Empowering Families, Protecting Children

Overview

Divorce or separation are challenging experiences for families, particularly when high inter-parental conflict is involved. These conflicts can have lasting negative effects on children’s emotional, social, and academic development. Putting Children First* is a groundbreaking project dedicated to addressing the unique needs of families experiencing high-conflict separation or divorce through innovative, evidence-based solutions.

Why It Matters

Research shows that it’s not divorce itself that causes adverse outcomes for children, but the prolonged exposure to conflict, including unresolved anger, lack of trust, hostile communication, and legal disputes. While most parents manage to reduce conflict over time, for 10-25% of families, these issues persist and pose significant risks to children. Despite widespread access to universal parenting education, existing interventions fail to adequately support families dealing with extreme conflict. This gap leaves parents and children without the tools they need to thrive.

Our Mission

Putting Children First aims to close this gap by developing Kids Over Conflict, a highly scalable online platform designed specifically for parents dealing with high conflict. By integrating practical strategies and motivational tools, the intervention empowers parents to prioritize their children’s well-being.

Key Features

  • Evidence-Based Approach: Adapted from proven parenting interventions, Kids Over Conflict focuses on providing resources to support parallel parenting, a strategy shown to be more effective for families experiencing high conflict.
  • Motivational Support: Motivational interviewing strategies will be integrated into the resources to help parents engage with the program and make meaningful changes for their children.
  • Tailored Design: Developed in collaboration with judicial stakeholders and family court systems to ensure accessibility and relevance.
  • Practical Tools: Easy-to-use resources and training modules designed to reduce stress, improve parenting confidence, and enhance parent-child relationships.

 

Get Involved

  • Professionals: We are currently seeking professionals who work with families in family court settings and parents experiencing high conflict to participate in design research and evaluation of the Kids Over Conflict prototype. Your expertise and insights are invaluable in shaping a resource that will have a real impact on families in need.
  • Family Courts: Family courts play a pivotal role in supporting families through the challenges of separation and divorce. We are seeking partnerships with family courts to assist in testing the Kids Over Conflict platform as part of a large-scale randomized controlled trial starting in 2026. Your participation will help shape an intervention designed to empower parents and protect children from the negative effects of high inter-parental conflict.
Please sign up to receive updates on the project and also let us know if you want to get involved.
Together, we can create a brighter future for children and families navigating conflict.
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*This project is supported by Grant #R44 HD111084-01A1 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Its contents are solely the authors’ responsibility and do not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.