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Professionals Corner

Our Professionals Corner is filled with articles that may benefit the professional involved in mediation and divorce.  Whether you are an attorney, a counselor or a mediator, there is something for you in this corner of our website.  To read any article, marked with a PDF icon, you will need the FREE Adobe Acrobat ReaderTM .  If you do not have it, you can download it quickly by clicking HERESome of the other articles are links to other websites.  Click on them and a new window will open.



I. HOW AND WHY PROFESSIONALS USE OUR RESOURCES

Putting these unique resources to work with the parents you serve.

Professionals' Introduction to the UpToParents.org Family of Resources
A brief explanation of our assistance to families experiencing separation or divorce, the professionals who serve them, and the legal systems handling their cases

Sample Agreed Commitments and Exercises
Sample completed work from UpToParents.

Some Recent Feedback from Professionals and Parents
A sampling of the comments we've received about our free websites

Implementing UpToParents in All Divorce and Paternity Cases
A simple and effective plan for helping parents solve problems by a focus on their children

Your Voice for UpToParents
Please consider presentations to judges, mediators, and other colleagues on implementing UpToParents; see here a short video we can send you on DVD to augment your presentations.

Quick Help for Families in Transition
A collection of important handouts and video links on UpToParents.org

A Conversation with the Ashers
A short video on the uses and power of these free resources

II. PARTICULAR SPECIALISTS' USE OF OUR RESOURCES

See how particular family law specialists can use these resources to better assist parents and families.

Use of UpToParents.org and ProudToParent.org in All Divorce and Paternity Cases
Parents' website preparation as an effective adjunct to all co-parenting classes

Improving Mediation by Parents' Preparation on UpToParents
Why some family mediators make this website work a standard part of parents' preparation for mediation--and suggestions on powerful use of parents' website work in mediation (videostream included).

Parenting Assets and Improvement Reviews (P.A.I.R.s)
A strengths-based approach to family evaluations using UpToParents

Collaborative Attorneys' Use of UpToParents
A short memo and sample correspondence for collaborative attorneys to expand and improve their practices with these resources

Collaborative Divorce Coaches' and Child Specialists' Use of UpToParents
A short memo for divorce coaches and child specialists to expand and improve their collaborative practices with these resources

III. A COOPERATIVE SYSTEM OF FAMILY LAW

Some practical ideas on returning law to its intended role as healer of conflict and preserver of relationships.

A Brief Introduction to a Cooperative System of Family Law
See 14 specific measures a jurisdiction can adopt to meet the true needs of families in separation and divorce (videostream included).

The UpToParents Model Rule for Cooperation in Family Cases
This model court rule for cooperative family law can be adapted to help jurisdictions better serve families in crisis.

A Plan for a Single Court's Adoption of Cooperative Family Law Measures
A model order that a single judge can use to boost cooperation in family law cases

Model Divorce and Paternity Brochures
Educational brochures essential in explaining the judicial expectations of safety and child-focused cooperation

A Short Conversation with Judge Greg Horn
Judge Greg Horn from Wayne County, Indiana describes his jurisdiction's adoption of cooperative measures (including the requirement that motions be preceded by a solution-focused consultation)--and the excellent results from these cooperative measures.

Assess Your Family Law System
Judges and attorneys can use this assessment form to determine where their family law systems succeed and where they could use improvement.

The Future Co-Parenting Relationship
The responsibility of all family professionals

Family Attorneys' Pledge of Cooperation
In 2004 and 2005, over 50 St. Joseph (Indiana) County attorneys helped draft and then endorsed this Pledge of Cooperation, a remarkable commitment to giving families more enlightened help in their difficult transitions.

IV. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR PROFESSIONALS

Materials supporting better processes for families and better cooperation among professionals.

Free Videos from Us
See this list of DVDs you can use with parents and fellow professionals

Attorneys as Healers: Rediscovering the Law's Problem-Solving Tradition
The movement toward a lawyer's duty of healing is not so much a modern innovation as a return to the profession's highest historical calling.

Custody Evaluations: The Overlooked Harm to Clients, Children, and Families
A caution against the overuse of a process properly limited to cases when educating parents and cooperative processes cannot work.

V. HANDOUTS FOR USE WITH PARENTS

Help parents with these eye-opening materials.

Quick Help for Families in Transistion
A collection of important handouts and video links on UpToParents.org

Finishing the Grieving: A Key to Life After Divorce
A resource to help parents deal with this hidden factor often driving parent conflict.

Celebrating My Entire Child
Children need to hear positive statements about both parents--especially from their parents, and these ideas can help.

Parenting Plan Worksheet
An outline for parents to succeed in parenting.

Handouts in Parent-Grandparent Disputes
These materials can be vital in guiding parents and grandparents to a better focus on children’s needs.

Co-Parenting Classes for Never-Married Parents

VI. MEDIATION STYLES, FORMS, AND AGREEMENTS

Mediation explanation, intake forms, and sample agreements recommended by our office.

Mediator's Initial Discussion with Attorneys
Form used when speaking with parents' attorneys.

The Mediation Alternative
An explanation of what mediation is--and what it is not.

Mediation Intake for Parents in a Family Case
Intake form for parents.

Agreement to Mediate a Family Matter
Agreement to Mediate form for parents.

Agreement Letters
Some letters memorializing agreements reached by parents using mediation.

VII. Special Articles and Resources