needs.
The Practice Note takes into account the limitations imposed on Parenting Experts by their professional bodies that govern them and has been prepared in consultation with the College of Alberta Psychologists and the Alberta College of Social Workers. Practice Note 7 does not apply to matters under the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act, R.S. A. 2000, C. C-12.
Question: If my child is in counseling, can their counselor later be ordered to act as the parenting specialist to provide a Practice Note 7 intervention
Answer: Child therapists are meant to be a support to your child and to give the parents suggestions and ideas regarding parenting children after separation. If a Parenting Expert becomes involved he/she would most likely ask the child therapist for any input or recommendations as part of their report back to the court.
Question: When, if ever, would my child’s therapist provide a report to the court?
Answer: Only if the therapist is ordered to provide a service and feedback to the court at the outset of counseling.
Question: What if I am concerned about my child’s other parent and I would like my child’s therapist to provide feedback in writing about any emerging concerns about that parent?
Answer: The child therapist will likely remain involved as your child’s therapist and refer you and the other parent to either a Practice Note 7 intervention or a full bilateral assessment process called a PN8. Child therapists do not formally evaluate the parents and do not make recommendations regarding time with a parent or custody.
Parenting Coordination is a child-focused ADR process in which a mental health or legal professional with child development, family therapy, mediation and arbitration training and experience assists parents in high conflict to create and/or implement their parenting plans.
Parenting Coordination is a structured, mental health, ADR process that combines assessment, education, case management, conflict management, negotiation and, when necessary, decision-making functions (arbitration). Parenting Coordinators have extensive experience and qualifications for working with high conflict situations related to separation and divorce.
This service is for families in moderate to high conflict post separation and divorce. Parents can choose to attend, are referred or enter into a Consent Order with legal counsel to attend this process. They have typically demonstrated a medium to long-term inability or unwillingness to make parenting decisions on their own, to comply with parenting agreements and orders, to reduce their child-related conflicts and to protect their children form the impact of that conflict. The Parenting Coordinator assists in decreasing conflict and helps families to begin to function more smoothly. Many families experience high degrees of frustration due to divorce impasse and this process offers them relief from this dynamic.
The Parenting Coordinator can be recommended and, later may be responsible to the Court.
Parents can enter into an agreement with a Parenting Coordinator, but the agreement details would be best outlined in a Consent Order as well. This way, the process is clear and the parties are aware of the ability of the Parenting Coordinator to potentially make decisions when the parties cannot.
The Provider must have the following combination of expertise: Master’s Degree in a mental heath field, licensed in their area, trained Registered or Certified Mediator, trained in Arbitration, trained in working with high conflict separation and divorce, trained in parenting coordination, trained in working with domestic violence and child maltreatment.
Facilitation, education, consultation, assessment, conflict management, negotiation, decision-making (as directed by the court).
In cases of domestic violence, the role of the PC may change to an enforcement role (if directed by the Court Order).
PC’s will use their negotiation and mediation training to diminish conflict and to work to minimize power imbalances.
To engage in Parenting Coordination with Arbitration (decision-making) you will need to:
1) Sign a PC Agreement with having had legal counsel.
2) Establish during a meeting with Wendy and your lawyers, a list of decision-making areas related to parenting in case you reach an impasse and you need decision-making assistance.
Question: What is a Parenting Coordinator?
Answer: A Parenting Coordinator is a professional with mental health, mediation and/or legal training that is trained in a child-focused. alternative dispute resolution process to help parents in high conflict after their separation/divorce. The Parenting Coordinator assists parents to implement their parenting plan in a timely manner and monitors the parenting plan follow-through in order to protect and sustain safe, healthy and meaningful parentchild relationships. The PC helps to assess the parenting issues, educates the parties, manages the parenting plan, manages ongoing potential conflict and provides recommendations and/or decisions within the scope of a court order, or a PC Agreement
Question: Do I need a Parenting Coordinator?
Answer: You would likely benefit from a Parenting Coordinator if you have had difficulty establishing a consistent, detailed parenting plan or if you have had trouble following a parenting plan. If you and your ex-spouse have been in conflict for 2 years or more and have been involved in a protracted legal battle, you may need the assistance of an alternative dispute resolution process.
Question: What does a Parenting Coordinator do?
