A woman is taking her personal experiences of divorce to aid those struggling during a divorce or separation.

For the next 13 weeks at Central Station in Winkler, the faith-based program DivorceCare and DivorceCare 4 Kids will help parents and children struggling with the hurt and pain of divorce and separation, creating a support group of others who are experiencing the same.

Susan Thomas says she felt alone during her divorce and wanted to be a part of something that could be there for others.

The program sometimes receives criticisms that it is encouraging separation; however, this is not the case, says Thomas, and is only a place to support others.

"That is the scenario people are putting in their heads, that this is what it's all about, but it's about walking beside the people that are hurting... When you see that there's other people struggling, it almost lessens your own struggles to know you're not the only one. "

She explains that in a family death you'll have people there for emotional support; she says divorce is a loss too, and the goal of Divorce Care is to create an environment where an individual can receive that same emotional support as a united community.

Though not knowledgeable about the new policies being developed by the province for Family Law; Thomas says for what she has heard, it is changing for the better.

The Manitoba government wants to improve access to justice, ensuring timeliness and service excellence, creating value for money for Manitobans, and lessening the social cost of conflict caused by divorce and separation.

The government will achieve this by:

• simplify child support processes so that thousands of matters can be addressed outside of court, beginning this fall;

• expand the administrative authority of the Maintenance Enforcement Program so parents can make support arrangements outside of court;

• ensure that family arbitration awards made for Manitobans are enforceable, beginning this fall;
• create a three-year pilot to test a new family dispute resolution model, which includes the creation of a new Family Dispute Resolution Service to more effectively deal with matters outside of court, to be launched in early 2020.

Based on her own experiences, Thomas says when two people can't make a marriage work and the courts want them to come to a resolution involving the kids, it can create volatile situations.

"I don't think that's the best way to go because children don't need to see that negativity and the tension. When they force the adults, the parents to do this, I think it's very wrong."

Thomas notes that's where DivorceCare 4 Kids can help; though she is not involved in this program, Thomas says she can't give it more praise. She says it's important for kids to see others going through a similar experience to them; it can create some normality in their lives.

DivorceCare and DivorceCare 4 Kids begins Monday, doesn't require any registration and is a free service for anyone going through a divorce or separation. Thomas says for those who feel they're reaching the end of their rope; this program is a place where you go to be part of a community.

For more information or contact information go to http://www.winklermb.com/events/