Court-Sponsored Education Programs for Divorcing Parents
A group of 26 courts using all or a portion of the Children in the Middle video for at least two years was interviewed regarding their practices and impressions. Programs typically had 1-3 sessions lasting 1-4 hours each. Half used ancillary materials (such as What About the Children: A Guide for Divorced and Divorcing Parents). The vast majority did not charge fees for the program. Judges viewed the program positively and found it to be extremely helpful for parents. Half of the judges believed the program had noticeably reduced relitigation rates. Other outcomes perceived by judges included more positive parental attitudes, greater parental sensitivity to children's needs, reductions in tension between attorneys and mental health professionals, and increases in human (vs. legal) issues in judicial decisions.