Parents Forever is a parenting intervention for divorced/separated (or divorcing/separating) parents with a child between the ages of 0 and 18. It is delivered by a trained facilitator to groups of up to 15 parents over three sessions lasting four to eight hours each.
The information above is as offered/supported by the intervention provider.
Antenatal to 0 years old
Group
Parents Forever is a parenting intervention for divorced or separated parents with a child aged between 0 and 18 years.
Parents Forever is available in a variety of formats. This description and intervention assessment relates to the eight-hour version that is delivered by facilitators to groups of 15 parents. The length of the sessions depends on the day of the week it is held. For example, it could be delivered in one eight-hour day if delivered on a Saturday, or in two four-hour sessions if held on a weeknight.
The purpose of the Parents Forever intervention is to help parents understand the issues children face when parents separate or divorce, and to provide parents with the motivation and skills to help them co-parent effectively in a way that supports their child’s needs.
The Parents Forever content includes five consecutive components:
Parent learning is supported through self-reflection, group discussion, interactive exercises (like video and follow-up activity), self-assessment, and action planning.
0 to 18 years old
Parents of at least one child aged 0 to 18 years who are divorced/separated, or divorcing/separating
Disclaimer: The information in this section is as offered/supported by the intervention provider.
Science-based assumption
Parental separation, divorce, and the immediate time afterwards represents a stressful transition in the family lifecycle
Parental separation is known to increase the risk of child emotional and behavioural problems during childhood and adolescence.
Science-based assumption
Avoiding conflict and working effectively as co-parents can reduce the stress children experience during parental divorce and separation.
Science-based assumption
Separating parents can benefit from advice on improving the co-parenting relationship and reducing inter-parental conflict.
Intervention
Parents learn to:
Work effectively as co-parents while living apart
Reduce inter-parental conflict
Support their children’s needs through active listening skills
Encourage positive child behaviour
Implement age-appropriate discipline.
Short-term
Parents are better able to work effectively as co-parents
Families are better able to manage conflict
Parents experience improved wellbeing
Parent–child interaction improves.
Medium-term
Families are better able to manage post-separation
Children’s emotional wellbeing is supported
Children’s behaviour improves.
Long-term
Children are at less risk of emotional and behavioural problems.
Parents of at least one child aged 0 to 18 years who are divorced/separated, or divorcing/separating.
Parents Forever is of eight hours’ duration and is delivered in three sessions of varying duration by facilitators to groups of 15 parents.
The purpose of the Parents Forever intervention is to facilitate awareness of issues faced by children when parents separate or divorce, and to provide parents with the motivation and skills needed to communicate and co-parent together, so as to best help their children cope with the separation process.
The Parents Forever course covers topics such as Taking Care of Yourself, Taking Care of Your Children, and Being Successful with Co-parenting. The activities of the intervention include self-reflection, group discussion, interactive exercises (like video and follow-up activity), self-assessment, and action planning.
The practitioner who delivers this intervention is a facilitator with no qualification requirements beyond intervention training.
The practitioners have four hours of programme training. Booster training of practitioners is not required.
Supervision of practitioners delivering the intervention from the host agency is determined by the host site.
Intervention fidelity is maintained through the following processes:
Contact person: Ellie McCann; Kate Welshons
Organisation: University of Minnesota
Email address: mccan023@umn.edu; wels0107@umn.edu
Website: https://extension.umn.edu/courses-and-events/parents-forever-online
*Please note that this information may not be up to date. In this case, please visit the listed intervention website for up to date contact details.
Parents Forever’s most rigorous evidence comes from a single comparison group study conducted in the United States consistent with Foundations’ Level 2 evidence strength criteria.
This study observed statistically significant improvements in Parenting Forever parents’ reports of their child’s emotional wellbeing, prosocial behaviour, conduct problems, and problems with peers than parents not receiving the intervention. Parenting Forever parents were additionally more likely to report improved positive co-parenting alliance, improved physical, psychological, and environmental wellbeing, increased self-efficacy, and improved parenting practices (including reduced inconsistent discipline and reduced poor supervision) in comparison to parents not receiving the intervention.
