Court Ordered Co-Parenting

In Riverside County, CA we offer the Co-Parenting services that you have been asked to complete by your Mediator, Family Law or Juvenile Court Judge. Our program is accepted by both the Family Law and Juvenile Courts in the County.

Co-Parenting A, B and C
One-Day Co-Parenting Workshop
NEW – Home-Study Co-Parenting Program
Frequently Asked Questions
What topics are covered in the program?

Co-Parenting A, B and C

I was told to complete Co-Parenting A, B and C - what does this mean?
The court will sometimes require parents to attend a Co-Parenting curriculum that includes three components:

• Part A offers helpful ideas on how parents can lessen the emotional impact of divorce on their children.
  Length: 2-3 hours
  
• Part B is focused on helping families experiencing a high-conflict separation or divorce to dramatically reduce the level of conflict and to stabilize the situation.
  Length: 5 hours
  
• Part C utilizes our Impasse Focused Mediation approach to help parents work through the final issues that need to be resolved in order to submit a Co-Parenting plan to the Court for final approval.
  Length 2-4 sessions
  
  

One-Day Co-Parenting Workshop

(satisfies Part A and B or 7 hours of Co-Parenting counseling)

Participants will meet in a small-group format from 9am to 5pm on a Saturday with a licensed therapist who specializes in children and divorce.

Ideally, both parents will participate in this workshop. However, it is common for only one parent to attend, and it is infinitely preferable that you participate alone rather than not at all. To encourage both parents to participate, we offer a $45 rebate to both parties when they attend on the same day.

We also want you to know that you will not be called upon to share any of the details of your situation and that we do not permit Ex’s to air their “dirty laundry”; this is not the proper setting for that. We are focused exclusively in helping parents help their kids.

Topics discussed at the workshop will include:The impact of divorce on kids,

• The toxic effect of chronic divorce or separation conflict,
• How to avoid putting the kids in the middle – and how to get them out,
• How to negotiate effectively with a difficult Ex,
• Taking care of yourself by reducing your stress levels,
• Building an effective Co-Parenting plan for your family.

Participants will take home a $150 package of materials that includes:

• What About the Children: A Guide for Divorced or Divorcing Parents – this 30 page reference package offers brief summaries of the key strategies and tools needed by parents. We recommend that parents review this guidebook monthly.
• The Unexpected Legacy of Divorce by J. Wallenstein- authored by the leading researcher on the impact of divorce, this book will introduce you to the short, medium and long-term impact of divorce or separation on kids.
• The Family Circus – a workbook of games, activities and talking points for parents to use with their children.
• Surviving Divorce: A Student’s Companion – a workbook focused on helping teens to understand, process and adjust to separation or divorce in a healthy way.
• Does my child need counseling? – an effective screening tool.
• Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff for Mothers or Fathers by R. Carlson (pocket edition).
• Resource Directory – this list contains important local and web based resources for parents.
• $50 worth of Co-Parenting Coaching – this credit can be applied to the coaching start-up costs or it can be banked and used when a co-parenting problem arises that you would like assistance with. If both parents attend our program they each receive a $50 credit. Click for more info...
• Free Telephone Consultation – parents can use this 15 minute consultation to ask questions on anything discussed in the workshop, seek advice on an aspect of their Co-Parenting plan, ask for referrals, or troubleshoot a Co-Parenting problem they are struggling with.

Location, dates, Times and cost
We offer this self-help program one Saturday a month from 9am-5pm in Riverside, Indio, Hemet and Blythe. The cost for one parent to attend is $225. Parents who attend the same workshop will receive a $45 rebate each.

Insurance
Insurance companies do not pay for Co-Parenting services. Please follow-up with your provider if you have further questions. This should count as a health-care related deduction for tax purposes – to confirm this please consult a tax expert.

Register today by calling (888-288-1614) or email your questions to Tobias@raisinghappykids.com



NEW – Home Study Co-Parenting Option

Go at your own speed!
We are the only provider in Riverside County offering parents this convenient work-from-home option. This program parallels the curriculum of our One Day Co-Parenting Part A and B Workshop. At the conclusion of the program, parents receive a certificate they can present to the court.

How does this work?
Parents complete 85% of the process at home and the remaining 15% in an individual telephone consultation with a licensed therapist who specializes in helping families adjust to divorce.

After registering, parents will be asked to:

• Sign an Integrity Contract,
• Complete three Co-Parenting workbooks (totaling 100 pages),
• Draft their own Co-Parenting plan using our EZ to Build Co-Parenting Plan,
• Complete a 45 minute course review by phone with a licensed therapist,
• Pass a verbal post-test.

Once the parent successfully passes the post-test they must send in their three workbooks and a copy of their Co-Parenting plan for a final review by the therapist. The entire package will then be returned to the parent with a Certificate of Completion that can be presented to the court.

How quickly can I complete the program?
That is up to you. We can get a package out to you the same day you contact us, and schedule your consultation as soon as the day after. There is no time limit involved, and you can complete the program as quickly or as slowly as you like.

Cost
The cost to complete the Co-Parenting A and B Home Study curriculum (which is equivalent to 7 hours of Co-Parenting) is $225 plus shipping and handling. This includes all of your materials and the 45 minute telephone consultation with a licensed therapist.

Insurance
Insurance companies do not pay for Co-Parenting services. Please follow up with your provider if you have further questions. This should count as a health-care related deduction for tax purposes – to confirm this, please consult a tax expert.

