Lessons From the Field: Developing a Multisite Divorce Education Evaluation Tool

Abstract

In this Lessons from the Field, we describe the lessons we learned from developing the Divorce Education Assessment Collaborative (DEAC) and creating a longitudinal evaluation plan for divorce education programs across geographically, programmatically, and format-diverse programs. Background: Although divorce education programs are commonly mandated for divorcing parents, variability in program content, format, and design can make it difficult to determine the efficacy of such programs. We contend developing a standardized evaluation tool, and making it freely available to programs, is essential for identifying best practices and moderators of program effectiveness. Experience: Members of the DEAC share their experiences and insights regarding successes and challenges in coordinating and collaborating to develop an evaluation tool that is concise, but provides key information

Working on what works: A critical reflection on the past, present, and future of parenting education programs for divorcing and separating parents

“…This was apparent in the I Help Myself type of parents identified by Beckmeyer and Russell (2024) and has also been raised as issues in our own emerging multi‐program work (Markham et al, 2023), and in prior qualitative research (Markham & Coleman, 2012). Parents who view their former partners as either unable or unwilling to coparent see this as a barrier to implementing the information or skills learned in parent education programs (Markham et al, 2023). Parent educators could suggest and teach parallel parenting as an intentional strategy for families (Puhlman et al, 2023) as an alternative to cooperative coparenting in these situations and others (e.g., IPV, high conflict).…”

“…Scholars have also called for parent educators to partner with other programs to effectively provide referrals for parents who need additional services (e.g., mental health, IPV, substance use; Beckmeyer & Russell, 2024; Markham et al, 2023; Schramm & Becher, 2020). Beckmeyer and Russell (2024) provide ideas for additional collaborations, including opportunities for divorce educators, family lawyers, and family courts to work together to develop accurate informational resources to provide families additional guidance on navigating legal systems, such as custody arrangements, child support, and the legal divorce process.…”

Rethinking utility in divorce education: Use of multi‐program evaluation data to uncover markers of post‐divorce adjustment

“…Bridging Parental Conflict was developed by two licensed marriage and family therapists in the state of Minnesota, and is offered as an online divorce education program that is designed for parents who are engaged in conflict with their former partners to help them manage themselves in the conflict and lessen the stress their children feel in All three programs were evaluated using a standardized evaluation tool and process (see Markham et al, 2021).…”

“…Data from all programs utilized a consistent evaluation tool developed by the Divorce Education Assessment Collaborative (see Markham et al, 2021), an expert group of researchers and educators that consulted with a larger advisory board of key stakeholders in the development and implementation of divorce education programming. Items were selected for inclusion in the evaluation tool based upon a comprehensive review of literature, including systematic reviews of both core content areas for divorce education programming (Schramm et al, 2018) and available assessment tools (Guyette et al, 2023).…”

A call for early, effective, and scalable parent education programs for high‐conflict separated/divorcing parents: A synthesized perspective from prevention science and family law

“…This is, in part, due to the many barriers to systematic evaluation of programs in community settings, including adequate training in program evaluation, funding, and access to appropriate assessment tools. Notably, there is an ongoing recent initiative to develop a standardized divorce education evaluation tool as an initial step toward understanding the effects of programs across jurisdictions (Markham et al, 2021).…”