Working on what works: A critical reflection on the past, present, and future of parenting education programs for divorcing and separating parents

• Published date: 01 July 2024
• Author: Melinda Stafford Markham,Anthony J. Ferraro
• Date: 01 July 2024
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/fcre.12799

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Working on what works: A critical reflection on the

past, present, and future of parenting education

programs for divorcing and separating parents

Melinda Stafford Markham | Anthony J. Ferraro

Department of Applied Human Sciences,

Kansas State University, Manhattan,

Kansas, USA

Correspondence

Melinda Stafford Markham, Department of

Applied Human Sciences, 1324 Lovers Ln.,

Manhattan, KS 66506, USA.

Email: mmarkham@ksu.edu

Abstract

In this commentary, we revisit the current state of research

on parenting education programs for divorcing and separat-

ing parents and reflect on what scholars have rec-

ommended as priorities for future research. We then

explore how the collection of articles in this special issue

advance those priorities in meaningful ways. Topics

addressed include recommendations for parenting educa-

tion program content, parenting education to better meet

families' needs, and measurement of program effectiveness.

Implications for practitioners, family court professionals,

and researchers are discussed.

KEYWORDS

co-parenting, family diversity, intervention for divorcing parents,

parenting after divorce, programming and curricula development

and evaluation

Parenting education programs for divorcing families were initially introduced in the 1970s to help prevent or mini-

mize the potential negative consequences of divorce for children and adults (Salem et al., 2013). These programs

were initially developed in the aftermath of no-fault divorce laws coming into prominence and a perceived need to

provide support and guidance for a now burgeoning subpopulation. As divorce rates rose, so too did the need for

these programs. Interestingly, divorce rates reached a peak in 1980 and have slightly declined since that time

(Schweizer, 2020), remaining largely stagnant relative to the marriage rate. However, there have been drastic

increases in the number of divorce education programs over the years. Geasler and Blaisure's (1998) review of

divorce education programs in the United States identified 37 such programs. Despite the continued slight decline in

divorce rate since that review, over the past three decades, we have seen a massive increase in the number of

DOI: 10.1111/fcre.12799

© 2024 Association of Family and Conciliation Courts.

Family Court Rev. 2024;62:605–610. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/fcre 605