Extension > Family > Parents Forever > What is Parents Forever?
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.
See Classes for Parents or the Parents Forever Educational Offerings for Parents (52 K PDF) flyer for more information on Parents Forever classes.
For more information about the research, see Does Parents Forever Work?
If more information on this program is needed, Contact Us.
