What is SMILE?
SMILE - Start Making It Liveable for Everyone - is an educational program for separating/divorced parents with children under the age of eighteen. It provides information to help parents better understand the effects of divorce.
It assists parents to understand the needs of their children. It helps parents learn what they can do to create a nurturing and safe environment so their children can recover from the divorce and feel good about themselves.
It provides information to prevent destructive game-playing that is so common among divorced couples and their children. It helps parents gain problem solving skills. It lets parents know they are not alone.
Why is SMILE important?
Divorce is a process over which children have no control. Children should not become its victims. When parents are under stress, it is harder to be in touch with their children's pain and anguish. It takes time, effort and planning on the part of parents to be able to provide for children's needs.
In the crisis of divorce, parents may put their children on hold while they attend to adult problems first. Sometimes separating/divorced parents find their roles and expectations are undefined and cloudy. If handled properly, divorce need not be devastating for children.
SMILE - Start Making It Liveable for Everyone - helps to soften the blows of divorce.
Topics Covered
- The Grief Process
- How Divorce Affects Children and Parents
- Developmental Reactions to Divorce
- Helping Children Adjust to Divorce
Where and When
- A one-session, two-hour program held monthly.
- Free
For parents who have recently filed for divorce, you will be court ordered to attend the program. The court will send you a copy of the Order to Attend SMILE with information about the next three sessions.
For parents who have not received an invitation and want to attend, please call the reservation line and leave your name and the message that you will be attending.
Seating is limited at each session. Please reserve you seat by calling 269-781-0823 and leaving your name and the date you will attend, along with your case number.
Sponsored By
- 37th Judicial Circuit Court - Family Division
- Calhoun County Friend of the Court
- Family and Children Services
SMILE 2012 Dates
Evening sessions are held from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the Calhoun Intermediate School District. Daytime sessions are held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Justice Center - Room 245.
Date
|
Place |
| Tuesday - January 10 afternoon (11:00) |
Justice Center |
| Tuesday - February 14 |
CISD |
| Tuesday - March 13 |
CISD |
| Tuesday - April 10 - afternoon |
Justice Center |
| Tuesday - May 8 |
CISD |
| Tuesday - June 12 |
CISD |
| Tuesday - July 10 - afternoon |
Justice Center |
| Tuesday - August 14 |
to be determined |
| Tuesday - September 11 |
to be determined |
| Tuesday - October 19 - afternoon |
Justice Center |
| Tuesday - November 13 |
to be determined |
| Tuesday - December 11 |
to be determined |
Locations
| Marshall Location |
Battle Creek Location |
| Calhoun Intermediate School District |
Justice Center |
| 17111 G Drive North |
Courtroom 245 |
| Marshall, MI 49068 |
161 E. Michigan Avenue |
|
(One block north and east
of 1-94, at exit 110) |
Battle Creek, MI 49014 |