Digital solutions developed to support divorced families

"There is a great need for effective online programs to support and educate separated parents," said Larry Ganong, co-chair of Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) in the College of Human Environmental Sciences. "In many cases, parents who divorce also move apart, and relocation makes it difficult to attend court-mandated trainings or develop effective strategies for co-parenting. Children are often the ones who suffer when parents don't take steps to minimize issues caused by separation."

HDFS researchers developed Focus on Kids Online, a training course that helps parents going through divorce build stronger, more supportive relationships with their children. The Web-based program is designed to offer parents an alternative to in-person trainings. After completion of the course, parents reported improved relationships and better awareness of separation-related problems and how to solve them, according to new HDFS research by David Schramm, assistant professor, and Graham McCaulley, HDFS doctoral student.

The face-to-face version of Focus on Kids satisfies the Missouri law that requires parents who are divorcing to attend an educational program. It is conducted in cooperation with Missouri's circuit courts and available in 50 counties. Ganong says the online program is growing and will be made available to other states in the future.

The MU researchers offer tips for separated and divorced parents:

• Avoid criticizing the other parent and arguing in front of children.
• Reassure children that conflict and divorce are not their fault.
• Plan relaxing activities for kids to make transitions between households less stressful.
• Establish consistent routines and responsibilities in each household.
• Avoid using the child as a messenger -- discuss parenting and financial issues directly.
• Avoid asking questions about other parent, which can make children uncomfortable.

The online program was developed by McCaulley, Schramm, Ganong and Marilyn Coleman, Curator's professor of human development and family studies. MU researchers, including Shaun Calix, HDFS doctoral student, and Schramm, HDFS state extension specialist, will continue to evaluate the program's effectiveness online and in-person.