Register today or call (888-288-1614) or email your questions to Tobias@raisinghappykids.com

Frequently Asked Questions

How do your services compare with the other Co-Parenting programs available?

Our Co-parenting workshops are:

• Effective – our programs are built on an evidence-based curriculum proven in eight university studies to reduce divorce and separation conflict,
• Efficient – parents complete both A and B in one day (the other A-B programs are stretched over a period of 4-6 weeks),
• Convenient- offered on Saturdays, therefore no missed work or late evenings,
• Local - offered in Riverside, Indio and Hemet, in California,
• Multilingual – offered in English, Spanish and American Sign Language,
• Unique – we are the only provider offering a Home-Study program,
• Affordable – we are the most affordable option in the County - up to 60% more affordable than working one-on-one with a therapist

The Mediator or (Judge) told me to take a "Co-Parenting" course. Should I take your one-day workshop or just the morning session?
Typically, the Family Court asks parents to do between 6-12 hours of Co-Parenting. If the Court wanted you to complete less -- the morning session of our workshop is 2.5 hours -- that would likely have been made clear. If you are still unsure about how to proceed, you may want to clarify with the Court in person or by phone.

I was told by the Mediator (or Judge) to complete a set number of Co-Parenting sessions. Will your workshop count for that?
Yes. Co-Parenting has typically been offered by licensed therapists in a one-on-one setting in Riverside County. Our program offers an inexpensive, convenient alternative to meeting with a therapist over six (or more) weeks and spending $500-$900 plus.

Co-Parenting Workshops -- what does this entail?
Parents can chose whether they want to complete these hours in a one-on-one counseling setting, by attending a group program, or by completing our Home Study curriculum.

Your program seems really expensive…is it?
Look at our competitors and discover for yourself that our workshops are comprehensive, convenient and very affordable. A couple registered together for our workshop could save up to 65% of the cost of completing this work at an average private counseling office, and 90% of what a typical attorney will want as a retainer.

In addition to these monetary savings, actively participating in a Co-Parenting workshop reduces the emotional costs of divorce. For you and your children these may include: depression, anxiety, school or work problems, strained relationships, financial chaos, etc. You and your children's well-being and happiness will be worth every penny invested.

I can't be in the same room with my Ex - do we have to attend together?
No. You can each attend the workshop on different dates or in different locations. Alternatively, one of you may take the Home-Study option.

We got divorced several years ago and the fighting has never stopped. We have done mediation, a child custody evaluation, counseling, and someone else's Co-Parenting program, but we are still fighting. Can your program help?
You have to believe that the path to bringing an end to the conflict is out there - you just haven't found it yet. Take another look at the content of our program and you will see that it is based on volumes of research on how to help families successfully navigate their way out of divorce chaos. Let us help you get through this.

How do I get my Ex to attend? He really needs it. Help!
You have no control over the choices your Ex will make. However, you and your family will benefit from this workshop, and if you lead by example, your Ex may change his/her mind. Alternatively your Ex may prefer the Home-Study option. Failing that, it would be beneficial for his/her mother (or someone who has a positive influence on your Ex) to attend. For further ideas, give us a call.

Can I get the "couples discount" if I register with someone other than my Ex?
Yes. Some people may want to attend with their new partner, or a good friend. We want to support that.

My husband and I recently separated, would this workshop be good for us?
Yes. Whether you end up getting back together or not, this workshop will help lay the groundwork to raise your kids in an emotionally healthy way.

My Ex and I aren’t fighting but we are having problems helping our children adjust. Will your workshop help us?
Yes. Parenting separately often requires more coordination and communication than when a couple is together.

The keys to developing an effective plan are:

• Knowing what the research says "works,"
• Building a Co-Parenting plan that fits your family's unique needs,
• Attending together and taking advantage of the 20% discount.

My Ex has been saying a lot of untrue things about me in court - making me out to be a really bad parent. Can this workshop help me show the judge that I love my kids?
Your problem is all too common. Attending this workshop and doing your best to implement your Co-Parenting plan sends a strong statement about your commitment to your children's welfare. Presenting the Certificate of Completion and your developed Co-Parenting Plan to the judge will definitely help.

What about grandparents and extended family members - is this a good choice for them?
Anyone playing a supportive role in helping a family adjust to divorce will benefit by taking this workshop. Review the content section and see which part of the workshop would be most helpful. Ultimately, the decision to have family members participate in a workshop will depend on the kind of role you want them to play in support of your family.

What about childcare - can I bring my kids to the workshop?
No, we do not provide daycare services. Please do not bring your children to the workshop.

My 17-year would like to attend with us. Is that OK?
In some cases, if both parents feel that their teenager would benefit from attending the workshop with them, we would encourage it. However, this should be discussed with the counselor at registration, to avoid making life harder on a child who may already be "caught in the middle."

What topics are covered in the program?

Parents will learn effective skills and stratgeties in areas including:

• Reducing the toxic impact of co-parenting conflict on kids,
• Mastering the language of de-escalation,
• Breaking free of the stress of co-parenting conflict,
• Harnessing the power of compromise,
• Negotiating effectively with difficult people, and
• Building a co-parenting plan that will work.
  
  

I have other questions not listed here.
You can call (888-288-1614) or email your questions to Tobias@raisinghappykids.com