FOCUS ON THE KIDS
Helping Your Child Cope
Co-parenting offers a variety of challenges even in the best of conditions.
Focus on the Kids offers parents the opportunity to understand the impact
divorce and separation can have on their child(ren). Parents who are more
aware of this impact are prepared to make decisions that promote the well
being of their child(ren). The program assists parents in developing solutions to
common and unique dilemmas faced by families during this process of change.
Parents will have the opportunity to learn effective ways of communicating
with each other and learn to make decisions that are in the best interests of
their child(ren).
Designed as a four-hour educational class, Focus on the Kids seeks to assist
parents in understanding and responding to the needs of their child(ren) and
to help their children in coping with their feelings.
Focus on the Kids covers:
• Parents Forever
• Developing a Parenting Plan
• Communicating with Your Children When Parents
End Their Relationship
• Communicating with the Other Parent
• Helping Children Cope
• Stages of Loss and Grief
• How Loss Affects Child Development
• Parenting Time
• Emotional Games Parents and Children Play
• Dealing with Anger
Note: This program is designed to offer parents the opportunity to learn
about, and discuss the effects of divorce and separation on minor children.
This class is intended to educate parents not counsel them.
REGISTRATION AND CLASS INFORMATION
The registration fee is $90 per person (materials included) and is due in full at
the time of registration. The fee is paid to McHenry County College; DO NOT
pay the Court. Personal checks are not accepted. Money order, credit card,
or debit card are accepted methods of payment.
At the time of registration, please identify your CASE NUMBER if available.
Participants attend either two two-hour classes or one four-hour class. You
may attend either two consecutive Tuesdays from 7–9 p.m. or a four-hour
Saturday class.
Participants must complete a total of four hours to receive their certicate
of completion. Latecomers will not be admitted to class. Participants must
complete the program within four months of their start date, or MCC
may require that participant pay the registration fee in full to
re-register. Here are other important details:
• A $15 fee will be charged for replacement certicates.
• It is court mandated that parents cannot attend the same class.
• Children are not allowed in the class. Please make
childcare arrangements.
• Non-English speaking parents need to provide their own interpreter.
• Each reschedule will result in a $25 rescheduling fee. To reschedule,
call (815) 479-7591.
Who Must Participate?
The McHenry County Judges are concerned for the welfare of children of
divorce and separation. The class is mandated for any parent in the process
of divorce or who is involved in after-divorce proceedings in which there are
minor children involved. Parents involved in parentage actions and ordered
by the court must also attend.
Facilitators
All program facilitators are mental health professionals with a master’s
degree in the eld of mental health or attorneys who specialize in family law
cases. All facilitators have extensive experience in dealing with the effects of
divorce and separation on minor children.
