Children of Divorce Intervention Program (CODIP)

"This group has been a safe place where I could talk about things I’ve never told anyone before. It’s helped me to see that divorce is sad, but it’s not the end of the world for me or my family."

Program Participant

Children experience difficult challenges when their parents separate or divorce.

CODIP is an evidence-based prevention program specifically designed to help children cope with challenging family changes. Since its inception in 1982, CODIP has helped thousands of children in countries around the world, including the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.

When you choose CODIP, you receive a thoughtfully designed, easy-to-use, age-appropriate, effective program. CODIP was specially designed to help children understand and accept their feelings and perceptions regarding their parents’ separation.

Informational flyer


  • Counselors, mental health professionals, and other trained adults who work in schools, community centers, afterschool programs, and service groups with children in kindergarten through grade eight.
  • Minimize the emotional and behavioral problems that may result when children experience divorce in their families
  • Increase children’s ability to identify and appropriately express their divorce-related feelings
  • Increase children’s understanding and acceptance of divorce-related concepts
  • Reduce children’s anxiety and worry about their family circumstances that can interfere with academic achievement
  • Build confidence by teaching specific skills to help children cope with a variety of challenges
  • Reduced desire of children to blame themselves or someone else for the divorce
  • Increased coping skills and the ability to solve personal problems and to let go of problems that are beyond their control
  • Enhanced positive perceptions of themselves and their families
  • The positive, supportive group environment of peers in the school setting allows children to share their experiences and learn from one another
  • School personnel, community members, or parents refer children to the program
  • Trained group leaders conduct 12-15 group sessions at school
  • A series of four procedure manuals and specially designed board games target different age ranges to ensure that each child receives age-appropriate information and skill-building activities
  • Evidence-Based Program - National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
  • Lela Rowland Award for Outstanding Prevention Program - National Mental Health Association
  • Award for Program Excellence - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: SAMHSA
  • Exemplary Program - Association of Family and Conciliation Courts
  • Successful Program - New York State Education Department

Specially designed manuals and board game target different age groups

  • Kindergarten & first grade children
  • Second & third grade children
  • Fourth-sixth grade children
  • Seventh & eighth grade children
Purchase CODIP Materials

Resources

Author JoAnne Pedro-Carroll, Ph.D., helped to develop resources with Sesame Street for parents of young children. Visit: www.sesamestreet.org/divorce

Contact

Contact us for more information on the CODIP program and training