Connected Coparenting
For Families
Support for your coparenting journey.
Coparenting can be difficult, especially during family transitions, periods of conflict, or when communication has become stressful. Connected Coparenting offers a structured, child-centered space to learn practical skills that can make communication more manageable and help both coparents focus on what their children need.
The program is designed for coparents of children from infancy through adolescence. It can also be adapted for other family caregiving relationships, including family members who share responsibility for a child.
- What you will work on
- What to expect
- Ways to access support
- After registration
- Important Information
what you will work on
Connected Coparenting includes five structured sessions. Each session builds practical skills that can be used right away in day-to-day coparenting.
Session 1: The importance of coparenting
Explore the people and values that matter most in your child’s life, identify strengths already present in your family, and begin building a shared focus on your child’s needs.
Session 2: Emotion regulation
Learn how stress can affect communication and practice grounding and coping strategies that can help you respond more intentionally during difficult moments.
Session 3: Communication solutions
Practice child-focused communication skills, including listening, clear messaging, and ways to keep conversations centered on your child’s needs.
Session 4: Coparenting challenges
Identify common challenges, develop options for responding to them, and apply new skills to situations that are relevant to your family.
Session 5: Coparenting commitments
Create concrete next steps and a practical plan for using the skills you have learned as you move forward.
What to expect
The program will entail:
- Five structured sessions, ordinarily completed within eight weeks of starting services.
- Guided conversations, short videos, activities, and skill practice.
- A focus on your child’s needs and on practical communication strategies.
- Facilitation by graduate students in the University of South Florida’s Marriage and Family Therapy program who are completing practicum requirements.
- Supervision by University of South Florida faculty, collaboration and consultation with the Family Study Center at USF St. Petersburg.
- A completion form for families who complete the program.
ways to access support
Some families are referred to Connected Coparenting through the family court. In this case, the court referral begins the intake process but this does not guarantee placement in the program.
However, the programm is accessible to any parents interested in learning practical communication skills. You can begin the registration process here:
Register for Connected Coparenting
The Family Study Center will contact each coparent individually for a brief consultation before determining whether the program is an appropriate and available fit.
Completing the form does not obligate you to participate or guarantee placement.
after registration
What to expect after you apply for Connected Coparenting:
- Submit your interest form. Provide basic contact information and details needed for the Family Study Center to follow up.
- Brief individual consultation. Each coparent will be contacted separately for a short conversation about the program, scheduling, and whether the service seems like an appropriate fit.
- Program decision. The Family Study Center will let you know whether the program is available and appropriate for your family at this time.
- Payment and assignment. If accepted, you will receive an invoice for payment. Payment is due in full before the family is assigned to a graduate student facilitator.
- Begin the five-session program. Once assigned, your facilitator will contact you to schedule your sessions.
Important Information
Connected Coparenting is a psychoeducational, skills-based intervention. It is not therapy, couples counseling, mediation, legal representation, a custody evaluation, or a forensic assessment.
The program does not provide legal advice, custody or time-sharing recommendations, testimony, or advocacy for either coparent. Participation does not guarantee a particular family, legal, or court outcome.
For court-referred families, the court may receive limited information about participation, engagement, and completion. Further court involvement is outside the scope of this service.
Program participation is based on availability and appropriateness. The Family Study Center may determine that Connected Coparenting is not the best fit for every family. If a court ordered family is not selected, the court may be notified that the intervention will not proceed; the specific reason is not provided through the standard program notification process.