Feasability Study Children of Divorce Intervention Program (CODIP) in the Netherlands

A recent estimation points to a total of 70,000 children involved in their
parents* divorce or separation in
the Netherlands each year (Spruijt, 2007). Research points out that children of
divorce achieve worse in
school, have more behavioural problems, score lower on psychological and
emotional wellbeing, have a
lower self-esteem, and have more problematic social relationships than children
of intact families (e.g.
Amato & Keith, 1991; Spruijt, 2007). In the Netherlands, there is barely any
preventive support for these
children of divorce available. Moreover, available support is rather local,
mostly not proven effective, and
primarily focused on children aged 8 years and older. Evidence-based preventive
intervention for Dutch
children of divorce (mostly < 8 years of age) is therefore very much needed.
The Children of Divorce Intervention Program (CODIP) is an
international evidence-based intervention to
prevent divorce related problems in children. The Inventgroup (2005) has
selected CODIP in families as
a promising early intervention for children with internalizing problems. In
this program, aiming at proximal
negative consequences of divorce (see Appendix A), children discuss their
divorce-related feelings, deal
with unrealistic perceptions and attitudes regarding the divorce, and enhance
their coping capacities. In
a supportive environment, participating children are trained in cognitive
behaviour strategies and
inherent coping skills. In international studies positive effects of CODIP were
found (based on
self-report, parental report as well as teacher report) on internalizing and
externalizing problems. These
effects were maintained in the follow-up, two years after the intervention.
This project proposal encompasses the introduction of CODIP - starting with the
15 session module for second and third grade children of divorce - in the
Netherlands.

Objective of the study is to make this CODIP module applicable for the Dutch
situation and to test it in an
extensive pilot study to such extent that a decision about national
implementation can be made.
Therewith the feasibility study has three goals:
1) Translation and adaptation of the early latency CODIP module for the Dutch
situation.
2) Examining the feasibility of implementing this adapted CODIP module in the
Dutch context.
3) Determining the feasibility of replicating the positive and desired effects
of CODIP as proven in other
countries than the Netherlands. To answer to the second and third objective, an
extensive pilot study (four support
groups) will be conducted.

The process of adapting, testing, and introducing CODIP in the NL will take
place in two stages: Translating and adapting the CODIP second and third grade
module to Dutch intermediate and end users. The second study stage concerns
an empirical stage: In this stage a pilot study will be conducted in order to
provide answers to the second
and third study goals, regarding the feasibility of implementing the CODIP
module and the possibility of
replicating positive intervention effects of CODIP as proven in studies abroad.
These two study stages chronologically entail the following activities:
• Translating (textually: English to Dutch) the well designed and structured
CODIP manuals and other
program materials.
• Developing a conceptual outline of CODIP describing the program*s underlying
theoretical principles by
consultation with the researchers of the Children*s Institute (Rochester, NY),
and studying publications
about CODIP.
• Developing a concept version of the Dutch manual for the after divorce module
based on the literal
translation and adhering to the conceptual outline. This will include a module
for training group leaders
and a questionnaire for monitoring program fidelity.
• Designing a concept implementation plan.
• Presenting and discussing these first drafts of the manual and implementation
plan with a selection of
plausible group leaders to gain comments on it. At this stage, requirements of
the final design of the
program manual are collected.
• Development and implementation of the final manual - in line with the
implementation plan - in an
extensive pilot study consisting of four support groups.

CODIP has five basic objectives, directly targeting proximal negative child
outcomes of parental divorce

1) Providing a supportive group environment:
A fundamental underpinning of CODIP groups is to provide a safe, supportive
environment for children.
Contact with peers who have gone through comparable experiences helps
participating children to
reduce their sense of isolation and develop a sense of companionship and trust.
Therefore a safe,
accepting environment is established in which children can respond at their own
pace.

2) Facilitating identification and appropriate expression of feelings:
CODIP seeks to enhance the participants* ability to identify and appropriately
express a range of
emotions that are associated to the divorce. A variety of play techniques are
used to help children
identify a range of emotions, including the interactive use of books, pictures
of facial expression, and the
active participation of a group puppet. To facilitate identification and
appropriate expression of feelings,
group leaders are encouraged to maintain a safe group environment where all
feelings are accepted.

3) Promoting accurate understanding of divorce-related concepts and clarifying
divorce-related
misconceptions. Because feelings of guilt and responsibility for the separation
and hopes and wishes for reconciliation pose an emotional burden for children,
clarifying misconceptions is an essential part of the intervention. In
CODIP structured puppet play is used to help clarify divorce-related
misconceptions. Besides, *Daring
Dinosaurs*, a board game developed specifically for CODIP, contains cards that
reflect misconceptions
children often have about the reasons for family problems, with opportunities
for group discussion and
puppet play to clarify common reasons for self-blame.

4) Enhancing coping skills:
Several CODIP sessions are devoted to training social problem solving,
communication skills, and the
appropriate expression of anger, using age-appropriate games and techniques to
encourage skill
acquisition and generalization. Specifically, children are taught to
differentiate between problems they
can, and problems they cannot control. This key distinction helps them to
master the psychological task
of disengaging from inter-parental conflicts and to redirect their energies
into age-appropriate pursuits.

5) Enhancing children*s perceptions of self and family and reinforcement of
coping skills:
This final program objective emphasizes positive qualities of children and
families. Several self-esteem
building exercises are used to highlight the children*s positive qualities. For
example, in the second and
third grade module each child completes an *I am special* book detailing
his/her characteristics, likes,
feelings, wishes, and place in the group and family. Sessions in regard to this
fifth objective strive to
heighten children*s awareness and acceptance of non-traditional family
structures and positive
post-divorce family changes that may have occurred.

Not applicable