The Pierce County Superior Court Judges find that it is in the best interest of any child whose parents or custodians are involved in specific court proceedings to provide such parents with an educational workshop concerning the IMPACT family restructuring has on their child.
The workshop offers parents tools to help ensure that their child's emotional needs will not be overlooked during the legal processes, to encourage parents to agree on child-related matters, and to aid in maximizing the use of court time.
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The Impact on Children Seminar shall provide information concerning the impact family restructuring has on children.
The Superior Court Judges (or a committee designated by the Judges) adopted guidelines governing the content of the seminar, the minimum credentials and experience required of seminar instructors and administrative requirements of an acceptable program. The judges' committee will review submitted proposals and approve those programs which meet the outlined criteria below. Both the seminar content guidelines and the instructors' minimum qualifications were adopted as a Superior Court Administrative Policy.
Copies of the Superior Court Administrative Policy are available from Pierce County Superior Court Administration and also in the Local Rules. See Part VI, Administrative Policies, Policy 5 regarding the Impact on Children Seminar.
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The Impact on Children Seminar shall provide information concerning the impact family restructuring has on children. The seminar must contain these minimum elements:
- the developmental stages of childhood;
- stress indicators in children;
- age appropriate expectations of children;
- the impact of divorce on children;
- the grief process;
- reducing stress for children through an amicable resolution of disputes;
- the long term impact of parental conflict on children;
- importance of child's relationships with both parents, and with extended family members, and fostering those relationships;
- communication skills for divorced parents;
- practical skills for working together;
- impact on children when step-parents and blended families enter their lives.
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Applicable Cases
Pierce County Local Rule for Special Proceedings 94.05, effective September 1, 2000, addresses the Impact on Children mandatory seminar. This rule shall apply to all cases filed after September 1, 2000 under Ch. 26.09, Ch. 26.10, or Ch. 26.26 RCW which require a parenting plan or residential schedule for minor children; including dissolutions, legal separations, major modifications, paternity actions in which paternity has been established, and non-parental custody actions.
Mandatory Attendance
In all cases governed by this rule, all parties shall complete an approved parenting seminar.
In no case shall opposing parties be required to attend a seminar together, nor more than one seminar.
Timing
Parties required by this rule to participate in a parenting seminar shall complete an approved parenting seminar within 60 days after service of the petition or motion initiating the action which is subject to this rule. In the case of paternity actions initiated by the prosecuting attorney's office, the parenting seminar shall be required only when paternity is established or acknowledged and a residential schedule is requested.
Fees
Each party attending a seminar shall pay a fee charged by the approved providers and sanctioned by the court. The fees charged shall be approved by the Court and shall be no greater than $60 per seminar, unless otherwise approved by the Superior Court Judges. The court may waive the fee for indigent parties.
Approved Providers
Special Consideration Waiver
Upon a showing of domestic violence or abuse which would not require mutual decision-making, pursuant to RCW 26.09.191, or that a parent's attendance at a seminar is not in the child's best interest, pursuant to Ch. 26.12 RCW, the court shall either:
- waive the requirement of completion of the seminar; or
- allow participation in an alternative voluntary parenting seminar for battered spouses.
The court may waive the seminar requirement for good cause shown.
When parties choose to use agencies or religious organizations which have received prior approval by the court, the court may approve the seminar upon a showing of functional equivalency regarding course content and instructor qualifications.
Failure to Comply
Willful refusal to participate in a parenting seminar or willful delay in completion of a parenting seminar by any party may constitute contempt of court and result in sanctions, including, but not limited to, imposition of monetary terms, striking of pleadings or denial of affirmative relief to a party not in compliance with this rule. Non-participation, or default, by one party does not excuse participation by the other.
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A team of not less than two instructors, one male and one female shall conduct impact on Children Seminar. Instructors should be familiar with the required statutory provisions of parenting plans, and have the following minimum credentials and experience.
A. Master's Degree in Social Work, Psychology or other related behavioral science;
B. Supervised experience in treatment of emotionally disturbed children, adolescents and their families;
C. 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;
D. Extensive knowledge of child development, age appropriate expectations for children, and positive parenting;
E. Substantial knowledge of the impact on children of alcohol/drug abuse by family members;
F. An ability to work with other agencies as part of a collaborative program;
G. Strong oral communications skills;
Changes in instructors shall not occur without approval by the judges' committee. Instructors may not solicit business during the seminar.
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A. Fees
Collection of the fees are the responsibility of the approved provider. The seminars shall be conducted at no cost to the county's general revenue allocation to the court.
B. Sliding Fee Scale and Waiver
The provider shall develop a sliding fee scale and waiver for individuals unable to pay (indigent parties).
C. Certificate of Completion
The provider shall give each attendee a Certificate of Completion. The certificate shall include the name of the person attending the seminar, the location and date of attendance and the Superior Court Cause Number. The provider shall also advise each attendee that he or she must file their Certificate of Completion with the court.
D. Attendance at Seminar
In no case shall opposing parties be required to attend a seminar together; nor more than one seminar.
E. Number and Length of Seminars
The provider shall develop a schedule of seminars that will accommodate individuals who work during the day and those who work during the evenings.
F. Number of Participants
The provider shall propose a minimum and maximum number of participants for each seminar. As well as indicate the minimum number of participants required in order to present the seminar.
G. Location of Seminars
The provider shall propose the location(s) of seminars to accommodate seminar attendees who will come from all areas of Pierce County.
Approved Providers
H. Evaluations
The provider shall conduct anonymous written evaluations at the end of each of seminar. A report summarizing the responses shall be given to the Superior Court Judges' Committee quarterly.
I. Instructors
Changes in instructors shall not occur without approval of the Superior Court Judges' Committee. Instructors may not solicit business during the seminar.
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