Education for Families in Transition of Divorce or Separation

When a family goes through divorce or separation, parents need to help their children adjust to the changes in their family. Our educational programs teach parents about the impact of divorce/ separation and gives them strategies to help both parents and children adjust to a new way of being a family.

What is Parents Forever?

Parents Forever is an educational program developed by the University of Minnesota Extension, based on research about the effects of divorce on children.

Minnesota Statute 518.157 requires judges to court order parents with contested custody and visitation issues into an approved parent education program. Parents Forever is an approved program, meeting all 25 minimum standards set by the statute.

What does the research say about divorce?

Research shows that less than 50% of children can expect to live with their biological parents throughout their childhood. Children who experience family disruption often:

• Live with parental conflict before, during, and after the divorce.
• Experience the absence of the non-custodial parent.
• Are more likely to be poor.
• Are more likely to have other issues like:
  • Emotional problems.
  • Conceive a child in their teens.
  • Get in trouble with the law.
  • Have lower academic achievement.

The effects of divorce on children can be reduced if parents:

• Avoid putting children in situations where their loyalty to the other parent is threatened.
• Learn new and more effective approaches to parenting.
• Adjust to the role of single parenting, maintain close ties, and remain available to the children.
• Create a business-like plan to parent that is focused on the needs of the children.
• Learn to communicate with the other parents about issues related to the children.
• Learn how to make the necessary joint decisions with a minimum amount of conflict.

How does Parents Forever help minimize the effects of divorce?

When parents attend the complete Parents Forever class series, they learn valuable skills and tools that will help reduce the effects of divorce on children and themselves. They will learn how to:

• Eliminate parental conflict in front of the child.
• Keep the child out of the middle of parent issues.
• Provide access to both parents
• Put the best interest of the child first.
• Make adjustments in their finances to account for the financial changes that divorce brings.
• Work with the divorce legal process rather than against it.
• Form a new "pathway" in life after divorce.

Our Parents Forever Seminars - Online or On-site options

We offer monthly traditional (on-site) classes (Iron Range residents only) and a live facilitated online class that is without geographical barriers.

On-site Seminars

Most online programs require extensive impersonal online reading and testings that can take many hours to complete. Our online seminar is provided to you like any traditional on-site class working you through the materials. Because it is facilitated live, you have the advantage of a professional trained in co-parent coaching and family mediation directly online with you to provide you with her knowledge and to give you encouragement. You will need to respond to evaluative questions; but you also have the assistance of the facilitator directly to assist you as well.  Each subject on the evaluation is addressed as the materials are presented and you respond to the questions as she presents the subject matter to you.  You also will have the opportunity to ask her questions on any subject and she will respond as long as it is not a legal question specific to your case.  When you turn the evaluation into the facilitator after the seminar she personally looks over your responses and she may provide you with additional insights or encouragements that you may find helpful on a confidential basis.

Our Parents Forever online seminar offers convenience and a personalized learning experience.  We understand the needs and challenges parents face. We value the questions and sharing of experiences of our participant parents as well and consider their input to be a valuable teaching tool for us as well. We listen to the concerns and challenges parents are facing and we personally address their questions, which helps us keep our class materials relevant to today's families.

Every family is unique. All families have similarities and differences. Whether you have separated and decided to parent your children apart or whether you are married and in the midst of divorce, the Parents Forever program will provide you with helpful insights.The purpose of co-parenting education is to empower parents to succeed in co parenting and to provide parents with tools to effectively communicate the needs of their children, help parents provide support for their children in understanding the differences between the grieving process of children and adults, and to learn how to lessen effects of parental conflict on children. The Parents Forever curriculum is designed to help parents support their children through family transitions.  Our Parents Forever seminars also provides support to parents to reduce the effect of parental conflict on the entire family and provide parents with tools for effective communications and shared parenting.

 

The online seminar allows parents to take the class in a setting most comfortable for them and prevents attendance barriers due to childcare, transportation challenges, inclement weather and challenging work schedules.  The class can be taken from anywhere in the United States.  All that is needed is an email address, a computer, and an internet connection.  A headset for hearing only is recommended.  A headset with speaking capacity is not needed.  A webcam is not used.  A dial-up connection is not fast enough to handle the materials and the class cannot be taken through an iPhone.

