Parenting Coordinator
A Parenting Coordinator is:
A neutral third party who helps separated or divorced parents, who are caught in high conflict, resolve child-related disputes privately and out of court. MWI’s clients can be court ordered or parents can elect to utilize a parent coordinator. A Parenting Coordinator may assist parents in developing and/or implementing a parenting plan and/or discussing and making decisions on topics that relate to the well-being of a child or children. Topics may include:
- Changing or clarifying an existing parenting plan;
- Developing strategies to reduce co-parent conflict;
- Providing information and best practice for child related topics;
- Creating communication guidelines;
- Improving drop off and/or pick up;
- Lessons and activities;
- Travel;
- Communication between the non-custodial parent and the child or children;
- New partners or significant others;
- Mental health care, including assessments and choosing providers;
- Religious observance and education;
- Providing resources and tools.
Parenting Coordinators (click on photo for bio)
-
Ann Rascati -
Lyn Erickson -
Tony Pelusi -
Mary Sheridan
Parenting Coordinator with MWI in Hyannis, Nantucket and Plymouth. Phone / video available too.
617-895-4028 | divorce@mwi.org
Click here for availability, rates, and more information | Print, PDF and email this bio
Professional Experience
Ann Rascati is a Parenting Coordinator with MWI. She provides services in Hyannis, Plymouth, Nantucket, and in other locations by arrangement. She specializes in high conflict personalities and co-parenting disputes. In addition to her work as a Parenting Coordinator, Ms. Rascati works in the areas of divorce and family mediation, family law, and guardian ad litem (GAL) investigations. Formerly, she prosecuted criminal matters in the District and Superior Courts of Plymouth and Nantucket Counties, and was an Appellate Court attorney for the Plymouth County District Attorney’s office. She oversaw the administration of the Nantucket District Attorney’s office, and was an advisor to Nantucket Police Department and Victim-Witness program.
Focus Areas
- Parenting Coordination (PC) work
- Mediating family and parenting disputes
- Reducing and resolving co-parenting disputes
- Working with high conflict personalities
- Working with parents who are persistently in conflict with one another
- Educating parents about decision making strategies and implementing decisions in the best interest of the child or children
- Developing guidelines for appropriate communication between co-parents
- Monitoring communication on Our Family Wizard or other communication tools
Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities
- Appointment to the Governor’s Special Advisory Board on Forensic Mental Health
- Massachusetts Association of Guardians Ad Litem (MAGAL)
- Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC)
- Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, Massachusetts Chapter (MA-AFCC)
- Barnstable County Bar Association
- Massachusetts Bar Association
Background and Education
- New England School of Law, Boston, MA; Juris Doctorate, 1984
- Providence College, Providence, RI, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, 1980
Parenting Coordinator with MWI in Quincy and Boston
617-895-4028 | divorce@mwi.org
Click here for availability, rates, and more information | Print, PDF and email this bio
Professional Legal Experience
Lyn Erickson is a Parenting Coordinator with MWI. She provides services in Quincy, Boston, and in other locations by arrangement. Ms. Erickson is also an experienced attorney who has handled all types of family law cases in Massachusetts since 1988. She has served the Massachusetts Trial Court Department as a Guardian Ad Litem and as an Attorney Representing Children. Additionally, Ms. Erickson works with many families who have children with Special Needs and/or Asperger’s.
Focus Areas
- Parenting Coordination
- Parenting Plans
- Creating, implementing, clarifying, and/or changing
- Best interests of the child(ren)
- Dealing with conflict between c0-parents
- Transitions
- Communication
- Significant others
Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities
- GAL – Guardian Ad Litem
- ARC – Attorney Representing Children
- CAFL – Children and Family Law Division Attorney
- Active Training with Special Needs/ Education, Asperger’s Mental Health (2006- Present)
- Lives with parents and children with various mental health challenges. Participates in trainings and gathers research.
- Part Time Instructor at Newbury College, Revere Campus, MA (1991-1994)
- Taught a variety of paralegal classes and gave students an insight into real world fact patterns.
Background and Education
- J.D., Suffolk University (1991)
- B.A.,University of Connecticut, (1988, cum laude)
Parenting Coordinator
617-895-4028 | divorce@mwi.org
Click here for availability, rates, and more information | Print, PDF and email this bio
Dispute Resolution and Parenting Coordinator Experience
Tony Pelusi is a life coach, relationship facilitator, attorney and mediator. Having been working in the field of dispute resolution for more than 32 years, in which he started out as an Assistant District Attorney in Middlesex County, and then he later opened his own law firm with a focus on criminal and civil cases. In 2006, he re-established himself as a Parenting Coordinator and Relationship Coach. Tony serves as a Parenting Coordinator with MWI.
