Since 1992, The COPE program has been equipping parents with insights, information, practical tips and tools to make their job as parents easier, more rewarding and — most importantly — more influential on their children’s successful adjustment to changes in their family life.

Seminars Cover:

• How children experience divorce and other family transitions
• Development needs of children
• Effective parenting
• Pitfalls to avoid
• Communication between parents
• Protecting children from adult conflict

Who Should Attend?

Parents with minor children involved in divorce, establishment of parentage, separation, dissolution of civil unions, and changes in parental rights and responsibilities, are required by Vermont Court Judges to attend the seminar.

Family and friends supporting an involved parent, professionals who work with families going through family transitions, college students, and others from the community may attend when registered in the same manner as parents. The program content is not appropriate for children.

All sessions take place online. Your COPE class meeting link will be emailed to you the day before your scheduled class.

July 2025

• Tuesday, July 8, 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, July 9, 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, July 15, 4:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
• Thursday, July 24, 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
• Friday, July 25, 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
• Thursday, July 31, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (in-person class at St. Johnsbury Courthouse, 1126 Main St., Suite 1, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819

August 2025

• Wednesday, August 6, 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, August 12, 4:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, August 13, 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, August 19, 4:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
• Friday, August 29, 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

All sessions take place online. The cost to attend is $79 per person. A separate registration is required for each participant.

• To request language interpretation/translation assistance and/or a disability-related accommodation to participate in this program, please contact the COPE Program at 802-656-7600 or 1-800-545-8920, or email COPE@uvm.edu, 3 weeks before your class date so we may assist you.
• To request a reduced rate, download, fill out, and submit the court's Application for a Reduced Fee Form (PDF) to the court clerk where your case is filed.

Register

Attendance

After attending the full four-hour session, the instructors will confirm your attendance with the court. A certificate of your attendance is available from the instructors by request.

Questions

• Questions about seminar content or instructors: call UVM Extension at 802-656-7600 or 1-800-545-8920 (toll-free in Vt.)
• Questions regarding your registration: contact the UVM Non-Credit Registration office at 802-656-8407 or noncredit@uvm.edu
• Refer to the Family Division Court Information website for addresses and additional court contact information.

Parent Handbook

Accompanies the COPE Seminar and focuses on understanding family changes from your child's point of view:

• communicating with your child and with your child's other parent
• restructuring your family
• resources for you
• children's activities.

Download the Handbook (PDF)

Resources For Parents

• Emery's Alternative Parenting Plans - Parenting plan assistance from Robert E. Emery, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology and Director of the Center for Children, Families, and the Law at the University of Virginia
• Essentials for Parenting Toddlers and Preschoolers - Expert advice for common parenting challenges. Free tips, videos, and resources for handling the problems and for creating a positive parent-child relationship.
• KidsHealth - Information for parents, kids and teens from the Nemours non-profit children's health system
• Parenting Time Guidelines (PDF) - Guide from Arizona Supreme Court for Parents Living Apart
• Up to Parents - Resources for divorced/divorcing parents