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Since 1992, The COPE program has been equipping parents with insights, information, practical tips and tools to make their job as parents easier, more rewarding and — most importantly — more influential on their children’s successful adjustment to changes in their family life.

Seminars Cover:

• How children experience divorce and other family transitions
• Development needs of children
• Effective parenting
• Pitfalls to avoid
• Communication between parents
• Protecting children from adult conflict

Who Should Attend?

Parents with minor children involved in divorce, establishment of parentage, separation, dissolution of civil unions, and changes in parental rights and responsibilities, are required by Vermont Court Judges to attend the seminar.

Family and friends supporting an involved parent, professionals who work with families going through family transitions, college students, and others from the community may attend when registered in the same manner as parents. The program content is not appropriate for children.

All sessions take place online. Your COPE class meeting link will be emailed to you the day before your scheduled class.

January 2025

• Friday, January 10, 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, January 14, 4:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
• Thursday, January 16, 4:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, January 21, 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
• Friday, January 24, 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, January 29, 4:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

February 2025

• Thursday, February 6, 4:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, February 11, 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
• Thursday, February 13, 4:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. 
• Friday, February 21, 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

All sessions take place online. The cost to attend is $79 per person. A separate registration is required for each participant.

• To request language interpretation/translation assistance and/or a disability-related accommodation to participate in this program, please contact the COPE Program at 802-656-7600 or 1-800-545-8920, or email COPE@uvm.edu, 3 weeks before your class date so we may assist you.
• To request a reduced rate, download, fill out, and submit the court's to the court clerk where your case is filed.

Attendance

After attending the full four-hour session, the instructors will confirm your attendance with the court. A certificate of your attendance is available from the instructors by request.

Questions

• Questions about seminar content or instructors: call ¶¶Òõ̽̽ Extension at 802-656-7600 or 1-800-545-8920 (toll-free in Vt.)
• Questions regarding your registration: contact the ¶¶Òõ̽̽ Non-Credit Registration office at 802-656-8407 or noncredit@uvm.edu
• Refer to the website for addresses and additional court contact information.

Parent Handbook

Accompanies the COPE Seminar and focuses on understanding family changes from your child's point of view:

• communicating with your child and with your child's other parent
• restructuring your family
• resources for you
• children's activities.

Download the Handbook (PDF)

Resources For Parents

• - Parenting plan assistance from Robert E. Emery, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology and Director of the Center for Children, Families, and the Law at the University of Virginia
• - Expert advice for common parenting challenges. Free tips, videos, and resources for handling the problems and for creating a positive parent-child relationship.
• - Information for parents, kids and teens from the non-profit children's health system
• - Guide from Arizona Supreme Court for Parents Living Apart
• - Resources for divorced/divorcing parents