The Collaborative Law Child Specialist

The child specialist refers to a specific role in the field of Collaborative Divorce. Child specialists are mental health professionals with expertise in child development. Collaborative divorce takes into consideration the needs of the entire family, including the children. The child specialist is an advocate for children, ensuring that their voice is heard by communicating children’s feelings, concerns and hopes to the parents as well as to the collaborative team of professionals. This way parents can make their children’s needs a priority as they plan for their family’s future.

Families in litigation and mediation often consult with child specialists to help resolve conflict and to provide parents with vital information used in creating healthy, durable parenting plans.

Specific Tasks of a Child Specialist:

a. Assessment:

  1. assess the emotional, social, academic and parenting needs of the children
  2. identify the risks and concerns associated with those needs
  3. assess how the children are adjusting to the family transition

b. Support the Parents:

  1. identify common parenting goals
  2. identify differences in parenting styles
  3. develop co-parenting skills
  4. understand the impact of their decisions on the children
  5. support parents in telling children about the divorce
  6. provide resources and referrals

c. Support and Advocate for the Children:

  1. identify children's core issues, needs, wants and hopes
  2. communicate their wishes and concerns
  3. provide them with an opportunity to ask and receive answers to questions
  4. offer them comfort, support and safety
  5. recognize and cope with their thoughts and feelings
  6. maintain optimal relationships with both parents

d. Participate in the Creation of a Parenting Plan that:

  1. meets the needs of the children
  2. satisfies the parents’ respective parenting interests and goals
  3. optimizes the relative contribution of each parent to the development and experience of the children
  4. provides satisfactory accommodations for parenting differences
  5. provides necessary safeguards
  6. anticipates future concerns, including developmental and emotional issues

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