A Judge’s Guide

Preliminary Parenting Plan
The National Family Resiliency Center, Inc. (formerly The Children of Separation and
Divorce Center, Inc.) staff developed a Preliminary Parenting Plan based on its childfocused
approach to parental decision making. Parents learn about child development, the
impact of divorce, and appropriate parenting to meet children’s needs at parent education
classes. They are encouraged to think about the unique needs of each child in the family
and develop separate parenting agreements for focus on each of the developmental
considerations, discussed in Chapter 3, and in all parenting seminars, as it applies to a
specific child. For example, the Preliminary Parenting Plan categorizes developmental
needs related to safety and security as Health Needs, Day Care, Provisions for Physical
and Psychological Safety, Discipline and Co-parent Communication. Parents can
subscribe to an online program, www.familyconnex.org, which offers a step-by-step
process to complete a comprehensive needs assessment and then a parenting plan. A
manual is available as a resource for parents.
Parents learn what specific parenting behaviors and responsibilities are needed to meet a
child’s particular needs. After completion of the Preliminary Parenting Plan or the
FamilyConnex© program, parents have greater awareness and understanding of their
respective roles in meeting the developmental needs of a child as well as a sense of what
gaps remain. Perhaps most importantly, parents learn through the process of attending
parenting seminars and completing parenting programs like FamilyConnex that the many
needs of children require both parents’ involvement, communication and, renegotiation.
Risa Garon, LCSW-C, BCD, CFLE
Executive Director
National Family Resiliency Center, Inc.
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