Catholic Family Services
of Toronto

"PARENTS ARE FOREVER" PROGRAMME

EFFECTIVE CO-PARENTING IN SEPARATION AND DIVORCE

We are very pleased to announce that Catholic Family Services of Toronto has been awarded a 3 year grant from the Trillium Foundation in support of our new and very timely programme entitled PARENTS ARE FOREVER.

The focus of this programme is on assisting separating and divorcing parents to ensure that the best interests of their children are protected after divorce and separation. A well considered parenting plan can insure that the children’s needs continue to be fully met after separation and divorce. The programme aims to help divorcing parents move from emphasising parental rights to accepting parental responsibilities, ideally within the context and spirit of co-parenting.

According to a study by Statistics Canada, divorce is taking its toll on more children, and at younger ages, than ever before. Many children experiencing parental divorce and separation suffer fear, pain, anxiety, confusion and behavioural changes. In many cases, parental divorce affects not only the mental and emotional well-being, but also the physical health of the children. "Divorce and separation produce a sense of loss in the child, much the same as occurs when there is a death in the family. At the time of marital rupture, parental attention to the child is reduced." According to a recent report, divorce and separation will affect fifty per cent of children in Toronto schools by the time they reach the age of 18.

GOAL

The main goal of the programme is to assist parents to remain a positive and stable force in their children’s lives following their separation or divorce.

ACTIVITIES

The Parents Are ForEver programme aims to provide the following service activities:

INFORMATION AND EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS:
For parents considering divorce/separation on a variety of topics and issues, e.g.

  • impact of the dissolution of the marriage on the children and adults;
  • alternative dispute resolution systems;
  • communication and conflict resolution skills;
  • co-operative parenting;
  • needs of children at various age levels;
  • ways to protect and advance the best interests of minor children after the dissolution of the marriage.

    PARENTING PLAN CONSULTATION SERVICES:
    Parents are helped to develop an effective parenting plan which is specific to the unique structure, needs and resources of their family. Planning how to care for children after divorce is a difficult challenge. We help parents to explore options and make well considered and intelligent decisions in a parenting plan which will insure and protect the best interests of children while facilitating their capacity to parent fairly, comfortably and effectively in order to create a mutually acceptable arrangement for co-operative parenting after divorce. The programme provides specific assistance to the parents in preparation of a post divorce parenting plan that will be specific to the parental needs and abilities, and the best interests of children. The parenting plan will specifically cover:

    • the child(ren)’s social, physical, educational, and emotional care and well-being;
    • minimise the child(ren)’s exposure to harmful parental conflict and the dissolution of the marriage;
    • expecting each parent to fulfil his/her responsibilities to their children;
    • overall, protect and advance the best interests of the child(ren) and help them adjust to the changing family.

    The parents have the option to take the course separately, so they can’t intimidate or influence one other, especially in cases of domestic violence.

    COUNSELLING:
    We provide counselling to divorcing parents who need more individualised help in dealing with their specific issues.

    FATHERS FOREVER:
    Separation and divorce disrupt and undermine the relationship between the ‘absent’ parent and his/her children. As a result of high rates of divorce, there is a tremendous increase in the number of fatherless families in Toronto. The programme aims to inspire and equip fathers to continue to be a strong and a positive force in their children’s lives. The programme will assist fathers to:

    • adapt to their changed role as a parent and to continue to participate in the lives of their children;
    • increase their understanding of and their ability to respond to their children’s needs in separation/divorce;
    • develop skill to help their children cope with the many adjustments required after separation;
    • develop guidelines that help foster their children's well-being along with pit-falls to avoid;
    • observe clear, healthy boundaries with the ex-spouse and develop the ability to work out issues as adults without involving their children.

    For more information or to arrange an appointment, call Harvey Steinberg at 416-921-1163

    Catholic Family Services of Toronto gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, which receives annually $100 million in government funding generated through Ontario's charity casino initiative.