Aboriginal Parenting After Separation

The Aboriginal Parenting After Separation program helps Aboriginal parents through the separation process. The program's resources include a Parent's Handbook, the Aboriginal Parenting After Separation Toolkit, videos, worksheets and checklists.

Parent's Handbook

The program’s Parent’s Handbook includes provides information about:

  • The emotions experienced by adults during separation
  • How to assist children through the process
  • Dispute resolution options
  • Court procedures
  • The Child Support Guidelines
  • Community resources

Aboriginal Parenting After Separation Toolkit

Community workers who support separating Aboriginal parents can use the Aboriginal Parenting After Separation Toolkit – a kit full of over 40 handouts that can help parents separate effectively. The Toolkit’s resources help parents deal with their emotions, enable their children to make a positive adjustment and create a new parenting arrangement.

The toolkit is available in its entirety, as well as for purchase. The kit’s topic areas include:

Purchase the APAS Toolkit
APAS Toolkit: $120 Order this publication

Videos

The Aboriginal Parenting After Separation program's videos feature parents acting out situations that children commonly find themselves in when faced with separating parents. Children's perspectives are explored: how do they feel and how can their parents help them when separating.

  • Introductory Sequence (2:09): This video serves as an introduction to the program's other videos.
  • The Set-up (2:02): This video looks at what happens when one parent interferes with the time the other parent has to spend with the child.
  • I Spy (1:22): Experience how children feel when one of their parents tries to get information about the other parent.
  • Extravagant Parent (1:51): This video looks at when one parent buys expensive gifts or takes the child on expensive outings.
  • Put Downs (1:44): Viewers see how children feel when one of their parents puts down the other parent in front of the them.
  • Other Games (2:58): This video explores the  "games" parents play that put children in the middle of their battles.

Worksheets

By completing the program's worksheets, parents can help make a separation easier on both their children, themselves and their partners.

Checklists

The program's checklists help parents recognize when a separation is negatively affecting a child. Solutions are also provided.