Focus on Kids:
Working Through Divorce

More than half of all marriages end in divorce, and the majority of these involve children. Conflict between parents, both before and after a divorce, is associated with many negative outcomes in children. The purpose of this workshop is to help parents learn how to nurture and support their children during and after their divorce. Focus on Kids participants will:

• Understand the importance of involvement of both parents in their children’s lives.
• Receive information about children’s needs and reactions to divorce, according to their developmental level.
• Learn specific behaviors that are helpful in co-parenting and those that should be avoided.
• Obtain information about additional community resources for families of divorce.

This workshop was developed by the faculty of the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at the University of Missouri.

This page briefly describes one of many programs offered through University of Missouri Extension. Workshops are scheduled periodically based on the needs and interests expressed by local citizens. Not all of these workshops are available in every county, and specialists may present additional workshops that cover topics not included on this list. Contact your nearest Extension Regional Specialist for more information about the programs that are available in your area

Focus on Kids satisfies the state mandate requiring parents who are divorcing to attend an educational parenting program. It is conducted in cooperation with Missouri’s circuit courts. 

The following resources contain additional information about how to work through divorce.

Missouri Extension Guides

• GH6602 Activities for Helping Children Deal With Divorce
• GH6601 Focus On Families: Divorce and Adults
• GH6600 Focus On Kids: Helping Children Understand Divorce

Focus on Kids Links

• http://outreach.missouri.edu/cooper/fok/index.shtml