Third Judicial District Parent Education Courses

The Third Judicial District includes the following counties: 
Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, and Winona.

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Third District Order RE: Online Parent Education Courses (2019)

Parent Education Required in Contested Custody or Parenting Time Cases:

Pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 518.157 enacted in 1998, parents involved in contested custody or parenting time cases, regardless of whether a marriage relationship exists, must complete a minimum of eight hours of parent education.  Starting August 1, 2021, unless otherwise ordered, participation in a parent education course must begin within 30 days of the first filing in the case and prior to an Initial Case Management Conference, if one is scheduled.  In all other proceedings involving custody, support, or parenting time, the court has discretion to order the parents to attend a parent education program.  The courses attended by parents must meet the Parent Education Minimum Standards.

Currently approved courses

In-Person:

• Bridging Parental Conflict, offered by the Bridging Center, Edina, (612) 440-4252 (works best in Chrome browser)
• Happy Co-Parenting - Jacobs Ladder Family Services
• ​Parents Forever In-Person Courses offered by
  • Parenting Resource Center, Austin, (507) 437-8330 (no child care available)
  • True Foundation Counseling Services, Brooklyn Park, (763) 657-1551
  • Health Resources, Detroit Lakes, (218) 844-8822
  • Fergus Falls Community Education, Fergus Falls, (218) 998-0544
  • Friends Against Abuse, International Falls, (218) 285-7220 (no child care available)
  • Roseau County Northwest Mediation Services, Roseau, (218) 425-3106
  • St. Cloud YMCA, Parent Enrichment Classes (scymca.org)
  • Ann Mozey, Stillwater, (651) 644-1000 (no child care available)

Live Video Conferenceing

• Bridging Parental Conflict, offered by the Bridging Center (on Zoom), (612) 440-4252 (works best in Chrome browser)
• Minnesota Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course offered by the Bay Brooke Center for Independence and Wellness, (727) 827-7890
• Parents Forever Live Stream Course offered by Health Resources, Detroit Lakes, (218) 844-8822

Online Courses

• Ability to Co-Parent, Minnesota Parent Education Class, offered by Training Resolved, LLC, (901) 443-6609
• Certevia MN Parenting and Divorce, offered by Certevia Education Programs, (800) 767-8193
• Children In Between Online Parent Education Course, offered by the Center for Divorce Education, (877) 874-1365
• Co-Parenting Into the Future, (832) 643-5908 (6 hour course) (discount code for Minnesotans:  MN) ), (disponible en español, curso de 6 horas aprobado solamente, código de descuento para residentes de Minnesota: MN), (832) 643-5908
• Impact-Based Parent Education, offered by Mediation Works North, LLC, (218) 263-7307
• Minnesota Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course, offered by the Bay Brooke Center for Independence and Wellness, (727) 827-7890
• Minnesota Co-Parenting, offered by Positive Parenting Through Divorce, (866) 778-3349
• Online Parenting Programs, (disponible en espanol) (866) 504-2883 (works best with Chrome or Foxfire browser)
  • Co-Parenting / Divorce Class (Clase de Crianza Compartida/Divorcio)
  • Co-Parenting Plus (+) (Clase de Crianza Compartida/Divorcio Plus (+))
• Parents Forever Online Course, (8-hour course approved only), offered by the University of Minnesota, (612) 626-3958 (parentsforever@umn.edu - Email is the faster way to get a response.)
• Two Families Now Online Co-Parenting and Divorce Class, offered by Trifoia