Panel Seeks To Ease Divorce Stress On Kids

A committee including members of Idaho’s legal community, law enforcement officers, child advocates and counselors and mediators is looking at ways to make high-conflict divorces less stressful on the children involved.

The Idaho Supreme Court and the Idaho State Bar have created the Committee on the Family. It will spend the next 10 months developing practical recommendations to help children in the divorce process.

Among other things, the committee’s recommendations likely are to address educating parents, children and professionals involved in stressful divorces and the damaging effects that parental conflict has on children.

In February, the committee will convene grass-roots advisory groups. Committee representatives say they want to hear from parents, children, school staff, grandparents, ministers and others in direct contact with children.