This document provides an introduction and overview of the Kids' Turn program. It discusses: 1) Kids' Turn was founded in 1988 to help children ease through difficulties of parental separation. The primary goal has not changed in 23 years. 2) The Kids' Turn program goals include reducing parent conflict, helping parents with parenting duties, giving children a voice, and teaching new skills to manage emotions during family changes. 3) Kids' Turn is evidence-based, requires a 6-week commitment, and is educational rather than therapeutic. A 2011 study found Kids' Turn reduces parent conflict and alienation and children's internalization of negative behaviors. 4) The training overview discusses the Kids' Turn

2. 1. Welcome

3. 2. Introductions

4. 3. Why Kids’ Turn?

5. 4. Introduction to Kids’ Turn
and Goals for Today
Who Are We?
Kids’ Turn was one of the first divorce education programs in the United States
when it was founded in 1988, addressing a problem affecting 50% of the children
in our country before they reach the age of eighteen
The primary goal, to help children ease through the difficulties they experience
when parents separate, has not changed in 23 years
Kids’ Turn Program Goals:
1. Reduce conflict in reorganizing families
2. Help parents re-engage with their parenting duties
3. Give children a ‘voice’ in the separation experience
4. Help children learn they are not alone in the experience
5. Help family members new skills to help manage their emotions and their lives
during family reorganization

6. 4. Introduction to Kids’ Turn
and Goals for Today (cont.)
Distinctive Characteristics:
Six week attendance commitment by parents AND children
Kids’ Turn’s programs are educational, not therapy
Evidence based
Comprehensive revision of the curriculum to include
elements of Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

7. 4. Introduction to Kids’ Turn
and Goals for Today (cont.)
The Evidence
In April, 2011, Dr. Jeffrey Cookston, San Francisco state University, published
the results of his four year longitudinal study of the efficacy of Kids’ Turn
programs. Dr. Cookston reported that Kids’ Turn:
• Reduces parent conflict
• Reduces parent alienation
• Reduces internalization of negative behaviors by children
To view Dr. Cookston’s entire research report, go to www.kidsturn.org Practitioners

8. 4. Introduction to Kids’ Turn
and Goals for Today (cont.)
Kids’ Turn and Emotional Intelligence (EQ)
In 2004, we were approached by CNET Founder, Halsey Minor, who had just completed a Kids’
Turn workshop with his ex-wife and children. It was at Halsey’s suggestion, and with his
philanthropic support, that we reframed and restructured the Kids’ Turn curriculum to
include Emotional Intelligence.
Emotional Intelligence (EQ) concepts were
developed by Dr. Daniel Goleman and
others in the 1980’s. They have been
adopted nationally and internationally by
corporations, the military, governments
and educational systems.

9. 4. Introduction to Kids’ Turn
and Goals for Today (cont.)
Why EQ?
• Most of the divorce ‘facts’ on which the old curriculum was based, are now in the public domain
• It is contemporary
• It helps families manage emotions when they are out of control in ways that can be scary or frightening to
children
• EQ principles have application to other life difficulties
• It requires interactive methodology
• It offers hope and optimism to children and parents
• It draws on human characteristics that predate language

10. 4. Introduction to Kids’ Turn
Piloted in 2010
and Goals for Today (cont.)
The resulting curriculum, The Kids’ Turn Way, is another
distinctive element differentiating Kids’ Turn from other
divorce education programs in the United States.
Published with
copyright in 2011.

11. 4. Introduction to Kids’ Turn
and Goals for Today (cont.)
Training Goals:
• Become acquainted with one another, individually and with
our respective agencies;
• Familiarize participants with Kids’ Turn agency
• Review The Kids’ Turn Way EQ Approach (content)
• Review The Kids’ Turn Way curriculum delivery structure
• Review details related to Kids’ Turn families
• Become Certified to deliver The Kids’ Turn Way
• Other?

12. 5. EQ Warm Up

13. 6. Preparation for The Kids’ Turn Way,
Kids’ Training

14. 7. Lunch

15. 8. The Kids’ Turn Way Kids

16. 9. Know Yourself, Kids

17. 9. Know Yourself, Kids

18. 9. Know Yourself, Kids

19. 10. Manage Yourself, Kids
The Newsletter

20. 10. Manage Yourself, Kids

21. 11. The Statue, Kids

22. Break 15 min.

23. 12. Motivation, Kids
The Six Second Pause

24. 12. Motivation, Kids

25. 13. The Statue, Part #2

26. 14. Understanding Others
Kids

27. 15. Planning for the Future, Kids

28. Congratulations – You made it!

29. 16. The Statue, Part #3, Final

30. 17. Day #1 Conclusion
Additional Questions?

