Parenting Education Classes
Parenting Education Classes
The Parenting Education Classes provide information and practical tips to help parents with the impact of divorce or separation on children, and provides information about mediation, parenting plans, and the legal process.
The Parenting Education Providers are those approved by the Supreme Court Office of Dispute Resolution, on behalf of the State Court Administrator, to educate parties about the impact of separation and divorce on children.
BASIC PARENTING EDUCATION: Each parent is required, under the Parenting Act, to attend a basic level parenting education course. Basic Level courses are offered for parents to attend in a classroom setting, either in-person or remote (identified below as “Classroom”) or take through an online self-paced course (identified below as “Online”). Basic Level courses include information on the developmental stages of children, adjustment of a child to parental separation, the litigation and court process, alternative dispute resolution, conflict management, stress reduction, guidelines for parenting time, visitation, or other access provisions for safety and transition plans, and information about parents and children affected by child abuse or neglect, domestic intimate partner abuse, and unresolved parental conflict.
SECOND (2ND) LEVEL PARENTING EDUCATION: A court may also order some parents to attend a second (2nd) level parenting education course (identified below as “2nd”) subsequent to the completion of the basic level course when screening or a factual determination of child abuse or neglect, domestic intimate partner abuse, or unresolved parental conflict has been identified. Second-level courses can be provided as a remote classroom (synchronous format) where the trainer and the participant(s) are online at the same time allowing them to interact. ODR has not approved self-paced, online 2nd level courses. Second level courses include information about the development of provisions for safety and transition plans, the potentially harmful impact of domestic intimate partner abuse and unresolved parental conflict on the child, use of effective communication techniques and protocols, resource and referral information for victim and perpetrator services, batterer intervention programs, and referrals for mental health services, substance abuse services and other community resources.
Please note that each of the providers/agencies charge their own fees and fees may vary. Some of the providers offer both a first (basic) level parenting course and a second-level parenting course. It is the parent’s responsibility to determine which class is needed/court ordered.
"Classroom" and "Online": Under the "Classroom" tab for the Basic and/or 2nd Level Parenting Education Course, it is noted if the provider is offering the course in-person an/or as a remote classroom. A remote classroom uses an online meeting services, such as Zoom, allowing for a similar experience as the in-person class. Please note that the remote classroom is not a self-paced course. The Basic Parenting Education is also offered as a self-paced course. Providers offering self-paced courses are listed under the "Online" tab.
If you have questions regarding any of these classes, contact the individual agency/organization directly (phone, email, or web link).
Every Parenting Education provider is required to provide participants with written proof of completion at no additional cost.
In addition to the provider's certificate, parents will need to provide the court with the Nebraska State Court Form DC6:5.5 titled "Certificate of Completion of Parenting Education Course." The form is available in English and Spanish.
Please contact the Office of Dispute Resolution (402-419-9650 or nsc.odr@nebraska.gov) if you have any problems, including receiving your certificate of completion or not getting a response from a provider.