parents learn and practice open com- munication and self-management and negotiation skills that can form the basis for successful future interactions. Through collaboration, parents learn to manage and reduce conflict and the anguish and divided loyalties it engen- ders in children. Through collaboration, parents have the opportunity to lay the foundation for the respectful, coopera- tive parenting of their children. One of the most difficult aspects of di-
vorce is the redefining of parental roles. To help children transition successfully during and after divorce, parents must learn to set aside their anger and disap- pointment with each other and learn to parent together. Parents must agree on sharing time with and responsibility for their children. They must respect the child’s right to be with the other parent and the other set of grandparents and relatives. They must find ways for both families to attend school events, sporting activities, teachers meetings, and share birthdays and holidays, etc.
The goal is to create a new family
system that supports the children and provides them with necessary stability. When parents continue to act together in their children’s best interests, they make it possible for their children to make a healthy adjustment to the divorce and any changes that come later. Parents may separate and wish to sever ties, but chil- dren are irrevocably tied to both parents and those ties must be maintained if the child is to emerge from divorce happy and healthy. The goal of collaborative divorce is to
reach an equitable agreement that meets the needs of both parents and their chil- dren through cooperation without going to court. It is hoped that the collabora- tive process will set the stage for future cooperation and shared support so that parents can continue to work together to raise their children after divorce. Those of us who practice collaborative family law believe collaborative divorce can become the new norm in America. n
About the Author
Michael A. Mastracci, a native of Bal- timore County, graduated from the University of Baltimore Law School and was admitted to the Maryland State Bar in 1989. Mr. Mastracci began his legal ca- reer as a trial attorney handling personal injury and negligence cases and devel- oped a criminal defense practice for his firm. An avid practitioner of collabora- tive family law, Mr. Mastracci sponsors the blog www.DivorceWithoutDishonor. com and is the author of an upcoming book, Stop Fighting Over the Kids and Resolve Custody Conflict: Dealing with Day to Day Issues in Divorce Situations, scheduled for publication in early 2008. He is the vice president of the Maryland Collaborative Law Association (MCLA)
www.MarylandCollaborativeLaw.com. You can reach Mr. Mastracci through
his website at www.MikeTheLawyer. com, via email at Mike@MikeTheLaw-
yer.com or by phone at 410-869-3400.
MTLA Funds UMMS Social Work Program for Women & Children
MTLA presented the University of Maryland Medical System Foundation with an $8,500 check on October 22, 2007. This donation has been earmarked for a special social work fund to meet the needs of women and children from across the state who are treated at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC).
UMMC is a major, innovative teaching hospital in downtown Baltimore that provides a full range of health care to more than 300,000 patients each year from Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic region. Many of UMMCʼs patients are indigent or travel long distances to receive care. Some of these patients may need extra help in day- to-day survival within the hospital and while receiving outpatient care.
The social work fund will help pay for expenses that health insurance wonʼt cover. MTLAʼs donation will help purchase items such as infant car seats to allow safe transportation from the hospital, help pay food and lodging for families to stay with their kids while being treated at UMMC or provide recreational opportunities for women on long-term bed rest due to complicated pregnancies.
MTLA presents UMMS Foundation with a $8,500 check to create a social work fund to pay for expenses that health insurance wonʼt, such as food and lodging for families to visit a sick child receiving care at UMMC. From left to right: Mandeep Chhabra, MTLA Public Out- reach Committee chair, Larry Greenberg, MTLA Marketing/Sponsor- ship Committee chair, Catherine Miller, UMMC lead social worker, Diane Gregg, UMMC director of social work and Wayne Willoughby, MTLA president-elect.
Winter 2008
Trial Reporter
45
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