Mandatory Parenting Programme
PRE-DIVORCE MANDATORY PARENTING PROGRAMME (MPP) FOR DIVORCING PARENTS
Aim
In December 2016, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) designed the Mandatory Parenting Programme (MPP) for intended divorcees with children under the age of 21 years old to attend a short consultation session before filing for divorce. You do not need to attend this MPP session if your divorce is uncontested and simplified divorce right from the start.
Section 94A of the Women’s Charter states that MPP is aimed to inform parties whom are unable to agree on the reason for divorce and/or ancillary matters, to prioritise the well-being of children and the impact of divorce that may have on a child and the followings: –
- the financial challenges of divorce
- how divorce impacts living arrangements
- child custody and access
- the importance of co-parenting and having a parenting plan
MPP vs Marriage Counselling
The MPP is not the same as marriage counselling. Divorce is a personal choice which has been derived based on your personal observation of your own marriage. It is not anybody’s duty to dissuade a person from forsaking the family, neither is it for anyone to “save’ the family.
You should approach a trained family counsellor if you need someone to talk to.
Who conducts the MPP?
You may attend a one-time, 2-hour MPP session alone with or without your spouse.
The sessions, which may be shorter than two (2) hours are conducted by counsellors from Divorce Support Specialist Agencies (DSSAs).
Is there any payment involved?
MPP is completely free of charge.
Do I attend alone or with my spouse?
You may proceed to apply for MPP session on your own without seeking your spouse’s consent. Divorce is a personal decision and you can decide not to inform your spouse or anyone.
You may also decide to discuss the matter with your spouse and attend the session at different time. Currently, the sessions are grouped into male and female sessions with 6 to 12 attendees each time.
Nonetheless, if you believe that attending the MPP with your spouse will be beneficial for the divorce and your child, you may email dssaprogrammes@msf.gov.sg with your request.
I do not wish to attend MPP?
The only way to be excluded from attending MPP is when a party to the marriage suffers mental incapacity defined under the Mental Capacity Act and produces supporting medical evidence.
I am overseas
When applying for MPP, you may indicate that you are not in Singapore and will not be travelling back in the near future. DSSA will arranged for consultation with you in other mode e.g. videoconferencing.
How to apply for MPP?
- Visit https://www.msf.gov.sg/Divorce-Support/Pages/Mandatory-Parenting-Programme.aspx
- Log in using your SingPass
- Attend MPP to receive the MPP Certificate of Attendance
Thrive Parenting! AMKFSC Community Service
Blk 230 Ang Mo Kio Ave 3
#01-1264
Singapore 560230
Website: https://www.amkfsc.org.sg/
Email: thrivedssa@amkfsc.org.sg
6453 5349
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DSSA |
ADDRESS |
TEL |
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Blk 54 Commonwealth Drive Website: https://www.thkmc.org.sg Email: cfh_dssa@thkmc.org.sg |
6357 9188 |
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Healing Hearts@Fei Yue
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Blk 281 Choa Chu Kang Ave 3 Website: https://www.fycs.org/ Email: enq_healinghearts@fycs.org |
6235 5229 |
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Care Corner Centre for Co-Parenting |
Blk 21 Eunos Crescent #01-2983 Singapore 400021 Website: www.carecorner.org.sg/ccp.html Email: ccp@carecorner.org.sg |
6258 0020 |
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HELP Family Service Centre |
Blk 570 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 #01-3317 Singapore 560570 Website: www.helpfsc.org.sg Email: e-counsel@helpfsc.org.sg |
6457 5188 |
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