Contract for Participation in Co-Parent Education
We at Co-Parent Education of Ventura County realizing the sensitive nature of our program believe that there must be a good understanding by all participants of what takes place during the process. It is also important that all participants understand our position on confidentiality, our involvement in your court case, and what you may expect from us after you have “graduated” and received your Certificate of Completion.
Please read this Contract carefully. You will be required to sign it, confirming your understanding of its contents, prior to your formal admission to the course. If you have any questions about this Contract or its contents, you will be given a chance to have them answered at the beginning of the first class meeting and prior to the start of any instruction.
Background
Co-Parent Education is NOT counseling or psychotherapy. Co-Parent Education of Ventura County is a group of independent mental health professionals dedicated to the relief of family pain associated with separation and divorce through education.
About the Program
Co-Parent Education is a very structured, carefully organized, skill-based educational program that teaches parents of divorce new ways of communicating more effectively with one another. The goal is to equip parents with skills for working together for the best interest of the child(ren) in the spirit of a cooperative co-parenting business partnership.
Requirements
In order to graduate, and receive a Certificate of Completion, you must accomplish all of the following: 1) be on time and present to and for all class meetings, with no more than two minutes out of class in any one hour for any reason; 2) complete all assigned homework; 3) participate as required by the instructors in all in-class activities; 4) sign any and all agreements based on what you and your co-parent mutually choose to commit to do; and 5) pay all of your tuition.
Schedule of Classes
The first class begins at 5:30pm and ends at 9pm. The next four classes run from 6pm until 8:30pm.
A light evening meal will always be provided, but it is up to the individual to choose whether or not to participate.
Confidentiality
All of our educators and instructors are legally and ethically bound to respect the confidentiality of all students and participants. For this reason, Co-Parent Education of Ventura County will not release any information, written or verbally, to any third party without the proper legal authorization.
Unless there is a signed Release of Confidential Information form in our file, or a court order requiring a report be submitted, we will not release any information to anyone about your participation in Co-Parent Education. This includes attorneys, court mediators, new spouses and ‘significant others’, employers, etc.
As licensed mental health professionals, we are mandated by California law to report to the proper authorities, agencies, and/or individuals any suspected child abuse, endangerment, or neglect, any elder abuse, or any perceived risk you might present to yourself or to someone else.
Your Court Case
Our involvement with your court case is very limited at best. Usually this will involve the writing of a report to the court if so ordered. We do understand, however, that your court case is very important to you. You will not have the opportunity to share your story in class. In order to remain completely objective in our presentation, we ask that you not attempt to take us into your confidence regarding your case. During the course of the class opportunities may present themselves for general-type questions regarding the court process, we ask that any specifics, however, be reserved for either your attorney or other legal representative, or your individual counselor/therapist. Ventura County has an excellent Family Court Facilitator and can be reached by calling the Ventura Courthouse.
Other Services
As you complete your course you may find that you want to continue and draft a working Parenting Plan with your co-parent for your child(ren). We would encourage you to do just that. Should you decide that the assistance of a mediator would be helpful, your instructors are both qualified and highly respected court-experienced mediators. Arrangements can be made on an individual basis to enlist their assistance and expertise.
Agreement
After having read the above Contract for Participation in Co-Parent Education, I hereby agree by my signature to the terms and conditions stated therein. I understand that I may wait until the first class meeting to sign this document so that I may have all of my questions answered to my satisfaction. I also understand that if I do NOT agree with this contract, I will not be allowed to participate in the program offered by Co-Parent Education of Ventura County. I also understand that if, after making a commitment to attend, I fail to show up for the first class meeting, I will not be allowed to participate at any point in the future without special arrangements being made for me to do so.
© 2006 Co-Parent Education of Ventura County | website design:
| HOME | CLASSES & SCHEDULES | BIOGRAPHIES | RESOURCES | CONTACT |
