ISSUE:
One out of two couples marrying today will divorce in 10 years. Seventy
percent of the divorced parents fail to build cooperative post-divorce
relationships that benefit their children. Fifty percent of the children
of divorce remain angry about it. Researchers agree that the amount
of conflict between parents and the number of times they return to
court over divorce-related issues are major factors in how well their
children adjust to the transition from divorce. The less conflict
they face, the more resilient they will be.
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE: Washington State University Cooperative
Extension is a licensed provider of Children Cope With DivorceŽ
and has offered classes in five counties since 1997. The program
helps parents focus on the needs of their children during and after
their divorce or separation. Families First of Georgia, program
licensor, trained 24 instructors, including several bilingual instructors,
who work in paired male-female teams to teach the classes. Classes
are provided in both English and Spanish in Chelan and Douglas counties.
In Chelan and Douglas Counties, superior court judges have mandated
class attendance for couples with dependent children under 18 who
are going through dissolution, custody and in some case trying to
settle paternity issues. A total of 373 people attended classes
in 1998, 61 more than the previous year. IMPACT:
End of class evaluations in Chelan and Douglas counties elicited
such comments as the following from participants:
- I learned not to put children in the middle of conflicts and
how to co-parent better.
- I learned to focus on my child as much as possible and stay
neutral.
- I learned to take time to see things the way my children will
see them and to make sure to tell them the divorce is not their
fault and that I love them.
As of October 1, 1999, superior court judges for Pend Orielle,
Stevens and Ferry counties have adopted a local court order requiring
parents or custodians in specific court proceedings involving their
children's welfare to take the class within 90 days of filing. Prior
to this time, judges were requiring attendance on a case-by-case
basis.
In 1998, a three-month follow-up survey among parents who took
the Children Cope with DivorceŽ class in Pend Oreille county found
that the majority better understood the importance of the other
parent in their children's lives. The majority also found a way
to communicate more effectively with the other parent and spoke
more positively or in a more neutral way to their children about
the other parent. The majority believe they have a more positive
relationship with their children.
FUNDING: Registration fees for classes
CONTACT:
Janet Kiser Lambarth, Chair
WSU Cooperative Extension, Pend Oreille County Telephone: 509-447-2401
e-mail: lambarth@coopext.cahe.wsu.edu
Ann Diede, Area Extension Agent
WSU Cooperative Extension, Chelan-Douglas Counties
Telephone: 509-664-5540
e-mail: diede@wsu.edu
