Welcome to the New Beginnings Program Online Study

The New Beginnings Program has a 30-year evidence-based legacy of helping parents and children through divorce and separation. We have developed a 10-session/week online program that we would like you to participate in.

The New Beginnings Program provides parents with practical tools to make a difference for your children as you all navigate through changes brought on by divorce or separation. Our tools focus on four building blocks of effective parenting:


  1. Positive activities that you will do with your children

  2. Listening tools to get your children to share more

  3. Effective tools to decrease your children’s misbehaviors

  4. Practical tools to protect your children from conflict with your ex-partner


Benefits to your family when you participate:


  • Both fathers and mothers report closer relationships with their children

  • Children had better adjustment up to 15 years later (less aggression and depression in childhood and adolescence, less drug and alcohol abuse in adolescence)

  • Better school grades in adolescence

  • Fewer experienced depression in young adulthood

  • Less risky sexual behavior and higher self-esteem in adolescence


Parents are eligible to participate if they:


  • Mother or father

  • Divorced or separated within the past 3 years or

  • Currently divorcing or separation

  • Share custody of at least one child between 6 and 18

  • You spend at least three hours per week and at least every other weekend with your child/ren

  • Smart phone or computer with high speed internet

  • Commitment to complete a 10-unit divorce program


Participating in this study involves:

  1. A 15-minute web-based online survey for parent and at least one child

  2. Participation in 10 unit/weekly 30-minute online divorce education program, New Beginnings Program. You will have 12 weeks to complete the program

  3. Weekly practice of the skills and tools taught 

  4. Twelve weeks later, you will be asked to take another 15-minute web-based online survey for parent and child/ren.


Once you have completed the first survey you will receive a link to claim a $50 USD (parent) or $30 USD (child/ren) online gift certificate as a thank you for taking part in the study. 


Twelve weeks later, when you complete the second survey you will receive a link to claim a $50 USD (parent) or $30 USD (child/ren) online gift certificate as a thank you for taking part in the study.