Course Description

• 4-Hour, Timed Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course
• Approved by the Florida Department of Children and Families
• Entirely Available Online
• 30 or 45 Day Enrollment, Extensions Not Available
• Log Off/On at Your Convenience, Progress is Saved
• Retake Quizzes Unlimited Time Until You Pass
• Certificates Available Immediately Upon Successful Completion
• Curricula Written by Licensed Attorneys and Counselors/Therapists
• Supported Devices:    PC or Apple desktop/laptop, Apple or Android tablets or mobile devices
• Supported Browsers:  Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge

This course is a four-hour, timed Parent Education and Family Stabilization course approved by the Florida Department of Children and Families, and satisfies the requirement of Florida Statute 61.21, which states that “…[a]ll parties to a dissolution of marriage proceeding with minor children or a paternity action that involves issues of parental responsibility shall be required to complete the Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course prior to the entry by the court of a final judgment [and] … [a]ll parties to a modification of a final judgment involving a parenting plan or a time-sharing schedule may be required to complete a court-approved parenting course prior to the entry of an order modifying the final judgment.”  This course is a web-based course and is available online through our website.

The course is divided into 3 Modules.  The first Module is comprised of 3 videos and three quizzes which must be taken in order.  The first Module is approximately 3 hours; the videos are two hours and forty minutes and the quizzes should take about 20 minutes.  Participants must pass each quiz with a score of 70% to proceed to the next section.  The first Module discusses general parenting concepts related to divorce or parental separation.  It begins by explaining the purpose and objectives of parenting education classes for divorce/parental separation.  It explains how divorce/parental separation impacts children at various stages of development, and describes how divorce/parental separation may create toxic levels of stress, and therefore be harmful to children.  The course goes on to educate about different types of parental conflict and how destructive conflict and withdrawal behaviors can lead to an environment of harmful toxic stress.  It then describes protective factors and how they may guard against the harmful effects of toxic stress.  Further, the course teaches parents how to recognize symptoms of distress exhibited by their children at different stages of development, and how to protect their children from exposure to harm during the divorce/separation process.  It teaches how parenting style, having a cooperative co-parenting relationship, parents’ well-being, a quality parent-child relationship, maintaining continuity of child care routines, and possessing coping skills all serve as protective factors against any negative impact divorce/separation may have on children.  The course then provides an overview of different child custody terminology, including Best Interests, Parenting Plans, and Child Support.  Next, the course provides various tips for parents to help their children cope with the divorce/separation and offers parenting time recommendations, including overnight recommendations, based on the developmental needs of the children.

The second Module consists of a PDF document and a quiz which should take the participant 20 minutes to complete.  This Module contains the Florida Addendum which provides information specific to Florida laws and requirements.

The third Module consists of a PDF document and a quiz which should stake the participant 20 minutes to complete.  This Module contains the Coping Skills Manual which offers parents some skill-building opportunities which are typically only available in a live, group setting.

Course Objectives

• Divorce as Loss – Recognizing divorce as the loss of the current family structure and processes experienced by adults and children in working through loss.  In addition, a distinction shall be made between loss of the current family structure and the continuing parental role;
• Permanency of Parental Role / Shared Parenting – Information about how children are positively impacted by a continuing relationship with both parents and the types of support children need from both parents;
• Developmental Stages of Childhood – This component shall include information on the developmental stages of childhood, as well as how a divorce may impact development, what parents can do to minimize the impact of the divorce, and when to seek additional help for a child experiencing problems;
• Communicating With Children in a Divorce Situation – Information about discussing divorce-related issues with children in reference to the developmental stage of the child;
• Communicating With the Other Parent – The negative impact of a parent expressing anger toward the other parent in front of the children, the benefits to children of keeping them out of the middle of parental conflict, and how to establish a relationship with the other parent which shall minimize the children’s exposure to parental conflict;
• Abuse – Includes information on the power and control dynamics of domestic violence and the statewide toll-free domestic violence hotline telephone number where services may be accessed. An explanation of child abuse and neglect and the statutory mandate to report such incidences to the Child Abuse Hotline, in addition to the penalties for false reporting;
• Legal Concepts – General information about Florida family law, including references to statutory definitions as they relate to court issues involving divorcing parents with minor children and financial responsibilities to the children; and
• Parenting Time – Information about the benefits to children of maintaining a stable and consistent relationship with both parents, suggestions about how to develop a parenting plan, and effective communication between the parents about parenting time.