The History Behind the Minnesota Alternative Dispute Collaborative Project

Based on the challenges of working with high conflict families and increased ethics complaints against family neutrals, there was a perceived need for clarity and predictability of the Parenting Consultant (“PC”) and Parenting Time Expeditor (“PTE”) roles in Minnesota. Mediation Center at Hamline University, Minnesota members of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the Minnesota Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts convened a group of PCs, PTEs and family court/ADR professionals.  The goal of the group was to create and provide tools for judges, attorneys, and neutrals that represent high standards of practice for PCs and PTEs.  The group agreed to work with professional associations, the ADR Ethics Board and others to distribute and educate target groups about the PC role and standards.

Who We Are

Participants included: Ellen Abbott, Deborah Anderson, Peggy Cottrell, Mike Goldfarb, Aimee Gourlay, Karen Irvin, Caitlyn Lothian, Kevin McGrath, Mindy Mitnick, Andrea Niemi, Kelly Semler, and Nancy Zalusky Berg.

How to Use This Website and Documents

This website is to serve as the host for the documents and all future updates. We ask that rather than saving the documents on your own webpage that you link to the following pages. This way, you will have access to the most accurate and up-to-date documents.

PC/PTE Training

PC or PTE training is not required for neutrals in Minnesota. However, members of this collaboration highly recommend taking such a training. The members of this collaboration provide training through Mediation Center at Hamline University School of Law. For more information about training opportunities, please follow this link: http://law.hamline.edu/Content.aspx?id=2147484218.

Contacting Us

Questions, comments, and suggestions about this website and these documents are appreciated. Please forward them to MNADRCollaborative@gmail.com.