Resources Parenting
A guide to parenting arrangements after separation or divorce
Justice Canada
Co-parenting after Separation – A guide
A guide for Stepparents, Joint Custody, and Shared Parenting
Up to Parents – Free help for separated, divorced, and never-married parents
Our Family Wizard – A Co-parenting Platform
Parenting after Separation Course – High Conflict
Travel Consent Letter
Government of Canada recommended consent letter for children traveling abroad.
Parent Link Centres
Parent Link Centres are located throughout Alberta and aim to provide effective and accessible parent resources. Parent Link Centres provide support to parents to help their children develop and arrive at school ready to learn. At a Parent Link Centre in their community, parents can access information about community services, obtain referrals, meet other parents and families, and take part in quality learning activities with their children. Call 780-422-3004*
Rainbows
Rainbows is a non-profit organization that encourages emotional healing among children grieving a loss due to death, divorce, separation, or any other painful change in their family. The loss suffered does not have to be a recent loss. Rainbows offers free peer support programs (not counselling or therapy) throughout Alberta for children. The facilitators and children are bound by confidentiality, which develops trust and provides a safe atmosphere.
Focus on Communication in Separation
This is a free, two-part group workshop offered by Alberta Family Law Information Centres to help parents going through separation or divorce talk to each other. The workshop teaches participants how to express themselves more clearly, reduce anger and misunderstanding, and prevent conversations from turning into arguments. It also provides tools to discuss and resolve the issues participants are facing.
Brief Conflict Intervention
Brief Conflict Intervention is run by Family Law Information Centres. It offers help to separated parents of young children who are unable to resolve their parenting disputes. The program provides appropriate
cases with a maximum of 10 hours of solution-focused intervention in a six- to seven-week period.
Kids Kottage Foundation
Kids Kottage Foundation promotes the health and well-being of children by supporting families in crisis and preventing child abuse and neglect. In addition to its 24-hour crisis line, it provides support for
families in crisis, safe shelter for children, child development screening, positive parenting education, and in-home follow-up support
Kara Family Resource Centre
Kara operates three family support centres in Edmonton. Its mission is to promote the healthy development of children by empowering families. Kara provides a safe environment and programs to enhance self-esteem and independence through education, role modeling, and hands-on learning opportunities. Some services provided are programs about Indigenous parenting, positive parenting, healthy cooking, and arts and crafts for kids. It also offers drop-in childcare, a women’s support group
and a parenting support group.
Calgary Counselling Centre: Children of Divorce Program
Calgary Counselling Centre is a non-profit organization that offers sessions to help children and parents adjust to changes as a result of separation and divorce. This course takes the unique approach of including both children and their parents in the therapeutic process. This 10-week program helps develop shared parenting skills, helps children adjust to their new family dynamics, and increases parents’ understanding of children’s reactions to divorce. Fees are based on a sliding fee schedule according to family gross income.
Family & Divorce Help Guide
It can be difficult to give your kids the stability and support they need when you’re on an emotional rollercoaster of your own, sorting out custody issues, or dealing with an uncooperative ex. But you can successfully navigate this unsettling time—and help your kids emerge from it feeling loved, confident, and strong.
Little Children, Big Challenges: Divorce (Sesame Street)
Divorce can be a big challenge for both children and parents. Though times may be difficult, children can emerge feeling loved and supported. You can all grow through these family changes and discover just how strong you really are. You are not alone. Family, friends, neighbors, and others are there to offer support.
TedX: Impact of Divorce on Children
Tamara Afifi is a Professor in the Department of Communication at UCSB. Most of her research focuses on how family members cope communicatively with the various challenges they face. Including communication processes related to uncertainty, loss, stress, and coping in families, with particular emphasis on post-divorce families.
Helping your Child Through a Divorce
Thousands of kids experience the stress of divorce each year. How they’ll react depends on their age, personality, and the circumstances of the separation and divorce process. Every divorce will have an effect on the kids involved – and many times the reaction is shock, sadness, frustration, anger or worry. But kids can also come out of it better able to cope with stress and become flexible, tolerant young adults.