The National Center for State Courts (NCSC), in partnership with the Maricopa Superior Court of Arizona, introduces Families in Transition (FIT). This 1.5-hour online course is not merely another parenting program. It is specifically designed as part of an early case management approach to address the needs of families experiencing high levels of conflict during transitions like divorce or separation. Developed with funding from the State Justice Institute and supported by research conducted by Arizona State University, FIT leverages an internationally acclaimed film and evidence-based interactive exercises to focus on effective childhood development and communication strategies.
If you are ordered to take FIT by a court, follow these simple steps to register, take the course, and print out a certificate or PDF-certificate.
Go to https://fit.courtlms.org/.
Register and Confirm Your Email Address:
- Click on "Get this course".
- After you sign up, we will send you an email to make sure your email address is correct.
- Find that email, and click the link in it to activate your account.
- Then, you're ready to start the FIT Course.
Return to the Course:
- If you need to leave the Course and come back later, just sign in again using your same email and password.
Get Your Certificate:
- After you finish the Course, FIT will offer you the option to print the certificate. You can print it out or save it as a PDF.
- If you need another copy of your certificate later, it's easy! Log in, hover your mouse over your name at the top, and click on "My Certifications". From there, you can print or download your certificate to show the court.
Recommended Browser: For the best experience, we recommend using Google Chrome.
Need More Help? For any other questions, please ask the court that referred you.
- Early Intervention: FIT is designed to act as an early intervention tool rather than replace existing court parenting programs. Most parenting education courses are not designed specifically to assist case management.
- Fills a Gap: Many court systems lack tailored education for families navigating high-conflict scenarios. FIT fills this void by complementing existing parenting education curricula.
- Evidence-Based Approach: Unlike traditional interventions, which have not shown to lessen children’s risks in high-conflict environments, FIT employs a behavior-centric approach that has been proven effective. An Arizona State University study compared FIT to traditional in-person classes and found:
- Participants reported less parental conflict after the program than before the program.
- Participants reported fewer child behavior problems after the program.
- Participants liked content, found the program appropriate to their situation, and believed the things they learned FIT could be implemented in their families.
- Accessible: FIT is both time-efficient and cost-effective, making it accessible to a broader demographic. It's a concise 1.5-hour online course, designed for flexibility according to the participant's schedule.
- NCSC receives no compensation for FIT during the Pre-Launch.
- NCSC developed the course with grant funding provided by the State Justice Institute and with in-kind contributions. The national Advisory Committee that oversaw its development volunteered its time and expertise.
Details on technical requirements and how to use the course platform can be found at: https://fit.courtlms.org/faq.