Clallam County Superior Court

		
		
            ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER OF JANUARY 1, 1996 ESTABLISHING
           STANDARDS FOR PARENTING SEMINARS AS REQUIRED BY LCR 95


     The Clallam County Superior Court hereby adopts the
following standards for parenting seminars:

     (a) Mandatory Requirement.  Where required by local court
         rule or by court order, parties shall participate in, and
         successfully complete, an approved parenting seminar within
         60 days after service of a petition or initiating motion on
         the respondent.

     (b) Approved Parenting Seminar.  An approved parenting
         seminar is one that complies with the seminar content and
         instructor qualifications standards set forth in paragraphs
         (d) and (e) of this Order and has received Court approval.

     (c) Fees.  Each parent attending a seminar shall pay a fee
         charged by the approved provider agency.  A sliding fee
         scale shall be available.  The seminars shall be conducted
         at no cost to the County.

     (d) Seminar Content.  The seminar content will be approved
         by the Court, and shall include, at a minimum:

         (1)  the developmental stages of childhood;
         (2)  stress indicators in children;
         (3)  age appropriate expectations of children;
         (4)  the impact of divorce on children;
         (5)  the grief process;
         (6)  reducing stress for children through an amicable divorce;
         (7)  the long term impact of parental conflict on children;
         (8)  visitation recommendations to enhance the child’s
              relationship with both parents;
         (9)  financial obligations of child rearing;
         (10) conflict management and dispute resolution;
         (11) communication skills for divorced parents;
         (12) practical skills for working together; and
         (13) the impact on children when stepparents and blended
              families enter their lives.

     (e) Qualifications of Instructors.  Parenting seminars will
         be conducted by a team of two instructors, including one
         male and one female.  In certain circumstances, where two
         instructors are unavailable, then one instructor may conduct
         the seminar.  Instructors shall have the following minimum
         credentials and experience.

         (1)  a bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology or other
              related behavioral science;

         (2)  supervised experience in treatment of emotionally
              disturbed children, adolescents and their families;

         (3)  experience in providing a wide range of mental health
              services to children and families, with specific experience
              in the areas of separation/divorce, loss and grief, and
              blended families.

         (4)  extensive knowledge of child development, age
              appropriate expectations for children, and positive parenting;

         (5)  experience in group treatment and/or facilitating
              classes and seminars;

         (6)  an ability to work with other agencies as part of a
              collaborative program; and

         (7)  strong oral communication skills.

         When parties choose to use agencies or religious
         organizations which are not already approved by the
         Court, the Court may modify or waive the foregoing
         qualifications for the instructors upon a showing of
         other indicia of competence and experience.

     (f) Length.  The seminars shall, at a minimum, be three
         hours in length.

     (g) Referrals for Other Services.  During the seminar,
         referral resources will be made available to the parents,
         and their children, including individual and family
         counseling drug/alcohol counseling, anger management
         counseling, parenting classes, mediation, etc.  These
         services are optional, and the parties must seek their own
         funding resources.


    DATED this 29th day of December, 1995.