How to Become a Co-Parenting Instructor in Michigan
Nearly one in every two marriages ends in divorce, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. A large number of those families include children, and parents often have a difficult time managing custody issues and learning how to parent together to provide the continuity, structure and emotional support children need. While the state of Michigan does not have any licensing or regulatory requirements for co-parenting instructors, there are many paths to becoming a co-parenting instructor to make a difference in your state and local community.
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Instructions
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Educate yourself in co-parenting theories and methods as well as adult teaching techniques. Attend parenting or co-parenting classes; take courses in family development at a local community college; and study literature related to co-parenting, the effects of divorce on family, basic therapeutic principles and teaching methods. If you have the time and financial resources to travel, consider becoming a Certified Co-Parenting Instructor through the Conscious Co-Parenting Institute located in California.
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Research the needs of your community. Contact your local Michigan Children's Services or Court Appointed Special Advocate, CASA, office, schools, divorce support groups and area family or divorce therapists to gain information about what parenting classes are already available. Let these agencies know you intend to offer a co-parenting program and ask about possible referrals or collaborative opportunities.
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Develop a curriculum and class materials or gain permission to utilize an existing co-parenting program. Evaluate the materials offered in existing programs and modify them to better fit the needs of your local community. Additionally, gather a list of helpful resources for parents and families, such as public assistance agencies, divorce or marriage and family therapists and family-oriented activities and businesses in the area. The state-maintained Mi Parent Resources website is a good place to start building your list.
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Find a location to hold your co-parenting class. This could be your home, a community recreation or education center, local college or a local public agency. The Michigan Association of Community and Adult Education collaborates with centers all over the state and is a good resource for contacting local community education centers and programs. Once you have a location, set fees, a schedule and class policies.
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Advertise your co-parenting class and begin teaching. As you gain more experience instructing parents and working with the groups, modify your class materials and develop new ones to better address common parent and family concerns. You may also wish to begin offering individual instruction sessions with couples or families.
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