Focus Areas
Parenting Coordinator / Facilitator for:
- Parents caught in high conflict co-parenting relationships
- Post-Divorce Parents
- Complex Parenting Time Arrangements
- Coaching
- Facilitator
- Family Counsel
Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities
- Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) – Member
- Massachusetts Chapter of AFCC – Board Member
- The Divorce Center – Member
- Justinian Law Society – Member, Board of Directors and Past President
Background and Education
- J.D., Suffolk University (1977)
- B.A.,University of Massachusetts, Amherst (1975, cum laude)
Click here for availability, rates, and more information
Divorce Mediator and Parenting Coordinator with MWI in Medway and Boston
617-895-4028 | divorce@mwi.org
Click here for availability, rates, and more information | Print, PDF and email this bio
Dispute Resolution Experience
Mary has been mediating divorce and family cases with MWI since 2014. As an attorney and mediator she has extensive experience in mediating and litigating Massachusetts divorce and post-divorce issues. She is a former Probate and Family Judicial Law Clerk, served as a Guardian Ad Litem and has been appointed as a Parenting Coordinator in the Probate and Family Courts. Her practice also includes working closely with families of special needs students to help parents get the appropriate educational services for their children in the public schools. Mary is active in numerous professional and community groups. She sits on the Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Council on Family Mediation, and previously served on the board of the Special Needs Advocacy Network (SPAN). Mary is also a member of the Council of Parent Attorneys & Advocates and the Massachusetts Collaborative Law Council. Mary is a special education attorney and family mediator with a strong background in criminal defense and appeals. She has a proven ability to provide effective representation to families of children with special needs, mediate divorce and post-divorce family issues including child custody and financial issues.
Focus Areas
- Divorce Mediation
- Parenting Coordinator
- Post-Divorce Mediation
- Special Needs Children
- Child Custody Disputes
- Child Support
- Alimony
- Property Division
Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities
- Parenting Coordinator
- Licensed to practice law in Massachusetts since 1999
- Special Needs Advocacy Network Board, Member, 2011 – 2014
- Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA), Member
- MA Council of Family Mediators Board Member 2014 to Present
- CCD Teacher, St. Thomas Parish, Millis, Massachusetts, 2009 – 2011
- MA Collaborative Law Council, Collaborative Divorce Attorney, 2012 – Present
- Federation for Children with Special Needs Parent Consultant, 2009 – 2010
- Reading Fluency and Classroom Volunteer, Franklin Public Schools, 2006- 2011
Lectures and ADR Trainings Conducted
- When Parents Disagree: Practical Strategies for Advocates, Special Needs Advocacy Network, 2013 – Presentation
- Parents and Teachers : How to Bridge the Communication Gap, Healthy Living Magazine South Shore Special Needs Learning Conference, April 2013
Background and Education
- DePaul University College of Law, Chicago, Illinois
- J.D. – 1999
- Honors: Moot Court Trial Team
- Honors: Judicial Extern in the Cook County Circuit Court, Domestic Relations Court, Domestic Relations Division
- College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Massachusetts
- B.A. – 1993
- Honors: Dean’s List
- Honors: Theater and Art History Concentrations
- Honors: Performed in theater productions including Julius Caesar, Noises Off, and Twelfth Night
- Major: English
Click here for availability, rates, and more information
Understanding the Role of a Parenting Coordinator
Each MWI parenting coordinator starts by serving as a facilitator and mediator. If agreement is not reached, the MWI parent coordinator will act as arbitrator.
After new clients agree to use MWI, parents may meet individually and/or together with a parent coordinator over the phone, or in Boston, Danvers, Hyannis, Medway, Nantucket, Plymouth, or Quincy, MA. Subsequent communication may take place via phone and/or email in addition to, or instead of, face-to-face meetings. On occasion, the parenting coordinator may also speak with the children or other professionals to gather the information necessary to understand the family and the issues. Written minutes and/or decisions are generally sent to the parties. If either of the parties is unhappy with that decision, the issue may be able to be brought before a judge. However, until a court order dictates otherwise, the decision of the parenting coordinator is binding on the parties by virtue of either the signed Parent Coordinator Agreement, stipulation of the parties, or court order.
Payment for Parent Coordinator Services
Most often the Parent Coordinator fees are split evenly between the parties. The parties may decide to share fees differently or a court may make a determination.
You may also be interested in:
For more information about a Parenting Coordinator, contact Josh Hoch at 617-895-4028.
