It has come to the attention of the Probate and Family Court Department that an organization named "Putting Kids First" is offering a parent education program that has not been approved by the Probate and Family Court Administrative Office. This program is indicating that they are an approved provider of the parent education program in Massachusetts and that persons who complete their program may submit a certificate of attendance to the Probate and Family Court. Persons may not take this class to satisfy the parent education program attendance requirement and certificates of attendance from this program will not be accepted by the Probate and Family Court.

          Programs that wish to offer the mandated parent education program must complete a lengthy application process. This process includes the ability of a program to demonstrate that the group facilitators have a graduate degree in a mental health discipline or a related graduate degree with appropriate clinical training as well as having previous experience in conducting psycho educational programs. At least one of the group facilitators must also have specialized knowledge of issues concerning divorce, separation, family dynamics and child development. Each of these requirements ensures that the quality of the approved programs offered in Massachusetts are of the highest caliber.

          Programs must be no less than two sessions, held on different days, and shall total at least five hours in length. Parents that attend the programs continually state the interaction that occurs at the programs is an invaluable part of the process. Approved programs must submit an application for renewal with the Administrative Office every two years. As part of this process, probation officers attend the parent education classes to conduct an on-site observation of each program.

          Brochures listing all approved parent education programs are available in each Registry of Probate as well as at www.state.ma.us/courts/courtsandjudges/courts/probateandfamilycourt/selfhelp.html.

          If you have a question whether a particular program has been approved by the Probate and Family Court, you should contact the Probate and Family Court Administrative Office at (617) 788-6600.