The United Action for Youth in Iowa City recently started a workshop for children stuck in the middle of their parents’ divorce. The Kids First Divorce Workshops will give children a place to talk about their feelings in a two-and-half hour mandatory session for children with divorcing parents.

“Kids process information differently at different age,” said Kate Moreland, UAY’s development director. “It serves as a support group, too. It allows them to vent feelings so they’re not alone in the process.”

The program was first developed by the Kids First Law Center in Linn County. The program has been running for two years now. Johnson County was set to have the program start on July 11th, but it was delayed because of low enrollment.

“We have not received one negative call,” said Jenny Shulz, the founder and executive director of Kids First Law Center in Cedar Rapids. “I frankly think that is pretty amazing — not one piece of negative feedback from people after attending the class.”

The workshop is an educational and interactive experience for children, using artwork, games, videos, discussions and role-playing. Older children will have the chance to ask an attorney about the divorce process.

During divorce, children may be left to take care of their own thoughts and feelings as parents try to work through their own issues, Moreland told the press. The free workshops give youth a place to express what they are thinking and feeling with other children who are the same age.

“It gives them a safe and confidential place to speak about the divorce,” Moreland said. “It lets them know they are not alone and it is not their fault.”

Sources: The Daily Iowan, The Press-Citizen

This entry was posted on Monday, July 20th, 2009 at 1:57 pm and is filed under Divorce Law. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.