Enhancing Mandatory Co-parenting Programme to Prioritise Preserving Parent-child Bonds and Addressing Hostile Co-parenting Post Divorce

Ms Diana Pang Li Yen asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) whether the Mandatory Co-Parenting Programme for parents with children under 21 covers co-parenting concerns, parenting plans and the mitigation of divorce's impact on children; and (b) whether the programme will be enhanced to prioritise preserving parent-child bonds, addressing hostile co-parenting and preventing children from being drawn into disputes.

The Mandatory Co-Parenting Programme encourages parents with children under 21 to make informed decisions that prioritise children's well-being, even as the parents contemplate divorce. It covers topics, such as co-parenting skills, managing emotions and keeping the divorce peaceful. These help to mitigate the impact of divorce on children.

As part of the programme, the parents meet with a counsellor to discuss co-parenting plans, and the counsellor may recommend additional interventions based on the family's needs. An example is the Children-in-Between programme, which offers practical tips to better understand their children's needs and reduce co-parenting conflict.