Minnesota Statute 518.157 requires judges to court order parents with “contested custody and parenting time issues” to a court-approved parent education class like Parents Forever.
A related policy of the Minnesota Supreme Court requires parent education classes to meet minimum standards in order to be court-approved. The Parents Forever curriculum served, in part, as the foundation for the standards.
To be approved, the following 25 minimum standards must be addressed or provided in the class:
- Resources in the community to obtain additional help or information
- Overview of judicial process and proceedings (dissolution and paternity cases)
- Overview of legal issues (dissolution and paternity cases)
- Overview of the function of the court (dissolution and paternity cases)
- Alternatives for settling custody/visitation disputes (e.g., visitation expeditor, mediation)
- Legal phases of divorce/paternity proceeding
- Role of custody study
- Role of attorney
- Role of guardian ad litem
- Role of mediator/mediation
- Developmental needs/stages of children
- Impact of divorce/separation/conflict on adults
- Impact of divorce/separation/conflict on children
- Dynamics of domestic violence and sexual assault and impact on children
- Positive communication skills
- Co-parenting skills
- Conflict resolution skills
- Keeping children out of the middle of the conflict
- Cost of raising a child
- Emotional and financial responsibilities of parents
- Coping with personal stress
- Safety planning
- Child support issues (obligations/services)
- Visitation issues (planning and problems)
- Impact and realities of step families
Parents Forever meets all 25 minimum standards. This includes the Minnesota Parents Forever:
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Curriculum
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In-person classes
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Online courses
Reviewed in 2022