Divorce Education

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Each year, more than one million children see their families changed through divorce. Years of research has shown that the ongoing health and mental well being of these children often depends upon whether or not their parents are able to work together following the end of their marriage. In the past, a majority of parents failed to meet the challenges of raising children after divorce and both the children and society suffered. An experienced family law attorney can inform, guide, and support you throughout the entire divorce and custody process and help ensure the best possible outcome for you and your family.

The divorce education movement was founded in an attempt to address these issues. Therapists, mediators and other experts working in and around family courts began introducing parent education classes to divorcing families in the 1980's. The programs they developed grew out of a belief that divorcing parents would do a better job raising their children following the termination of their marriage if they understood what impact their actions had upon their children and were taught alternatives to destructive behavior.

The movement gained momentum in the 1990s and now a majority of states, and more than half the counties in the United States, require some form of divorce education. When divorce education is adopted in a jurisdiction, both parents must usually complete a qualified education program in order to be granted the divorce they seek.

Most divorce education programs last a single session that runs anywhere from two to four hours. While a variety of course providers exist, most programs share the goals of teaching:

• Impact of family conflict on children
• Building effective parenting plans
• Developmental needs of children
• Creating new family relationships
• Developing "positive co-parenting"
• Preventing Parent Alienation Syndrome
• Seeking a child's best interests

Though it is too soon to tell what result these classes will have in the long run, the beginning research looks good. Participants across the country report over and over again that they found the program helpful, even if the only reason they initially attended was because of a court or legal requirement to do so.

So far, the programs biggest impact has been on the co-parenting relationship. Parents have learned to recognize when their conduct puts their children in the middle of their disputes. Research shows attendees stop engaging in behaviors like fighting in front of the children, asking children to spy or carry messages, or putting the other parent down in front of a child. Research also shows that parents who attend divorce education classes are less likely to go back to court following their final divorce order and are more likely to share ongoing parenting duties.

In addition to divorce education, many jurisdictions have added an educational component designed to directly help children living through divorce. With names like "Sandcastles" or "Kids Pass" these programs were developed to give direct help to children experiencing a divorce in their family. In the programs, children are usually, divided into groups depending on their age. Just being with other children experiencing the same difficulties often lets kids begin to express their feelings. Through games and drawing and writing activities guided by trained facilitators, participants learn to understand the meaning of divorce in their family, and learn to cope with this significant change in their life. Most programs also provide tools for children to use to solve current problems, as well as potential future difficulties.

Together, divorce education and children's divorce support programs are helping reshape the divorce landscape. Parents who attend divorce education programs are learning techniques for keeping their kids as happy and healthy as possible throughout the divorce process as their family reshapes. Hopefully, given the reality of divorce today, the efforts parents make and the accomplishments they achieve through divorce education will benefit both their children and overall society.

If you would like to learn more about divorce education opportunities where you live you should contact your local family court or a family law attorney with experience in child custody and visitation. An experienced custody and visitation attorney will tell you what divorce education components are required in the state and county where you live and may be able to help you find a program that meets your needs.

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