When the parties to a divorce have minor children, the Family Court Commissioner will order them to attend Cooperative Parenting classes. These classes are designed to help people deal with their spouse on children's issues in a healthy way, so they can both protect their children from the harmful aspects of the divorce. More information is available on the Mediation and Parental Education Page.
When a divorce case has disputed issues regarding children, each parent needs to complete a document called a "Parenting Plan". This is due when Guardian ad Litem materials are due. By following the links on the Forms Page for the Pro Se Forms, you can download a blank Parenting Plan.
Dr. Kip Zirkel, a psychologist in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, has put together a pamphlet covering information on custody and placement. Click on the title to download a copy of Planning For Your Children's Future: A Parents' Guide to Custody and Placement This is a large document, so please be patient.
The Green County UW-Extension Office provides a very useful newsletter called "Parenting the First, Second and Third Year". This is targeted at first time parents of children birth to 3 years of age. It's a collaboration between The Monroe Clinic, The Green County Health Department, Monroe Area Kiwanis Club, and UW-Extension. The newsletter is monthly for the child's first year, and bi-monthly for years 2 & 3. The newsletter is available in Spanish. You can subscribe by calling The Monroe Clinic's Community Relations Office at 608-324-1303 or 608-324-1310. For more information, call Green County UW-Extension at 608-328-9440.
There are several parenting skills programs available in Green County. These are hosted by county agencies, schools, and churches. Here are the programs that we are aware of (in no particular order):
| Sponsor: | Monroe School District | ||
| Program Name: | 1,2,3,4, Parents | ||
| Program Type: | Educational | ||
| Where held: | Abraham Lincoln School, 2700 13th Avenue, Monroe, WI | ||
| When Held: | Tuesday Evenings | ||
| Cost: | Check with provider | ||
| Contact: | JoAnn Hawthorn - 608-328-7196 - jo.hawthorn@monroe.k12.wi.us | ||
| Notes: | A 4 week program, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. each session. For registration contact JoAnn Hawthorne (above) or Kay Carter-Heath, 608-325-2165 - Kaystjohns@cppweb.com. Pre-registration is required. Child care will be provided. | ||
| Sponsor: | Monroe School District | ||
| Program Name: | Active Parenting Now | ||
| Program Type: | Educational | ||
| Where held: | St. John's UCC, 1724 14th Street, Monroe, WI | ||
| When Held: | Tuesday Evenings | ||
| Cost: | Check with provider | ||
| Contact: | Kay Carter-Heath, 608-325-2165 - Kaystjohns@cppweb.com | ||
| Notes: | A 4 week program, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. each session. For registration contact Kay Carter-Heath (above) or JoAnn Hawthorne - 608-328-7196 - jo.hawthorn@monroe.k12.wi.us Pre-registration is required. Child care will be provided. | ||
| Sponsor: | Monroe School District | ||
| Program Name: | Active Parenting for Teens | ||
| Program Type: | Educational | ||
| Where held: | St. John's UCC, 1724 14th Street, Monroe, WI | ||
| When Held: | Wednesday Evenings | ||
| Cost: | Check with provider | ||
| Contact: | Kay Carter-Heath, 608-325-2165 - Kaystjohns@cppweb.com | ||
| Notes: | A 4 week program, 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. each session. For registration contact Kay Carter-Heath (above) or JoAnn Hawthorne - 608-328-7196 - jo.hawthorn@monroe.k12.wi.us Pre-registration is required. Child care will be provided. | ||
| Sponsor: | Caring Hearts | ||
| Program Name: | Love and Logic | ||
| Program Type: | Educational | ||
| Where held: | Various | ||
| When Held: | Appointment | ||
| Cost: | $15.50 per hour | ||
| Contact: | Elizabeth Flood - 608-329-2273 | ||
| Notes: | A 6 week program, done either individually or in a group setting. Each class is about an hour. | ||
| Sponsor: | Caring Hearts | ||
| Program Name: | Active Parenting | ||
| Program Type: | Educational | ||
| Where held: | Various | ||
| When Held: | Appointment | ||
| Cost: | $15.50 per hour | ||
| Contact: | Elizabeth Flood - 608-329-2273 | ||
| Notes: | An 8 week program, done either individually or in a group setting. Each class is about an hour. | ||
| Sponsor: | Family Enhancement Center | ||
| Program Name: | Several Programs | ||
| Program Type: | Educational & Parent Discussion Groups | ||
| Where held: | Madison, Wisconsin - Location varies | ||
| When Held: | Varies | ||
| Cost: | Free to $10.00 per class, depending on program | ||
| Contact: | Family Enhancement; 2120 Fordem Avenue, Madison, WI 53704 608-241-5150 | ||
| Notes: | Various programs for different parenting needs. Some are drop-in groups, some are scheduled classes. | ||
| Sponsor: | Atwood Fatherhood Alliance | ||
| Program Name: | Fathers & Male Caregivers | ||
| Program Type: | Educational & Parent Discussion Group | ||
| Where held: | Varies | ||
| When Held: | 1st & 3rd Saturday of each month | ||
| Cost: | Free | ||
| Contact: | Floyd or John - 608-256-7799 | ||
| Notes: | Child care is provided. Group prepared meals, Speakers, Discussions, Field Trips & Playtimes | ||
| Sponsor: | Zion United Methodist Church | ||
| Program Name: | Families in Christ | ||
| Program Type: | Parent Discussion Group | ||
| Where held: | Various Homes | ||
| When Held: | Monthly on a Sunday Afternoon | ||
| Cost: | Free | ||
| Contact: | Rev. Thomas Miller - 934-5398 | ||
| Notes: | Church also provides individual and family counseling. Sunday School Classes, Vacation Bible School, and youth group are also possible resources. | ||
| Sponsor: | Brodhead United Methodist Church | ||
| Program Name: | Parenting | ||
| Program Type: | Educational | ||
| Where held: | Brodhead UMC, Brodhead, WI | ||
| When Held: | Sunday, 9:45-10:45, Once each year | ||
| Cost: | Free | ||
| Contact: | Carmen Minch, 608-757-0083 | ||
| Notes: | An 8-10 week program, generally held sometime between February and April. | ||
| Sponsor: | Zwingli United Church of Christ | ||
| Program Name: | Parents Group | ||
| Program Type: | Social/(sometimes) Educational | ||
| Where held: | Zwingli UCC, Monticello, WI | ||
| When Held: | Wednesday, 9:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. | ||
| Cost: | Free | ||
| Contact: | Jane Skelton | ||
| Notes: | |||
| Sponsor: | Liberty Baptist Church | ||
| Program Name: | Family Counseling | ||
| Program Type: | Biblical Counsel for Marriage & Parenting | ||
| Where held: | Liberty Baptist Church, Monroe, WI | ||
| When Held: | As needed | ||
| Cost: | Free for those who attend church (Do not need to be a member, but must attend church.) | ||
| Contact: | Steven Owen | ||
| Notes: | |||
| Sponsor: | Orion, Inc. | ||
| Program Name: | Out-of-Home or Court Supervision | ||
| Program Type: | Educational | ||
| Where held: | Varies | ||
| When Held: | Varies | ||
| Cost: | Varies | ||
| Contact: | DeeJaye Miles, Green County Human Services - 608-328-9384 | ||
| Notes: | Parents are referred to this program through Green County Human Services. It is a specially designed skills & education program to help reunite children with their families. | ||