Parenting Seminars

graphic for Temporary Orders for Impact on Children March 2020

Effective immediately, and only for a temporary period in line with the Washington Supreme Court’s Chief Justice’s Public Health Emergency Amended Order #25700-B-607 and other Pierce County Superior Court Emergency Orders, all parties required to complete an Impact on Children Seminar may complete an online seminar in lieu of personally attending one of Pierce County’s approved seminar providers.  This emergency rule amends PCLSPR 94.05 and the Administrative Policy re Impact on Children Seminar. 

Only online seminars hosted by a Pierce County seminar provider are approved, unless a special waiver is granted by a Pierce County Superior Court judicial officer.   Note: not all of the approved providers have online programs in place at the present time.

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Mandatory Seminar - Impact on Children


The Pierce County Superior Court judges find that it is in the best interest of any child whose parents or custodians are involved in specific court proceedings to provide such parents with an educational workshop concerning the impact family restructuring has on their child.

Mandatory Impact on Children Seminar offered for Non-Parental Custody Petitioners


On September 1, 2013, Hope Sparks began offering a 4-hour Impact on Children seminar specifically aimed at families and individuals providing kinship care when the biological parent(s) are not fit or otherwise available to parent their children. This course is approved as an alternative to the regular Mandatory Impact on Children seminar required by PCLSPR 94.05 and is designed for petitioners in Non-Parental Custody cases under RCW Ch. 26.10. For enrollment and other scheduling information, please contact Hope Sparks directly at (253) 565-4484.

Workshop Tools


The workshop offers parents tools to help ensure that their child's emotional needs will not be overlooked during the legal processes, to encourage parents to agree on child-related matters and to aid in maximizing the use of court time.

Introduction to the Seminar


The Impact on Children seminar shall provide information concerning the impact family restructuring has on children.

Seminar Content


The Superior Court judges (or a committee designated by the judges) adopted guidelines governing the content of the seminar, the minimum credentials and experience required of seminar instructors and administrative requirements of an acceptable program. The judges' committee will review submitted proposals and approve those programs which meet the outlined criteria for the course. Both the seminar content guidelines and the instructors' minimum qualifications were adopted as a Superior Court administrative policy.

Administrative Policy


Copies of the Superior Court administrative policy are available from Pierce County Superior Court administration and also in the local rules document. See Part VI, Administrative Policies, Policy 5 regarding the Impact on Children seminar.