Florida Department of Children & Families Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course Providers

Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course Provider

Approved by Florida Department of Children & Families

www.ParentingApart.com at Tom Wilson Counseling Center

How the Best Interests of the Child are Determined by the Court

Under Florida Statute 61.13(3) the courts must consider the following factors when ruling on custody and

the primary residence of the child:

For purposes of shared parental responsibility and primary residence, the best interests of the child shall include an evaluation of all factors affecting the welfare and interests of the child, including, but not limited to:

1. The parent who is more likely to allow the child frequent and continuing contact with the nonresidential parent.
2. The love, affection, and other emotional ties existing between the parents and the child.
3. The capacity and disposition of the parents to provide the child with food, clothing, medical care or other remedial care recognized and permitted under the laws of this state in lieu of medical care, and other material needs.
4. The length of time the child has lived in a stable, satisfactory environment and the desirability of maintaining continuity.
5. The permanence, as a family unit, of the existing or proposed custodial home.
6. The moral fitness of the parents.
7. The mental and physical health of the parents.
8. The home, school, and community record of the child.
9. The reasonable preference of the child, if the court deems the child to be of sufficient intelligence, understanding, and experience to express a preference.
10. The willingness and ability of each parent to facilitate and encourage a close and continuing parent-child relationship between the child and the other parent.
11. Evidence that any party has knowingly provided false information to the court regarding a domestic violence proceeding pursuant to s. 741.30.
12. Evidence of domestic violence or child abuse.
13. (m) Any other fact considered by the court to be relevant.

Register for Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course at www.ParentingApart.com

Florida approved class for divorcing parents

Approved by the State of Florida

FLORIDA Parent Education and Stabilization Course: $34.95

Class Details: This Parent Education and Family Stabilization Class for divorcing parents is approved by the State of Florida's Department of Children and Families as a distance learning online course. It has also been approved in Texas and most other states.

Class Hours: 4 hours, including instruction and review questions.

Certificate of Completion: Certificate is FREE. Download certificate when course is completed.

Class Accreditation: This course has been licensed in Florida.

Class is Available: Anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Completion Time: Can be completed in one sitting or over several days.

How the Class Works: Our class teaches you everything online that you would learn in a traditional parenting classroom. Read interesting facts and answer simple review questions. Upon your successful completion of the class you will be able to download your certificate of completion.

Important Notice: The components of the parenting course are intended for educational purposes only. The presentation of this material is not intended to constitute mental health therapy, give information on specific mental health disorders nor medications to treat mental health disorders. Participants are encouraged to discuss specific mental health questions with a licensed mental health therapist of their choice.

More Information at www.parentingapart.com.

Technical Support: Telephone support is available at 1-877-368-9909 from the online class instructor from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Mountain Standard Time. Email support is available at support@twccsolutions.com.

Florida Parenting Classes

Online Florida Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course : $34.95

www.ParentingApart.com

Tom Wilson Counseling Center is a Florida Department of Children and Families APPROVED provider of Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course for divorcing parents' child custody court requirements in a divorce case. Complete our state approved parenting class online with Tom Wilson, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Internationally Certified Prevention Specialist. FREE Certificate of Completion included. Tom Wilson Counseling Center has been providing APPROVED classes online for Parenting, DUI, Alcohol, Drug, Anger, Theft, Traffic Safety and Cognitive Self Change since 2004. Instructor credentials can be viewed here: www.tomwilsoncounseling.com.

Florida Department of Children and Families Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course Provider. The course is a minimum of 4 hours and designed to educate, train, and assist divorcing parents in regard to the consequences of divorce on parents and children, as required by Florida Statute 61.21.

Contact us at support@twccsolutions.com or call Toll Free 1.877.368.9909 during office hours; Monday-Friday, 11am-7pm EDT/EST (9am-5pm MDT/MST) with questions. If you call before or after our regular office hours, please leave a message and we will return your call as soon as possible.

Biggest Mistakes Divorced Parents Make

What are the biggest mistakes divorced parents make?

Lorraine Segal , M.A.

While parents are divorcing and after they are divorced, they are often overwhelmed by all the changes in their lives. They may be filled with guilt, blame, rage, or grief. Though they, of course, love their children, it may be a huge challenge to manage emotions and conflict with their ex in a way that helps their children move through the changes and feel loved and secure. 

What can parents do to help their children?

• No self neglect. They can take care of themselves so they have energy to support the kids. 
• Say goodbye to their couple relationship. The relationship as a couple is over. Grieve, say goodby, and instead, focus on how to move forward together only as parents. 
• Let go of grudges and resentment. It is challenging but very doable to let go of what happened in the past and focus on making the present as good as possible. 
• Don’t go it alone. Conflict and forgiveness coaches can help parents work on communication skills and letting go of resentments. Support groups can give perspective that others are working on the same issues. Therapists can help with unresolved issues from your past that are intensifying the current situation. Parents deserve help, support, and skill building. 

