How to Organize a Divorce Recovery Program

With about 50 percent of marriages ending in divorce, many churches are organizing divorce recovery programs to help men and women cope with this difficult and often traumatic life experience and to provide a safe and supportive environment for newly divorced people to begin healing. A successful divorce recovery program will include speakers to address both the emotional and more practical issues that accompany divorce.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Call your church to get in touch with the staff person who handles caring or recovery programs.

2. Organize a committee that includes a core group of divorced people. You can model your workshop on other churches' programs.

3. Plan the agenda with topics such as coping with loss, the emotional aspects of divorce, the legal logistics, getting finances in order and helping children cope. You will need to find speakers who are experts in their topics. Most divorce recovery programs have 10 to 12 sessions, and they include time for attendees to break into small groups for discussion.

4. Set a date. No day will be perfect for everybody, but try to plan a date that works well in your community. Many churches use the Sunday School hour, since the church provides child care during that time.

5. Advertise your divorce recovery program. You will want to get the word out to other churches and to the community. If this is the first divorce recovery program in your city, you can probably get some good newspaper coverage.

6. Be at each session to welcome both speakers and attendees. Provide name tags and refreshments.

7. Meet with your committee after the sessions are finished to critique the program and make appropriate changes for the next series.

Tips & Warnings

• Once you feel confident about the program, you can organize a divorce recovery workshop for children.