Putting Children First

Court Mandated Parent Education Program

**No classes are currently scheduled for 2020

Putting Children First is a court-mandated parent education class for divorcing parents in Massachusetts approved by the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Who must attend? According to court regulation, all parents of children under eighteen years old, filing for divorce must attend the classes.
• Can I attend with my spouse? No. The court approved Parent Education guidelines require that spouses attend separate sessions.
• Do I have to attend both classes? Yes, the state requires a total of five hours of class time within two sessions.
• Who conducts the course? Experienced, state-approved counselors with more than five years licensed counseling and group-training experience. 
• What is the purpose of the course? The focus of class time is to understand the effect of divorce on children. The assumptions are that parents want to do a good job raising their kids and that divorce is an unsettling experience for kids and for each of their parents. 
• What happens in a class? The class utilizes a variety of approaches including: lecture, discussion, video and small group discussion.

Class Dates

All of the following classes will be held on Wednesdays from 5:00 - 7:30 P.M. Classes are held In North Andover on the Merrimack College campus in the McQuade Library Conference Room. See below for directions to Merrimack College and a map of the campus.

• All classes have been cancelled due to COVID-19

Please make every effort to be on time. Participants must attend the entire two sessions to be eligible for a completion certificate. Click here for a map and directions to the Merrimack College campus located at 315 Turnpike Street (Rte 114) North Andover, MA 01845.

Please do not bring children to class.

Confirmation calls: Feel free to call the receptionist to confirm your place in class. To receive a confirmation call, you must enter a “Confirmation Phone” on the registration form. If you do not leave a confirmation phone you will not receive a confirmation call.

Canceled Classes: A Parent Ed class is canceled if classes at Merrimack College are canceled. Come to the second session.

Registration

The cost of a two-session class is $80.00 per person.

Pay by Check

Complete the Parent Education Registration Form and return with a $80.00 payment (There is a $20 fee for processed checks with insufficient funds).

Pay Online

You can register online by using your credit card or your PayPal account. (There is a $15 fee if you request a refund.)

Cancellation Policy

The $80.00 fee is nonrefundable unless two full business days notice is given prior to date/time of class. For example: to cancel a Wednesday 9:30 a.m. class, your cancellation notice must be received before Monday at 9:30 a.m. To cancel call 978-327-6650 and leave a message.