RULE 8.11. Parenting Coordinators

(a) Roster of Parenting Coordinators. The North Dakota Supreme Court through the State Court Administrator shall maintain a roster of persons satisfying the qualifications under paragraph (b) to serve as parenting coordinators. The roster must include the parenting coordinator's name, business address, email, and telephone number. The roster must be updated and published on the North Dakota Supreme Court website. The State Court Administrator may establish a reasonable fee for placement on the roster and a reasonable yearly renewal fee. Parenting Coordinators appointed to provide services under this rule must be selected from the roster.

(b) Qualifications. To qualify as a parenting coordinator and be listed on the roster under N.D.C.C. §14-09.2-03, a person shall provide the State Court Administrator with written credentials. A parenting coordinator:

(1) Shall have either an Associate Degree in an academic field related to child care, child development, or children's services with two years of experience in family and children services; or a Bachelor’s Degree;

(2) Shall have completed at least 12 hours of specialized parenting coordinator training which includes developmental stages of children, the dynamics of high conflict, the stages and effects of divorce, problem-solving techniques, and the dynamics of domestic violence, its impact on children and lethality assessment;

(3) Shall have completed a minimum 40 hours of domestic relations mediation training;

(4) Shall have no criminal conviction for, or substantiated instance of child abuse or neglect, and shall not be or have been restrained by a domestic violence protection order or disorderly conduct restraining order entered after notice and hearing; and

(5) Shall complete at least 18 hours of parenting coordinator related training every three years after receiving the initial hours of specialized training. Parenting Investigators otherwise qualified and trained under this rule, may use either parenting investigator continuing education or parenting coordinator continuing education to meet this requirement.

(c) Role and Responsibilities. A parenting coordinator shall:

(1) Inform the parties of the role of a parenting coordinator;

(2) Monitor implementation of a voluntary or court-ordered parenting plan or parenting schedule as requested by the families or the court;

(3) Facilitate the resolution of disputes regarding the implementation of the parenting plan, the schedule, or parenting time issues provided such resolution does not involve a substantive change to the court’s order;

(4) Recommend strategies for implementing the parenting plan or resolving other parenting issues that may be impacting the parenting plan;

(5) Assist the parties in developing communication and cooperation for the purpose of effective co-parenting of the children, including helping the parents find resources to develop effective communication skills; and

(6) Document the services provided and record agreements reached.

(d) Training. The State Court Administrator shall provide for regular training programs to satisfy the qualification requirements under paragraph (b)(2) and (5). The State Court Administrator shall provide for the development and maintenance of a parenting coordinator manual to serve as a resource for those providing services under this rule and as a basis for parenting coordinator training programs.

(e) Evaluation. All parenting coordinators shall cooperate with any research and evaluation process undertaken by the State Court Administrator to measure the impact, outcomes, and costs of the program. This may include collecting data, providing written comments, completing surveys, or participating in focus groups.