eNew Beginnings Program is a Parenting Skills Program Designed To improve Parenting Quality
Parenting After Divorce: New eNew Beginnings Program Allows Parents to Learn on Their Own Schedule
It is an unfortunate statistic, but nearly half of the marriages in the United States fail, ending in divorce. Over one million children are affected by their parents divorce. These children are more likely to be at risk of experiencing mental health issues, struggling in school and at increased risk of engaging in risky sexual behavior, as well as for substance abuse.
Sharlene Wolchik and Irwin Sandler both professors of psychology at Arizona State University, led a study and adapted an in person parenting skills program into a web based program called The eNew Beginnings Program. It is designed to be asynchronous, which means a person can learn on their own schedule. The class can be taken anytime, any place where the learner has access to a computer, even on a smart phone. This web based program has 10 sessions. These sessions focus on interparental conflict and parenting quality.
Of course many parents are worried about the statistics and how their divorce will affect their children. Sandler reports, “This study provides the strongest evidence to date of the positive impact of an online program for divorcing and separating parents. Family court judges can use it as a tool to protect the well-being of children and to help parents through the process.”
eNew Beginnings Program Highly Interactive and Engaging
In the study conducted by Wolchik and Sandler, they interviewed 131 participants who took the on line course. Evaluations from both mother, father and their children were used. They reported that there was reduced conflict between the parents. Overall the course not only helped to improve the parenting quality, it also helped to reduce signs of depression and anxiety in children. They found that the online program had better effects than the in person program. Wolchik said, “The eNew Beginnings Program was designed to be highly interactive and engaging in its focus on teaching parents how to identify obstacles to practicing the skills they learn which is a key part of the program.”
They found that because parents could take the course at their own convenience, there was a higher completion rate as opposed to the in person course. They didn’t have to juggle work or child care arrangements to attend the course.
Wolchik and Sandler have worked for years to expand availability of their web based court because they know it is successful, and parents are more likely to complete the course. Not only because of the flexibility of being able to take the course on their own schedule, but also because of the expense of an in person course. They found the average cost of the in person program is roughly $700 per family. Over half of the participants in the study completed the course by using their smart phone. Of the participants in the study, 80% felt that family courts should encourage parents who are divorcing to take the online course. The study was funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. More information about the eNew Beginning Program can be found at divorceandparenting.com
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Attorney Robert “Chip” Mues has been focusing his legal practice throughout Southwest Ohio primarily in divorce and family law matters since 1978. Chip is passionate about family law and has proudly published the Ohio Family Law Blog since 2007. In addition, he is the managing partner of Holzfaster, Cecil, McKnight & Mues. To learn more about him or the law firm, visit the firm’s website at www.hcmmlaw.com. Appointments are available in person, over the phone or by Zoom. Call us at 937 293-2141.
