Children in Common: Ensuring the Emotional Well-Being of Children When Parenting Apart

Extension is an equal opportunity educator and employer. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, this material is available in alternative formats upon request. Direct requests to 612-­‐626-­‐6602. Children of divorced or unmarried parents living apart are considered at risk for multiple health and well-being issues throughout their lifespan (CDC, 2015; Sacks, Murphy & Moore, 2015). An increasing research base shows that when parents can reduce conflict and remain financially stable, children fare better after divorce (Kelly, 2003). To mitigate the potentially adverse effects of divorce on children, 46 of 50 U.S. states require parent education classes for divorcing couples (Pollet & Lombreglia, 2008). However, parents who were never married and are living apart are usually not subject to any educational mandates (Peterson, Shirer, Marczak & Allen, 2011). This means that unmarried parents establishing paternity through family court do not typically receive parent education interventions in the way divorcing parents would. Despite the growing literature on coparenting and divorce education interventions, little has been written about the practice of delivering court-mandated parent education programs for both divorced and unmarried parents living apart. Through its sustained investment in supporting Minnesota families affected by divorce or separation with its Parents Forever™ 1 parent education program and its partnership with Hennepin County's Co-parent Court 2 project, University of Minnesota Extension is able to explore the intersection of research about coparenting with the practice of court-mandated parent education programs for both divorcing and separating never-married parents. Thus, this article summarizes the latest research findings on selected coparenting issues that have practical importance to both divorcing and never-married parents living apart. This article also highlights recent research on the practice of parent education as it affects both divorcing and separated never-married parents, as well as a foundational discussion of coparenting issues and parent-education practice from the experiences and perspectives of parent-education stakeholders. We, the authors, also have included illustrative quotations from stakeholders in the Parents Forever™ program and in Hennepin County Co-parent Court — quotations cited in recent studies When two adults parent a child in common, each is an individual parent. When two adults share the role of parent, it is referred to as coparenting (Feinberg, 2003). Coparenting " couples " may include many configurations of two adults sharing care-giving responsibilities, such as two mothers, two fathers, a parent with an adult sibling or grandparent, or a parent and another adult relative. Distinct …