Parents Forever has preliminary evidence of improving a child outcome, but we cannot be confident that the intervention caused the improvement.
| Identified in search | 5 |
| Studies reviewed | 1 |
| Meeting the L2 threshold | 1 |
| Meeting the L3 threshold | 0 |
| Contributing to the L4 threshold | 0 |
| Ineligible | 4 |
| Study design | Comparison group study |
| Country | United States |
| Sample characteristics | 222 parents, including 80 participants who were court-mandated to attend Parents Forever by a local judge within 60 to 90 days of filing for divorce, and 142 similar divorcing parents in the comparison group |
| Race, ethnicities, and nationalities |
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| Population risk factors | Parents were all either divorced/separated or divorcing/separating. The parents in the intervention group had been court mandated to attend Parents Forever, resulting from their involvement in legal proceedings for divorce/separation. |
| Timing |
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| Child outcomes |
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| Other outcomes |
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| Study rating | 2 |
| Citations | Becher, E. H., Mcguire, J. K., McCann, E. M., Powell, S., Cronin, S. E. & Deenanath, V. (2018) Extension-based divorce education: A quasi-experimental design study of the Parents Forever Program. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage. 59 (8), 633–652. |
The following studies were identified for this intervention but did not count towards the intervention’s overall evidence rating. An intervention receives the same rating as its most robust study or studies.
Becher, E. H., Cronin, S., McCann, E., Olson, K. A., Powell, S.,& Marczak, M. S. (2015) Parents Forever: Evaluation of an online divorce education program. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage. 56 (4), 261–276. This reference refers to a pre-post study, conducted in the USA.
Brotherson, S. E., White, J. & Masich, C. (2010) Parents Forever: An assessment of the perceived value of a brief divorce education program. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage. 51 (8), 465–490. This reference refers to a pre-post study, conducted in the USA.
Brotherson, S. E., Rittenbach, C. & White, J. M. (2012) Impacts of Parents Forever on parental behavior and adjustment during divorce: A short-term follow-up evaluation study. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage. 53 (4), 267–291. This reference refers to a pre-post study, conducted in the USA.
Cronin, S., Becher, E. H., McCann, E., McGuire, J. & Powell, S. (2017) Relational conflict and outcomes from an online divorce education program. Evaluation and Program Planning. 62, 49–55. This reference refers to a pre-post study, conducted in the USA.
Note on provider involvement: This provider has agreed to Foundations’ terms of reference (or the Early Intervention Foundation's terms of reference), and the assessment has been conducted and published with the full cooperation of the intervention provider.
Rated 1: Set up and delivery is low cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of less than £100.
Rated 2: Set up and delivery is medium-low cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of £100–£499.
Rated 3: Set up and delivery is medium cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of £500–£999.
Rated 4: Set up and delivery is medium-high cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of £1,000–£2,000.
Rating 5: Set up and delivery is high cost. Equivalent to an estimated unit cost of more than £2,000.
Set up and delivery cost is not applicable, not available, or has not been calculated.
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Supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing child maltreatment: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Enhancing school achievement & employment: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing crime, violence and antisocial behaviour: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing substance abuse: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing risky sexual behaviour & teen pregnancy: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing obesity and promoting healthy physical development: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Rated 2: Has preliminary evidence of improving a child outcome from a quantitative impact study, but there is not yet evidence of causal impact.
Rated 2+: Meets the level 2 rating and the best available evidence is based on a study which is more rigorous than a level 2 standard but does not meet the level 3 standard.
Rated 3: Has evidence of a short-term positive impact from at least one rigorous study.
Rated 3+: Meets the level 3 rating and has evidence from other studies with a comparison group at level 2 or higher.
Rated 4: Has evidence of a long-term positive impact through at least two rigorous studies.
Rated 4+: Meets the level 4 rating and has at least a third study contributing to the Level 4 rating, with at least one of the studies conducted independently of the intervention provider.
Rating has a *: The evidence base includes mixed findings i.e., studies suggesting positive impact alongside studies, which on balance, indicate no effect or negative impact.
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