Answer: The Parenting Coordinator serves a few roles. The person will meet with you individually and together. He/she will help to facilitate an agreement through the process of negotiation. In addition to helping you to negotiate an agreement, the PC will provide education to each of you about important issues to consider post-separation in relation to your children. The PC will meet with your children to gain an understanding of their issues and needs. The PC may also gather information from 3rd parties and past interveners. The information gathered may be provided back to legal counsel or to the court if parents have received a court order. The PC makes recommendations and assists you to follow an agreement you have made. The PC is typically trained in Arbitration and if agreed upon, the PC may also assist the parties to make decisions.
Question: How do I choose a Parenting Coordinator?
Answer: You may approach your legal counsel for names of professionals who engage in this practice. You may also contact the Alberta Family Mediation Society for a list of names of qualified professionals. Parenting Coordinators have a specific set of expertise
including: 1) Clinical Masters degree in a mental health discipline, 2) Mediation training, 3) Training and experience in domestic violence, 4) Training in issues related to separation and divorce, 5) Training in high conflict situations 6) Training in Parenting Coordination process. 7) Training in Arbitration.
Question: Do I have to sign an agreement to enter into this service?
Answer: Yes. A Parenting Coordinator will provide the following in their agreements: Definition of roles and PC activities, fee structure, time-lines, limits of confidentiality, and the option to arbitrate. The agreement defines how you and the PC will work together.
Question: What if I don’t really want to follow the structured agreement once I have entered into it?
Answer: Once you have entered into an agreement with a PC, it is typically incorporated into a court order. This process ensures that the parties do not continually move from
one service provider to another, rather stay involved (in a time-limited way) until a settlement has been reached and is being followed.
Question: What if the process does not work?
Answer: Entering into an agreement to work with a Parenting Coordinator and finding a reasonable outcome can be highly successful. In the few cases that it is not, there is typically a provision in your agreement with your PC to proceed to use the services of an external Arbitrator or the Parenting Coordinator will shift to an Arbitration role. An external person will be provided all of the information about your situation and they will deliberate and make a binding decision for you or the PC will assist you in this way.
Question: What if I just do not trust the other party?
Answer: It is not necessary to be on “good” terms with the other party to enter into this process. In fact, the PC can act as a neutral helper in matters where high levels of mistrust and conflict are present. The PC is neutral in that all parties are viewed from an equal opportunity position but the PC can begin to raise issues that have been critical in stopping you from reaching a resolution. This role is different from that of a Mediator in
that the PC addresses issues through education and recommendations.
Question: Is this just the same service as I would get if I went to a Mediator?
Answer: No. The Mediator is a neutral, third party who can help you work out your separation details including a parenting plan by way of a specific process, but this person cannot provide education or recommendations to the parties. The role of the Mediator is less intrusive and is typically completed in a closed, confidential way (unless the parties sign a consent for the release of information). The Mediator does work with parties in high conflict, but the duration of the conflict is typically shorter and the role of the Mediator is to help you develop the parenting plan. The Parenting Coordinator may need to speak to a variety of professionals that have been involved with your family in order to be of assistance to you. Information shared is not necessarily confidential/closed. The process is very transparent and the parties are typically both involved in all communications unless directed by the Parenting Coordinator. The Parenting Coordinator helps to organize frequency of visits and manages time-lines.
Question: Who pays for the service?
Answer: Parents pay for the service and generally divide the fees 50/50 unless they decide they will share the costs in an alternative way.
Question: Can the Parenting Coordinator do the same thing as a child therapist or my lawyer?
Answer: No. Although the child therapist or lawyer may have the expertise to provide a Parenting Coordinator service, if you hire one of these professionals to act as a legal representative for yourself or a counselor for your children, these professionals cannot operate as a Parenting Coordinator as well. These individuals should not act as a PC if they have already been providing another service to you and your family. You may need a child therapist and you will need legal counsel, but each of these roles should remain separate and distinct.
“At WJW Counselling and Mediation, we believe every family deserves to thrive. Our dedicated team has helped countless families experience profound transformations, finding hope and empowerment through our personalized services. Here are a few inspiring stories of hope and healing:”
Client from St. Albert
“Wendy’s approach helped us navigate the complexities of co-parenting. Now, we are aligned and our children feel more secure than ever!”
Parent from Edmonton
“Through the Parent Coordination sessions, we learned effective communication techniques that significantly enhanced our family dynamics!”
Client from Peace River
“WJW’s support proved invaluable during a difficult chapter in our lives. We are incredibly thankful to Wendy for her compassionate guidance!”