CHILDREN IN THE MIDDLE (CIM)
Beneficial for Professionals

CDE has developed a comprehensive education program for divorcing families: Children in the Middle(CIM) . CIM is endorsed nationally by judges, lawyers, mediators, psychologists, and teachers.

The interactive, online program elicits more interest and engagement from many parents than a discussion group, the usual format of a divorce education class. Privacy reduces defensiveness, which when combined with the required interactivity thereby improving learning. The program design is patterned after the Parenting Wisely program, which has achieved unheard of gains in parent and child performance. When this program is used in combination with a group discussion parent education program, we expect the added advantages of the group experience, plus repetition of key curricula concepts and skills will result in more improvements in parents’ abilities to protect their children from maladjustment and reduce their conflict.

The interactive, online program differs from the Children in the Middle video in several important ways:

1. There is an additional scene for each of the five family scenarios depicting an inappropriate method of reacting to conflict
2. Following each video scenario, parents are asked questions causing them to think about what they saw and recognize common mistakes parents make in dealing with conflict, and learn skills to deal with conflict, then they see the answers which point out critical content
3. Parents are quizzed on the content of each scenario, receiving feedback on their choices
4. Parents can get additional information and skill training by linking to more elaborate material within the program or going to other websites embedded within the program
5. Parents have to demonstrate competence with the material to pass the course
6. Referring agencies/professionals can monitor parents’ program completion and performance via our website

The Children in the Middle program, which is a SAMHSA Model Program (the only divorce education program so designated) is backed by a guarantee. If an evaluation of the program’s impact does not show significant decreases in parental conflict or children’s stress (as measured by psychometrically sound instruments), the Center for Divorce Education will refund the purchase price.

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