BACK & FORTH CHILD PROGRAM
Co-Parenting Classes
-16 Weeks
BASED ON BOOK PARENTING SOLO
- When there are allegations
that children have been traumatized by parents’ drama or verbal abuse
- When there is an
incident of violence and/or parents have substance abuse problems
- When
social services in the county has been called regarding child abuse
reports due to violence, but there have been no substantiation of
allegations.
- When a parent has never parented the child, (jail, paternity).
- To learn about developmental needs and
parenting tips.
- For
non biological parents who are filing for custody of children.
(Grandparents, Stepparents, Aunts, Uncles, Siblings, etc.)
- For a
non custodial parent, who is beginning or increasing custody
- When
the custodial parent has concerns about safety of child with the other
parent.
- When a
parent has been in the home but not the primary caretaker or frequently
absent and now wants more custodial time with the child.
- Threats
of harm to parent or child abduction
Parenting 16 Weeks - General topics include: Developmental Needs of the Child, Setting Boundaries, Stress Management, Discipline
- For
parents involved in conflict, to focus on the needs of the child in a
divorce or separation
- For
parents who want to increase their skills as single parents
- For
high conflict parents
- For
parents who are suddenly single parents
- For
special needs parents, or parents with children with special needs, ie.
Separation anxiety, post traumatic stress, adjustment problems, anger
problems.
- For parents
with little family support
Co- parenting
Counseling – 15 weeks minimum – Both parents and/or step parents attend.
·
To learn new communication techniques in a
private setting with therapist and two parents.
·
To increase safe exchanges and lessen the
tension between parents for the sake of the child.
·
Counseling for parents who are able to
communicate on some issues but have difficulty with other specific problems.
·
Parents
learn how to de-escalate when communications get heated.
·
Both parents willing to
communicate and are willing to attend sessions together to communicate without
escalating into fighting.
Anger Management – 26
weeks - ABCs of Anger Management Book
- Single
one time violent incident
- Allegation
of verbal abuse
- Verbal
abuse with children present
- Work
related problems with anger
- Continued
negative communication over children between parents
- Road
rage with children, other parents present
- Bullying
behaviors at home
- Passive
aggressive, alleged child alienating parent
- Non
verbal threats of violence
- Victims
of violence
- Both
parents involved in violence
Alcohol and Drug Relapse
Prevention/Intervention – 16 weeks
Program: focusing
on relapse prevention, and sober social living skills
- Allegations
of drug/alcohol abuse
- Incidents
of police intervention
- Previous
relapses
- DUI
- Parents
who are in denial about the severity of the addiction
- Verbally
abusive to spouse under the influence
- History
of drug/alcohol abuse
COMMON GROUND PROGRAM
Monitored (Supervised)
Visits: Ordered by court or stipulated to by parents. For
3, 6 months or longer. Reviews set. Summary reports sent prior to court
hearing.
·
When TRO’s have been issued
·
Fear of abduction
·
Child endangerment allegations
·
Alcohol/drug abuse allegations.
·
Parent has been absent for months/years,
Parent/Child Reunification
Counseling:
Program: Both parents meet with the counselor to go over the
rules of the program and read the Child’s Bill of Rights. Focus is on
introducing the child and parent and building a strong, safe relationship.
Address issues that lead to the estrangement. Parents agree to facilitate a smooth visit for the purpose of building a stronger relationship between parent and child, or coaching as a parent.
- Child is estranged from
parent
- Parent has been absent
and needs to get reacquainted with the child.
- Parent has been accused
of violence in the home
- Child doesn’t want to
visit with the other parent
- Child doesn’t know the
other parent
- One parent worries about
sending the child to the other parent’s home
Supervised Exchanges:
Program: Non custodial parent or
co-parent comes early and waits for the child, the other parent drops off the
child. Typically one to two hours weekly. When the visit is finished, the non
custodial parent waits 15 minutes after the child is picked up to avoid contact
with the other parent.
·
Parents are not speaking and unable to be
cordial during an exchange.
·
Parents who have unmonitored visits and no
contact orders
Therapeutic Monitored
Visits -
Program includes introductory sessions with the child,
custodial parent, non-custodial parent, then conjoint visits with child and non
custodial parent. Duration: 3, 6 or 12 months, depending on issues involved. Therapist
acts as a coach, and is actively involved in group activities with the child
and parent, modeling good adult/child interaction and activities. Debriefing
involved in the fifteen minutes after the visits.
Investigators are reviewing at 3, 6 months.
·
Allegations of threat of abduction
·
Re-entry from jail/prison
·
No/little relationship with child
·
Child’s reluctance to be with parent alone
·
Fear of abduction by custodial parent
·
Child witnessed a
violent episode(s) between parents
·
Verbally abusing parent
·
Custodial parent’s concerns about non monitored
due to drug/alcohol abuse
·
Concerns about gang involvement, unsafe environments
during visit
·
Allegations of child abuse, inappropriate
parenting, illegal sale of drugs
·
No license, no car seats
·
Mental illness in past
·
Concerns about parental alienation –that
visiting parent will bad mouth the other parent to the child
·
Any prior arrests for assaults, illegal weapons
·
Visiting the child under the influence of
drugs/alcohol
·
Inappropriate or unsafe parenting while visiting
the child
Teen Anger Management Group
Program introduces students to
the process of group and helps build self-esteem and reduce incidences of anger
explosions.
·
Team building
·
Social skill building
·
Conflict management
·
Addictions
·
Stress management
·
Time management
Stepparents Group
Program designed to support the role of step parenting and
how the step parent can communicate with their spouse about their needs in the
child sharing process. Defines the problems step parents have in the
relationship with the other parent and facilitates better communication with
the natural parents.
- Anger issues
- Communication techniques
- Conflict management
issues
- Parenting information
- Boundaries
- Assertion training
- Child development
