Surviving separation and divorce
Program helps parents better understand childrens' needs
By Bernice Rawes
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Fact Box |
Every year in Alberta hundreds of infants and toddlers are affected by separation and divorce, and many others are born to parents who have never lived together.
These situations often result in custody and access disputes where some parents find themselves facing additional challenges because they do not have a well-developed relationship with the child or with each other. This may be especially true in a situation of a first child or if the child is from an unmarried, new relationship.
To assist Albertans who find themselves in these types of situations Alberta Justice is piloting the Kids’ Turn – The Early Years project.
Tailored to meet the needs of parents and their young children there are two aspects of the project – the educational program and the facilitated-access program.
The educational program focuses on providing information to parents about the effect that separation and conflict has on infants and toddlers by helping parents to better understand key aspects such as:
- their baby’s communication
- the developmental stages of young children
- how to promote healthy development in their babies and toddlers during stressful times, and
- skills for cooperating with the other parent for the benefit of their young children.
The other component of the Kids’ Turn – The Early Years project is the facilitated-access program, which is offered in conjunction with the educational program, and is made available to parents who are involved in legal proceedings before either the Court of Queen’s Bench or the Provincial Court.
This program allows for the residential parent to attend the educational program while at the same time the other parent attends a facilitated, supervised visit with the child. The facilitated-access visit provides a safe environment for the child and also allows for staff to teach important parenting and childcare skills to the non-residential parent.
The educational program may be voluntary or court directed. The facilitated-access program is court directed and a report of the facilitated access visits are provided to the court.
The program is offered at no cost to parents who have children from birth to three years of age and are parenting apart. Funding for this program is provided through the Federal Early Childhood Development program.
Kids’ Turn – The Early Years project is currently being offered in Edmonton with plans for expansion to Calgary underway. An evaluation of the program will be completed in spring 2005.