On-site Seminars

Onsite seminars provide parents with a traditional class experience.  There are 10 onsite seminars yearly. They are offered every month except for July and August.  Seminars are held at the Hibbing Grace Lutheran Church, 4010 9th Avenue West, Hibbing, MN, which is across from the theater. Please use the right front entrance (daycare entrance). You must be pre-registered to attend the class.

All seminars are dependent upon a minimum number of attendees. To be fair to other participants and to prevent us from having to reschedule a seminar unnecessarily, we  request parents to provide payment no less than one week in advance for online and two weeks in advance for on-site. Thank you for your understanding.

Payment Options

Level 1 reduced fees: Reduced fees are reserved for parents with children living with them at least 45.0% of the time. Fee reductions are assessed on Total Household Income.

(Waived fees are available for a parent on MFIP or on very limited disability.  Proof of assistance is requested. Funding for waived fees is limited.)

Level 2 reduced fees: Reduced fees are reserved for parents who are employed only part time or full time making minimum wage.  Parents must have children living in their household at least 45.01%of the time. Reduced fees are assessed using Total Household Income.

Payment Options: Payment can be made by cash, money order, certified bank check or credit card. We do not accept personal checks. Credit card payment can be made through our secure payment site or by calling our office. Reduced fee participants can pay by credit card, but they must do so through our office and not online.  Please call 218-263-7307.

Seminar Fees:

• $85.00
• $45 - reduced - restrictions do apply.  Pre-registration by phone is required.  Please call our office to register
• Waived fees available for MFIP recipients - proof of general assistance is requested

Online Seminar Format: 2 nights for completion - written assignment is done during the class with assistance of facilitator

On-site Seminar Format: 1 night (requires additional reading and one written assignment)

Parents Forever Schedule

January 2012

• January 17 and 18, 2012 - Online
• January 26, 2012 - On-site seminar in Hibbing

February 2012

• February 28 and29, 2012 - online seminar
• February 27, 2012 - On-site seminar in Hibbing

March 2012

• March 13 and 14, 2012 - online seminar
• March 22, 2012 - On-site seminar Hibbing

April 2012

• April 10 and 11, 2012 - online seminar
• April 26, 2012 - On-site seminar in Hibbing

May 2012

• May 8 and 9, 2012 - online seminar
• May 21 - Traditional seminar in Hibbing

June 2012

• June 5 and 6, 2012 - online seminar
• June 28, 2012 - Traditional seminar in Hibbing

July 2012

• July 24 and 25, 2012 online seminar

August 2012

• August 21 and 22, 2012 online seminar

September 2012

• September 6, 2012 - On-site seminar in Hibbing
• September 25 and 26, 2012 - online seminar

October 2012

• October 18, 2012 - on-site seminar in Hibbing
• October 23 and 24, 2012 - online seminar

November 20212

• November 27 and 28, 2012 - online seminar
• No traditional class

December 2012

• December 6 - On-site seminar in Hibbing
• December 18 and 19, 2012 - online seminar

Please use the drop-down for selection of dates. The drop down dates may not be consistent with the above schedule dates.  Parents Forever seminars are available every month, but class availability is dependent on a minimum number of participants. This happens on occasion requiring us to re-schedule it for later in the month.  We will personally contact you if you have signed up for a specific seminar and provide you with adequate advance notice if there are any changes. Please feel free to call our office if you have any questions.

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Registration - Parents Forever Program

You can register for one of the upcoming seminars using our online registration process. Please provide: 1) the Participant's Name, 2) Phone and e-Mail Address. Click the "Register Now" button. You will be directed to the check-out page for credit card payment. Participant's name, phone and email must be filled out before the register button will continue. When you finish that process, you will be directed back to our site. If you are attending the on-site seminar, please call the office so we are sure to place you on the right roster.  Thank you for considering our Parents Forever program.  We hope that you find the seminar to be helpful.

If you have questions or problems with the online payment site, please call our office at 218-263-7307. We can pre-register you by telephone as well. Thank you!

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