Shared Parenting Support Program for Divorcing or Divorced Couples

Regardless of the form of custody, mothers and fathers will continue to parent their children after divorce. The best outcomes for children of divorce occur when the parents can work effectively as a co-parenting team.

WHAT IS IT?

SHARED PARENTING SUPPORT PROGRAM:

Provides step-by-step training and practice for divorced parents who wish to improve their co-parenting skills and reduce their children's involvement in post-divorce conflict.
Is a cost-effective alternative to continued litigation.
Is an effective method of improving communication and reducing conflict between divorced parents.
Is a highly structured education program for divorced parents to learn co-parenting skills in a safe environment.
Moves participants from parenting disrupted by divorce to effective business-like co-parenting with rules and boundaries.
Is designed to make the current custody arrangement work as effectively as possible.
Represents a commitment to move toward more effective co-parenting and to establish clear co-parenting boundaries.
The basic Shared Parenting Support Program consists of approximately ten sessions.

IS THE SHARED PARENTING SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR YOU?

Do you want to remove the children from the divorce conflict?

Do you want to be able to engage in relevant, focused discussions about the children's needs with their other parent?

Do you want an alternative to conflict and litigation?

Do you want to move from parenting disrupted by divorce to effective, business-like co-parenting with appropriate boundaries and rules?

Do you want to increase parental decision-making power?

Do you want to make the current custody arrangement work as effectively as possible for the children?

SESSIONS FOCUS ON HELPING PARENTS:
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Assess existing co-parenting skills.
Assess how the children are functioning
Identify and practice effective co-parenting skills.
Maintain a focus on the needs of children.
Develop an effective communication system.
Cooperatively discuss specific co-parenting issues while learning negotiation and problem-solving skills.

Both parents must attend each session as well as spouses/partners who are key co-parenting team members. Parents will receive a notebook to facilitate learning and skill development. The information in the notebook helps parents move from the intimacy/anger impasse to the business of co-parenting with meaningful boundaries and rules. Upon completion of the basic program, parents may elect to schedule a series of follow-up sessions to monitor their development of effective co-parenting skills.