Separation and Divorce : Family and Wellness : University of Vermont

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Family and Health

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More Resources for Families

Separation and Divorce

The process of divorce and other family changes are difficult for both children and adults. How the parents handle the changes makes a big difference for everyone, especially the children. To ease these changes to the family unit, Vermont judges require parents of minors who are involved in divorce, establishment of parentage, legal separation, dissolution of civil unions, and changes in parental rights and responsibilities to attend the four-hour COPE Seminar.

Coping with Separation and Divorce program: A Parenting Seminar (COPE) focuses on children's needs and teaches parenting skills to support parents in lessening the impact of changes on their children. The University of Vermont Extension provides training and materials to professionals throughout the state to conduct the classes at local Courts. COPE is a collaborative program of UVM Extension and the Vermont Superior Court: Family Division.

Topics include

How families experience divorce and other family transitions.

Typical reactions of children.

Development needs of children.

Skills that help children cope.

Pitfalls to avoid.

More information

Registration

Schedule - View seminar schedule as a Weekly Listing OR a Monthly Calendar Grid

Parent Handbook (PDF 3MB, revised June 2012) 56 pages; contents:

Part 1 - Understanding the family changes from your child's point of view

Part 2 - Communicating with your child and with your child's other parent

Part 3 - Restructuring your family

Part 4 - Resources for you

Part 5 - Appendix: Children's Activities (PDF, revised March 2012)

Parenting Plans Assistance A resource site hosted by Robert E. Emery, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology and Director of the Center for Children, Families, and the Law at the University of Virginia
Evaluation Introduction (PDF; updated March 2011 with data from July 2007 through June 2010)

Evaluation Data: 2009/10 (PDF)

Evaluation Data: 4-year comparison, 2007/8, 2008/9, 2009/10 and 2010/11 (PDF)

Evaluation Sample Responses (PDF)

Resources for parents

ShareKids.com - A free, easy to use family management site to share calendars, track information, and store documents.

Parenting 24/7 University of Illinois Cooperative Extension

KidsHealth Information for parents, kids and teens from the Nemours non-profit children's health system

Resources for children

Divorce: Getting the News Helping kids understand divorce (from PBS Kids)

Last modified July 05 2012 02:54 PM