In New York state, parental separation or divorce impacts more than one million children, according to Susan L. Pollet, Esq., Coordinator of the New York State Parent Education and Awareness Program. Launched in 2005, the program teaches parents how to ease the effects of the marital split on their children while providing for their continuing health and welfare.
Since its inception, the program has been attended by more than 18,000 parents, says Pollet in a recent phone interview from her White Plains, N.Y. office. Some of the classes are free; others are based on a sliding income scale. Individuals who meet established poverty guidelines attend for free. No one is denied the right to participate, she adds.
Curriculum Targets Parenting, Child Well-Being and Legal Issues
Typically involving 6 to 8 hours of classes, the curriculum includes a four-topic segment focused on parenting and child well-being issues such as being a good role model for children, how to talk and listen to them, how to be creative in problem solving and how to avoid conflict with the other parent. This part of the curriculum is usually taught by a psychologist, social worker or parent educator.
