Child Specialists are experienced, registered professionals with specific training in child psychology and development as well as the collaborative divorce process and working with families in transition. The focus of the Collaborative Child Specialist is the emotional and practical needs of each child involved in the separation/divorce. Their role is to work with the parents to design parenting plans that best identify and meet the needs of the child as the family evolves through the divorce process. They work to minimize parental conflict and facilitate communication between parents. The goal is to assist parents to maximize the security, stability, and feelings of being loved and significant for the overall emotional well-being of the child. The involvement of the Collaborative  Child Specialist allows for the design, and redesign, of agreed upon parenting plans without Court. The Collaborative  Child Specialist assists parents to meet the changing needs of their child as the child grows and develops to allow for the full potential of the child to be achieved in an atmosphere of lessened or eliminated conflict. It is a customized and informed approach to the development of parenting plans.