Forever Parents
"When Mom & Dad went to war, the only prisoners they took were children." - Pat Conroy
“Forever Parents” is a five-hour class that helps parents learn to parent effectively while living in separate households. The information presented is based on research that shows that children do best after divorce or separation when they are protected from parental conflict and when BOTH parents have active roles in their children’s lives.
Divorce and separation is stressful for everyone—you, your child and your child’s other parent. This class can help.
Exceptions include unsafe family environments, such as a history of domestic violence or indications of child abuse and/or neglect.
Class Cost
There is a one-time $80 fee for this class to help offset the cost of materials and instruction. An invoice will be mailed to you following confirmation of registration. Payment is due at least one week before your registered class date. If you are unable to afford this fee, please contact the office at 518.943.0523 to discuss sliding scale payments.
Visit this page for more information on methods of payment accepted. You may also make a payment online here (scroll to the bottom “Pay Now” and select Option 2).
Frequently Asked Questions
The class will help you better understand the affects of divorce on your child.— or, “Why is my child acting like that?”
- 1. Experience the family’s separation from your child’s perspective.
- 2. Reduce stress in your child’s life by learning how to disengage safely when conflict arises between you and the other parent.
- 3. Develop better skills to communicate with your child’s other parent.
- 4. Develop a positive co-parenting plan.
- 5. Learn effective co-parenting skills.
- 6. Protect your children from painful inter-parental /adult conflict.
Research on families of divorce suggest that there are primarily three styles of parenting after separation or divorce: cooperative, parallel, or disengaged. Cooperative parenting is the style used by families in which conflict is low and parents can effectively communicate about their child. Parallel parenting, although not actively communicating with the other parent, is effective parenting by doing the best job you can during the time you are with your child.
To do both, you have to learn how to disengage from destructive conflict with the other parent so that you can effectively parallel parent when you have to, and to parent cooperatively when you can.
-Dispute resolution processes, including: Judicial/Family Court; Mediation; Collaborative Law.
-Definition of legal terms affecting custody of your child: Joint vs Sole Legal Custody; Residential Custody; Child Support Standards Act.
-The emotional experience of separation and divorce on parents and children.
-What parents can do to help their children adjust after divorce.
-Cooperative Parenting.
-Parallel Parenting.
-Tools for Parenting Apart.
-Skills for Listening to Children.
-Avoiding Common Parental Pitfalls.
You can clip the flyer insert in the brochure, fill out the registration details in the form and mail it to:
Common Ground Dispute Resolution, Inc. 11 William St.
Catskill, NY 12414
You can also register online using the contact form below.
Register Now
Please complete the form below and we will contact you (registration is confidential).
Include the gender and ages of your children, the name of the other parent and your referral source. If you are court ordered to attend the class, please include the name of your Judge and the court county.
Are you in danger of your partner or ex-partner doing any of the following?
1. Physically hurting you by pushing, grabbing, hitting, choking, or biting?
2. Threatening to hurt you, your children, or someone close to you?
3. Stalking, checking up on you, following you?
4. Making you afraid?
If Yes, please indicate this on your registration or contact form. (You will be contacted by Common Ground. Please indicate the safest way to reach you.)
