The Family Assistance and Parent Support Program

Application and Effectiveness

The Family Assistance and Parent Support Program was initially developed to address the wide-range of family-conflict situations relating to separation and divorce now experienced in the family-court system.  Additionally, the program is effective in addressing high family-conflict situations, which traditionally the courts have been unable to resolve in a satisfactory, non destructive, manner.

While designed and intended to be adapted by the courts, particular components may also be applied by separating parents, who require assistance, but choose and are capable of meditating their own parenting arrangements.  The program’s overall design directs a family away from harsh legal conflict in the current adversarial system and towards long-term solutions, while ensuring that the best interests of children and all family members are protected. 

This program provides concerned citizens an opportunity to take an active role to help families deal with their transition in a non-adversarial and cost-effective manner.  This allows for a significant reduction in the burden now being carried by the courts.  This follows the age-old proven adage that it takes not just parents to raise children that are healthy and well adjusted, but the entire community.

Through the program’s ability to utilize the many valuable resources of the family’s community, the courts would gain significant benefits via their new role of accenting reduced judicial involvement.

Professionals from both the public and private sectors conclude that this program can effectively offer definite answers by establishing the following:

·            Establishing fairness, respect, and equality between all parties involved.

·            Eliminating the causes and incentives that lead many parents into conflict.

·            Numerous benefits applied to the children, family and community.

·            Significant savings experienced by government and taxpayers and the parents.

·            Utilizes simplified and clearly defined procedures.

·            Assistance to the courts to ensure that justice is served upon all those affected.

·            A program that is flexible and adaptable to a variety of situations.

·            Development of innovative solutions.

·            Superior benefits to children, parents, families and the community when compared with current family-court procedures.

·            Acknowledgement of children as persons with certain rights, not as possessions of the parents.

Sept 13, 2000