Lorraine Segal is a conflict coach, trainer, and mediator specializing in transforming communication and resolving conflict for co-parents. Her business, Conflict Remedy, is based in Santa Rosa, California and she also works with clients via phone and Skype. She teaches in the conflict resolution program at Sonoma State University. To receive her free report, “Tips to Start Co-Parenting after Divorce, visit www.ConflictRemedy.com/co-parenting

Florida Mother Needs Parenting Class

NSB Mother Charged with Neglect after 2-year-old Climbs onto Roof

Originally published on www.news-journalonline.com
By Mark I. Johnson on October 11, 2012

A New Smyrna Beach mother was arrested on a charge of child neglect after a neighbor saw her 2-year-old daughter walking on the roof of her two-story house and called authorities.

A Volusia County sheriff's sergeant responded to the Van Kleeck Drive home shortly before 10 a.m. and saw a small dog on the roof and the youngster standing on an adjacent deck dressed only in a pair of underwear, the report said.

The sergeant watched as the youngster tried to crawl through a "makeshift" wire barrier that surrounded the deck and onto the roof, the report said.

The report said the sergeant announced his presence and made several attempts to contact anyone in the house for 15 minutes before the child's mother, Erica Hess, 24, came out onto the deck and picked up the child.

When questioned, the report said, Hess told a deputy she didn't know the youngster was on the roof. She claimed the little girl had been sitting on a bed in the next room as Hess moved a dresser in the bathroom.

The report indicated Hess initially said she had an unobstructed view of the child the entire time, but she changed her story, saying she closed the door while she used the bathroom. Hess told the deputy she was in the bathroom less than five minutes and when she emerged Hess said she saw the sergeant in her backyard and her daughter on the deck with the dog.

Despite the neighbor telling deputies he went to the front door of the home and tried to contact someone inside before calling the Sheriff's Office, the report said Hess claimed she did not believe anyone tried to contact her. She also told the investigating deputy that her daughter was capable of crawling through the deck barrier and "had followed the dog onto the roof," the report said.

The report said the little girl had several small scratches on her stomach and legs.

Hess was arrested on a charge of child neglect and taken to the Volusia County Branch Jail. She was released on her own recognizance after first appearance Wednesday, a jail official said, and could not be reached Thursday.

The youngster's grandmother came to the residence to take responsibility of the child.

Florida Approved Online Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course: $34.95

Florida Class for Divorcing Parents and Child Custody

Avoid Simple Mistakes when Selecting the Right Online Florida Parenting Class for Child Custody

© 2012 Thomas Wilson

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor 

Many Florida courts require divorcing parents to attend a parent education class to help resolve custody conflicts before granting a divorce involving minor children. A class might also be required to modify an existing court order.

This class is called the Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course, which  is a 4-hour parent education class for divorcing and separated parents. Certain Florida county courts allow parents to complete this course online. 

This class is typically very affordable, convenient, confidential, secure, and court-approved. Providers usually provide you with a certificate of completion at no additional charge which can be downloaded and printed at home after course completion. Most providers offer phone and email support.

However, a simple mistake such as choosing the wrong class or choosing the wrong online program provider could get you into even more trouble with the court.  If you want to resolve your case quickly, avoid these common mistakes.

Mistake # 1: Enrolling in a class from a provider that does not have the proper credentials or is not accredited or approved to provide Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course. 

Parenting classes are taught by professionals who are certified or licensed in counseling.  If you are unsure, ask for a copy of their license or credentials to provide to the court.   

Mistake #2: Enrolling in the wrong class.  Be sure to enroll in the right class that is required by the court. 

Normally these classes are called parent education classes or parent education and family stabilization courses.  Remember that a parenting class is different than an anger management class or psychological counseling.  If you are unsure or don’t know the exact name of the class, you should call the office of the program provider and ask for assistance. Licensed and credentialed course providers are happy to help you find the right class. 

Mistake #3: Enrolling in an online class without getting approval from your court or agency. 

An approved course provider will not encourage you to sign up unless you have gotten permission from the court or agency that requires the class.  Be sure you have permission from the court, agency or your attorney take the online class.  It’s always a good idea to call and get an OK. 

Mistake #4: Enrolling in the cheapest class. 

Just because the class is the cheapest, does not necessarily mean it will meet court requirements, or offer technical support. Some providers charge extra for certificates or other paper work required by the court. Inquire about all the cost involved in getting proof of enrollment, completion of certificates and mailing costs. Some providers make their money by charging inflated fees for services that are normally included at no cost by approved parent education programs.