S U E B R O N S O N ,

N E W P R O S P E C T S , M I L W A U K E E , W I

L I N D A F I E L D S T O N E ,

F A M I L Y C O U R T S E R V I C E S , M I A M I , F L

NEW OPTIONS FOR ELDERS AND THEIR FAMILIES:

Resolution for High Conflict Cases

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THE ROAD AHEAD

• Safety issues concerning elders involved in high conflict families will increase.

• Mediation is an important option for families. Yet families do not have “one size fits all” responses to mediation.

Baby boomers have hit 65 years old. The potential burden on the courts will double

from 2008 to 2030.

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CHALLENGES

Self-determination and Rights

Multiple parties or stakeholders

CapacityAlliances

Generational power shifting Outsiders

involvedTime

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WHAT IS PARENTING COORDINATION?

Assistance for high conflict parents to implement their parenting plan

PC’s are mental health or legal professional with mediation and parenting coordination training

Appointed by court order for two years.

AFCC Task Force on Parenting Coordination, 2005

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Create a COORDINATION process for ELDERS and family

Association for Conflict Resolution Task Force on Eldercaring Coordination

Florida Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts Task Force on Eldercaring Coordination

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COMPOSITION OF ACR TASK FORCENATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS/ENTITIES & CANADIAN INTERESTS

Alternative Dispute Resolution Institute of Canada

American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy

American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging

American Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section

American Psychological Association

Association of American Retired Person

Association of Conflict Resolution

Association of Family and Conciliation Courts

Elder Justice Coalition

• Advisory Committees offer support by recognized experts in related fields

National Adult Protective Services

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys

National Association of Area Agencies on Aging

National Assoc. of Professional Geriatric Care Mangers

National Association of Social Workers

National Center for State Courts

National College of Probate Judges

National Committee on the Prevention of Elder Abuse

National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges

National Guardianship Association

National Guardianship Network

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COMPOSITION OF FLAFCC TASK FORCEFLORIDA STATEWIDE ORGANIZATIONS/ENTITIES

Department of Children and Families Adult Protective Services

Elder Justice Center

Florida Association for Marriage and Family Therapy

Florida Attorney General’s Office

Florida Bar Elder Section

Florida Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts

Florida Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers

Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence

• Advisory Committees offer support by

recognized experts in related fields

Florida Dispute Resolution Center

Florida Health Care Association

Florida Legal Aid

Florida Psychological Association

Florida State Guardianship Association

Florida State Ombudsman

National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers

National Patient Advocate, Inc.

Mediation Training Group

Office of the Public Guardian

Stetson University College of Law Center for Excellence in Elder Law

University of South Florida Conflict Resolution Collaborative

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“Seniors are not wrinkled children.”

Assuming that children and elders are easily interchangeable is a bad assumption.

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TASK FORCE MISSION

To develop a dispute resolution option specifically for those high conflict cases involving issues related to the care and needs of elders.

Compliment, not replace, other services.

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OUR VISION

An elder-focused dispute resolution process for high conflict families.

Reduce the level of conflict in these families.

Family members and stakeholders are able to focus more productively on the issues at hand and work with others.

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PURPOSE OF ELDERCARING COORDINATOR

Manage family dynamics

Address non-legal issues

Ready to work with collaterals, avoiding delays

Foster self-determination

•Promote safety•Provide a support system•Ease the burden on thelegal system

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POSSIBLE SCENARIOS

When the conflict, rather than the issues,

becomes the driving force of the family and/or litigation process.

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THREE STAGE PROCESS

Initial guidelines and training objectives, court project proposal/ templates of forms, grievance process, pre- and post test

Dissemination of Work Product for feedback and revision, seek funding for projects, training first providers

Conduct evaluation, revisions, and disseminate results

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CONSIDERATIONS

• Focus on process (guardianship cases) or population (elders and/or vulnerable adults)?

• Who are the “parties”?

• By court order or agreement?

• Distinguishing from other ADR

• Consumer protections

• Funding

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ACR Task Force Definition

Eldercaring Coordination is a dispute resolution process during which an Eldercaring Coordinator assists elders, legally authorized decision-makers, and others who participate by court order or invitation, to resolve disputes with high conflict levels that impact the elder’s autonomy or safety by: Enabling more effective communication, negotiation and problem-solving

skills;

Offering education about elder care resources;

Facilitating the creation, modification, or implementation of an elder care plan;

Making recommendations for resolutions; and

Making decisions within the scope of a court order or with the parties’ prior approval.

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Qualifications

The Eldercaring Coordinator shall be licensed or certified by a regulatory body of a jurisdiction, state or province, with at least a master’s degree and the following:

a. Completion of a family mediation training and elder mediation training – see ACR training guides;

b. Completion of an eldercaring coordination training- ACR Eldercaring Coordination guidelines;

c. Extensive practical experience in a profession relating to high conflict or litigating family members.

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Qualifications

2. FIT FOR DUTY - An Eldercaring Coordinator shall be psychologically and cognitively able to perform the requirements of the Eldercaring Coordinator role; and have no situation, condition, impairment, or disorder that prevents the ethical, responsible and effective exercise of the Eldercaring Coordinator role.

3. SELF REPORT - An eldercaring coordinator must decline a case, discontinue service and immediately report to the court and the parties if any disqualifying circumstances occur, or if he or she no longer meets the minimum qualifications.

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PROGRESS TO DATE

Collaboration of national/ statewide organizations

Guidelines for Eldercaring Coordinators

Court Rule Proposal

Training Guidelines

Court Project Proposal

Pre- and Post Surveys

Research archive

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OTHER POSSIBLE OUTCOMES

Expand role of “Coordinators” to potential new populations

Court definition of “families” broaden

Interdivisional court collaborations

Increase court options for elders

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Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR) Task Force on Eldercaring CoordinationACR is a professional organization enhancing the practice and public understanding

of conflict resolution.

Mission Statement

To develop Eldercaring Coordination as a dispute resolution option specifically for those high conflict cases involving issues related to the care and needs of elders. Eldercaring Coordination is to compliment, not replace, other services such as provision of legal information or legal representation, individual/family therapy, medical, psychological or psychiatric evaluation or mediation.

The ACR Task Force on Eldercaring Coordination, composed of representatives of organizations/entities, will use as a prototype parenting coordination, currently implemented for families of minor children, and convert it to eldercaring coordination, for cases with elders. This group will actively engage in regular meetings and complete tasks between meetings to meet the objectives above. This Task Force will work concurrently and collaboratively with the Florida Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts Task Force.

The ACR Task Force Task Force currently includes representatives of the following nationalorganizations:

American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging American Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section American Psychological Association Association of American Retired Persons Association of Conflict Resolution Association of Family and Conciliation Courts Elder Justice Coalition Florida Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts Hamlin University School of Law National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys National Adult Protective Services Association National Association of Area Agencies on Aging National Association of Social Workers National Center for State Courts National College of Probate Judges National Committee on the Prevention of Elder Abuse National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges National Guardianship Association National Guardianship Network

For more information, please contact the ACR Task Force on Eldercaring Coordination Co-Chairs:

Sue Bronson: sbronson@wi.rr.com Linda Fieldstone: Lfieldstone@jud11.flcourts.org