Scribe/Convener: Harvey Yoder
Room 116 11-12 noon
Attendees: Emily Dovel, Emily Phillips, Holly Hermes, Rachel Kolb, Anna Woelk, Martha Garibay Metzler, Kim Mahon, Mary, Beth Hill, Stephen King, Paul Goliwas
- Divorce and marriage rates have remained fairly flat in Harrisonburg-Rockingham County over the past decade in spite of a significant increase in the population of the area, suggesting that more and more people are hooking up an breaking up under the radar, with an unknown impact on adults, families and children affected.
- Group agrees with conclusions by the Judith Wallerstein 25-year longitudinal study indicating that divorce tends to have long term negative affects on children and adults.
- At the same time, with good support, children can overcome any grief and/or trauma caused by this kind of significant life loss just as they can overcome the hurt of any other unwelcome life event.
- The group focused on beefing up counseling programs in schools, providing big-brother–big sister type support for children in fragmented and sometimes “Dad-of-the-week” homes, and on encouraging parents to take “Trans-Parenting’ classes on helping children get through the experience with as little distress as possible.
- Some raised questions about the benefits of having the kinds of 50-50 custody arrangements that have kids moving from one location to another on a weekly basis
- More emphasis on premarital preparation and more support for couples in relationship stress was also emphasized.
Contact Harvey Yoder at Family Life Resource Center – open to further contact or conversation.
Action:
- 1. Provide talk-it-over groups for kids in school.
- 2. Help change climate of public opinion that minimizes negative effects of relationship breakups where children are involved.
- 3. Encourage people in troubled relationships to seek help early.
