My Expeditors - A Dual Option for High Conflict Families

TERRI ROMANOFF-NEWMAN and MICHAEL GARELICK

TERRI ROMANOFF-NEWMAN, Ph. D. and MICHAEL GARELICK, Parenting Consultants and Parenting Time Expeditors have joined together to provide 114 Neutral services. We believe that it is beneficial to have both a male and a female professional with Mediation training to help clients create a balance, feel the most comfortable and generate the greatest amount of ideas. Click here for a print version of the agreement.

  1. Congratulations on deciding to work together in developing a process for parenting your children in a safe, respectful and healthy environment. Our purpose is to participate in good faith with the goal of resolving matters in your children’s best interests. We do that by using a problem-solution approach, which means that we promote settlement by using our mediation skills, but if it becomes apparent that the dispute cannot be resolved by all of us together, we will make the decision in your child or children’s best interest. Since no one knows your children better than you do, our goal is to help you learn to communicate in a manner that will allow you to make decisions. It is always best if we help you learn how to make your own decisions about your children. If we do need to make a decision in your children’s best interest, we will communicate that decision to you within five business days. If we are working as a Parenting Time Expeditor, unless the parties mutually agree we will not make a decision that modifies the parenting time rights ordered by the Court, but the Expeditor may make decisions interpreting or clarifying a parenting time order.
  2. It is important to think carefully before making a decision to utilize a Parenting Consultant or an Expeditor because this role came into being because some situations have such a high degree of conflict that parents who should be making all decisions about their children cannot make decisions in their children’s best interest. If a professional needs to make the decision, the parties must agree to follow that decision even if they do not like the outcome. If the parties are unhappy with the decision, they always have the option of going back to Court and asking a Judge to resolve the conflict. Using a Judge as a Consultant or an Expeditor is not an efficient way of solving issues, thus if you as parents choose to use us we ask that you carefully think about whether you are willing to accept our decisions, and carry out those decisions. In additions, we ask that you deal with any frustrations and not try to influence us by badgering, calling, or threatening.
  3. In helping you to learn to communicate so good decisions can be made about your children we will use a number of resources, such as information from your children’s lives, such as their school, community, family, and any other helpers that may give you good feedback about your children. In addition, we can provide help such as skill building, developing communication, information about developmental stages of children, understanding healthy boundaries, conflict resolution, or even referrals for counseling if it would be helpful. In addition, if you do not have a useful Parenting Plan we can help you to develop one.
  4. We do not ask for a retainer for our professional work because we require that if you need to see us for any reason you will meet us in person. We do not do any work over the phone or through E-mail or fax. If you need to use those avenues of communication, we ask that it only be to make an appointment and not give us any information because we are Neutrals and will not talk to you without the other parent present unless it is during a session and we have arranged with your permission to do so.
  5. Our fee is $200.00 an hour, which must be paid at the end of the session. We do not take credit cards. One of you will need to write your check for half the amount to Terri Romanoff-Newman, and the other one will need to write your check for half the amount to Michael Garelick. If you know you cannot pay for a session, please cancel it 24 hours in advance and we will need to reschedule. We charge an additional fee per our hourly rate for reading and reviewing your file if necessary, drafting reports and decisions, consulting with collateral contacts, and appointments that have not been cancelled within 24 hours time.
  6. We are Mandated Reporters. Thus, if we witness abuse or hear of abuse, we will need to report it to the proper authorities. Outside of abuse, it is important to understand that this is a confidential role, and everything said in the office is subject to that definition unless it violates an individual’s safety, welfare comes under the category of the Mandatory Reporting Law. Copies of all of our notes are given to you at the conclusion of each session. Under this role, we cannot give our notes to anyone but you and we will not testify in Court. In this way, the relationship can be best used to help all involved without the threat of information being used against any one person. This role must carry the same rights as Mediations in that one cannot be called to Court nor may the notes be used in a Court setting.
  7. There are some situations where the Parenting Consulting or Expeditor Relationship needs to be terminated, such as:
    • If both parents jointly request that the relationship be terminated
    • If one parent refuses to honor the agreements made and signed in the session
    • If the Parental Consultant or Expeditor has been threatened, excessively called with information that must be kept amongst the parties, or has badgered the professionals
    • If one or both parties are violent with one another or the children
    • If the Consultant believes that the needs of the family, particularly the children, would be best served through some other system

Click here for a print version of the agreement.