PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN
Nearly half of all counties in the United States provide court-connected education programs
for separating parents. Despite the courts’ strong interest in children’s programs, a
recent review found that only 152 counties offered children’s programs (Geelhoed, Blaisure,
& Geasler, 2001). Children’s programs share several common goals and practices. Most
programs are based on the belief that a peer group provides a supportive environment that
helps children recognize that they are not alone and normalizes their feelings and experiences.
Some programs include information to demystify the legal process; others incorporate
coping skills