31. 17. Day #1 Conclusion
The Value of Humor
1. It cuts stress in half
2. Lowers blood pressure
3. Increases your energy
4. Promotes happiness
5. Stimulates the immune system
6. Promotes healing (physical and emotional)
7. Positive humor fosters a positive attitude
8. Promotes social flexibility
9. Increases endorphins ( feel good chemicals)
10. Bonds us to one another and reduces
social conflict

32. 17. Day #1 Conclusion

33. 17. Day #1 Conclusion

34. Day #2
Welcome Back

35. 18. Training Re-Entry
Questions from yesterday?

36. 18. Training Re-Entry

37. 19. Know Yourself, Parents

38. 20. Manage Yourself, Parents

39. 20. Manage Yourself, Parents
(cont.)

40. Break (15 min.)

41. 21. Motivation, Parents

42. 21. Motivation, Parents
(cont.)

43. 22. Understanding Others and
Managing Relationships, Parents

44. Lunch (45 min.)

45. 23. Conclusion: Parents Self-Care
and Action Plan

46. 23. Conclusion: Parents Self-Care
and Action Plan (cont.)

47. Q&A
Break (10 min.)

48. 24. The Kids’ Turn Participants
Here is how I describe myself (ethnicity) My Age
African-American 10.3% 20-30 years 3.9%
Asian American 6.4% 30-40 years 45.5%
Caucasian 60.3% 40-50 years 41.6%
Latino 12.8% Above 50 9%
Native American 0
Pacific Islander 1.3%
Other 9%
Education
Gender High School 9.1%
Male 35.5% AA Degree (2 yrs. College) 14.3%
Female 64.5% College (4 yrs.) 35.1%
Post Graduate 32.5%
Other 9%

49. 24. The Kids’ Turn Participants
Parenting Skills The Reason I attended Kids’ Turn
Excellent 36% Court-Ordered 43.7%
Pretty Good 50.7% Referred by Attorney 18.1%
Average 6.7% Self-Referred 30.8%
I need to Improve 6.7% Other 7.4%

50. 24. The Kids’ Turn Participants
Level of Family Conflict
Before Kids’ Turn After Kids’ Turn
High – Off the Charts! 48% 20.8%
Moderate 36.4% 35.1%
Low 15.6% 32.5%
I cannot judge 1.3% 11.7%

51. 24. The Kids’ Turn Participants
Program Elements
Registration Process Workshop Material
Easy 74.4% Excellent – Just What I needed 39.3%
Hard 17.9% Satisfactory 42.9%
Other 7.7% Not satisfactory 14.2%
Other 3.6%
Workshop Location
Convenient 74.4% Office Staff
Inconvenient 19.2% Excellent 27.6%
Other 6.4% Above Average 27.7%
Average 34.2%
Workshop Date and Time Below Average 10.5%
Convenient 79.9%
Inconvenient 13.0% Workshop Staff
Other 9.1% Excellent 52.6%
Above Average 17.9%
Average 19.2%
Below Average 8%

52. 24. The Kids’ Turn Participants
I would recommend Kids’ Turn to my friends
Yes 66.7%
No 16.7%
Not sure 17.9%

53. 25. The Mechanics of Delivery

54. 25. The Mechanics of Delivery (cont.)

55. 25. The Mechanics of Delivery (cont.)

56. 25. The Mechanics of Delivery (cont.)

57. 25. The Mechanics of Delivery (cont.)

58. 25. The Mechanics of Delivery (cont.)
Alternative: Link to
www.surveymonkey.com sent to
parents between weeks 5 & 6.

59. 25. The Mechanics of Delivery (cont.)
Be Prepared!

60. 26. Conclusions
Edges
Final Questions
When we walk to the edge
of all the light we have
And take the step into the
darkness of the unknown,
We must believe
one of two things will happen
There will be something solid
Leader Certification
for us to stand on,
Or we will be taught how to
FLY!