Parenting Coordination is a newly emerging area of practice for mental health professionals. A parenting coordinator typically helps high conflict divorced and divorcing parents to implement their parenting plan by facilitating the resolution of disputes between parents and/or legal guardians, providing education, making recommendations to the parties, and, with the prior approval of the parties and the court, making decisions within the scope of the court order of appointment. In some cases, parenting coordinators may also be asked by divorcing parents to help them develop a parenting plan.

• Parenting Coordination Theory
• Parenting Coordination Techniques
• Psychological Needs of Children
• Parenting Coordination Ethics
• Parenting Plan Development
• Step-Parenting/Blended Families

• Community Resources
• Referral Processes
• Family Law
• Court Process
• High Risk Families
• High Conflict Divorce

Negotiating & Mediating Healthcare Disputes
May 15 & 16, 2008
This two day course trains mediators, heathcare professionals. and healthcare administrators to effectively utilize negotiation, mediation, and other conflict resolution techniques to better resolve a wide range of healthcare disputes.

Family Mediation Certification Training
June 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, & 21, 2008
October 16, 17, 18, 23, 24 & 25, 2008
This 40-hour Florida Supreme Court approved program meets the training requirement for certification as a family mediator and teaches the practical skills necessary to resolve the disputes that often arise during and after divorce.

Circuit Civil Mediation Certification Training
August 1, 2, 3, 9 & 10, 2008
Approved by the Florida Supreme Court, this 40-hour course meets the training requirement for certification as a circuit civil mediator to mediate civil cases such as contract, real estate, construction, personal injury and product liability disputes.

Dependency Mediation Certification Training
April 2009
This 40-hour Florida Supreme Court approved program meets the training requirement for certification as a dependency mediator to mediate cases involving child abuse and neglect, foster care, and termination of parental rights.

Domestic Violence & Mediation: The Basics & Beyond
Online Course Available at www.crc.usf.edu
This on-line, videotape presentation qualifies for 4.4 hours of continuing mediation education credit, and 4-5 hours of CMEs/CEUs for physicians, mental health professionals, and nurses. Visit www.crc.usf.edu for more details and course registration.

The University of South Florida College of Public Health is an approved provider (BAP #433 Exp. 3/31/09) of continuing education credit for clinical social work, marriage and family therapy, and mental health counseling. This program has been reviewed and approved for up to 24 50-minute contact hours.

The University of South Florida College of Medicine is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The University of South Florida College of Medicine maintains responsibility for this program and its content.This activity is offered for up to 20 hours of continuing education credit.

The University of South Florida College of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of South Florida College of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 20 AMA PRA category 1 Credit(s)™.Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The University of South Florida College of Nursing is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. This activity is for 20 contact hours.

This course is eligible for up to 24 family and/or dependency CME hours. Mediators are required to self-report hours applicable to their areas of certification at the time of their renewal.

The course will be held on the Tampa Campus of the University of South Florida. Exact location and directions will be sent with registration confirmation.

For help with directions, call (813) 974-4296 during regular working hours or check the USF Parking Maps.

Friday 16th

Debra Carter, Ph.D.is a clinical psychologist, Florida Supreme Court certified familymediator, and certified parenting coordinator in the 12th Judicial Circuit of Florida. She is Director of Parenting Coordination Training for the Florida Institute for Cooperative Parenting and practices as a licensed psychologist and parenting coordinator in Bradenton, Florida. Dr. Carter assisted the 12th Judicial Circuit in developing their Child Custody Evaluation Program and the Parenting Coordinator Program and serves as primary training coordinator for both programs. She recently served on the Parenting Coordination Workgroup appointed by Chief Justice Pariente which developed the Model Administrative Order for Parenting Coordination. She currently serves on the Family Law Rules – ParentingCoordination Subcommittee for the Florida Bar and is a Past President of the Florida Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts.

The Honorable Hugh E. Starnesis a family law judge who has served in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit since 1978. He has been President of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) as well as the Florida Chapter of AFCC and has served on of the Florida Supreme Court Committee on Families and Children in the Courts from 1994 to 2005. Judge Starnes was awarded outstanding jurist for the State of Florida by the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (1992) and was co-recipient of the 1996 Governor’s Peace at Home Award: Stopping Domestic Violence.

Register at least 10 days prior to class start date for $475; after that the fee is $495 (includes refreshments). No refunds within one week of class start date. If you withdraw at least one week prior to class start date, a $25 administrative fee will be charged. Substitutions allowed until one day prior. Enrollment is limited to 40 participants. The University reserves the right to cancel any programs in which case fees are fully refunded.

This course meets the training standards established in a Model Administrative Parenting Coordination Order distributed by Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Barbara J. Pariente in July 2005 to all Florida Judicial Circuits for possible adoption by individual Circuits and presently meets the training requirements for Parenting Coordinators serving in the 12th Judicial Circuit of Florida. There are other requirements in the 12th Judicial Circuit including licensure as a mental health professional under FS Chapter 490 and/or 491, completion of family mediation certification training, and successful submission of an application. At present, many Florida circuits have established qualifications for serving as a parenting coordinator. As Parenting Coordination standards, if established, are determined by each judicial circuit, other circuits may have different circuit-specific requirements for serving as a Parenting Coordinator.

The number of course participants is limited. If you register less than 10 days before the course begins, please call 813-974-4296 to verify that space is available and to receive special instructions regarding registration and payment of your registration fee. A confirmation letter will be sent upon receipt of your registration and payment. No registration is confirmed without full payment.

The University of South Florida is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access/ Affirmative Action Institution. If reasonable accommodation of a disability is needed, call (813) 974-4296 at least ten working days in advance of the event to make arrangements. Persons with hearing impairments should contact the ADA Coordinator by using the Florida Dual Party Relay System at (800) 955-8770 (voice) or (800) 955-8771 (TDD)

The USF Conflict Resolution Collaborative offers Family, Circuit Civil, and Dependency Mediation certification training programs which are approved by the Florida Supreme Court and approved by the Florida Bar for CLER. Certification courses meet the Florida Supreme Court training requirement for certification as a mediator in the respective areas. Additional requirements for mediator certification by the Florida Supreme Court are described in the Florida Rules for Certified and Court- Appointed Mediators. Call 850/921-2910 for mediation certification requirements.

For More Information E-mail

or call CPD at 813-974-4296.