Changes include separation of family members, change in residence, lower income, and lower living standards. These adverse responses to divorce have led to the development of parent education aimed at reducing the traumatic effects of divorce and parental conflict on children. Programs are designed to provide information on children's response to divorce and to help improve parental cooperation after divorce.
Programs vary in design.
Some offer one session lasting 2 to 3 hours. Others require that parents participate in six sessions of 2 hours each. Organizations that offer these programs include Extension, mental health, family counseling, social service agencies, and the courts. In rural communities, the number of agencies prepared to provide these educational efforts is limited. This gives Extension a unique opportunity for leadership in divorce education.