‘Mums and Dads Forever’ : A Cooperative Parenting Initiative

- a final workshop evaluation by the participants at the end of each workshop group,

- follow-up interviews with participants,

- case studies of participants to assess their progress during their involvement with the programme, and

- discussions with other stakeholders (such as the Family Court).

All participants in the workshops have an ‘intake’ interview to assess their readiness for group work. These results are used not only to discuss individual differences and different approaches to problem solving and communication during individual counselling sessions but also to divide and sub-group workshop participants for detailed discussions and problem-solving tasks during the workshops.

The Process and the Product

More than a hundred people have been referred to the programme. For some of these people, the initial contact discussion is sufficient for them to stabilise their particular situation. Other people have found that the three-hour forum satisfies their immediate needs. One young mother’s reaction exemplifies such an outcome:

"The realisation (and confirmation from the other people present) that I was not responsible for my four-year-old brushing her teeth while she was with her father was such a liberation. All sorts of things fell into place when I realised that I could not control what was happening in his house. I felt really free."

We have completed four six-week workshops of two hours each week. A total of 33 people have participated in these four groups. Notwithstanding their acknowledged reticence at attending such groups, we have been surprised by the number of men who have participated in the programme (23 men and 10 women). However, since the majority (about 80%) of non-resident parents (and hence contact parents) are men and a central theme of the programme is seeking to resolve contact issues, the disparity in participant’s sex is understandable.

Half of the participants in the groups were referred to the programme by the Family Court of Western Australia. Many had been separated for less than twelve months, and all had difficulties establishing a cooperative parenting relationship with their former partner.

The first workshop group consisted of only male participants, with two female facilitators. Although the men agreed that the group was successful, the formative evaluation suggested that mixed-sex groups with both a male and a female facilitator might be more beneficial. All subsequent groups have been conducted using this format.

A significant advantage of this sex mix has been the ability of both sexes to hear another point of view from someone with whom there is no emotional bond but who is in a similar position to their former partner. Thus, issues that might well provoke angry exchanges between former partners are discussed in a more objective (and accepting) fashion.