What the Generations Program Is
The Generations Program is Allegheny County's mandatory co-parenting education requirement for contested custody cases. Every parent involved in a contested custody matter in Allegheny County must complete the program before the case can proceed to mediation or hearing. The program applies at initial filing and to modification and contempt petitions where custody is in dispute.
The program has two components: an online educational module and a remote mediation session. Both must be completed before the case moves forward. Understanding what each step involves, how long it takes, and what domestic violence waivers are available is part of being prepared for the process.
The Generations Program is mandatory in contested Allegheny County custody cases. Cases do not advance to the scheduling stage until completion is confirmed. Planning for this step at the outset, before it becomes an obstacle, avoids unnecessary delay.
The Online Educational Module: Able to Adjust
The first component is an online co-parenting education class called Able to Adjust. Both parties complete this independently, on their own schedule. The class covers the impact of parental conflict on children, communication strategies for co-parenting, and how to manage transitions and parenting time disputes without involving the children.
Completion of the Able to Adjust module generates a confirmation code that must be submitted to the court before the mediation session can be scheduled. Each party must complete the online module, because completion by one party does not satisfy the requirement for the other.
The class is accessible online and can typically be completed in a few hours. It is available in English and Spanish.
The Mediation Session: Microsoft Teams
After both parties complete the online module, a mediation session is scheduled through the Allegheny County custody mediation program. Mediation is conducted remotely via Microsoft Teams. Both parties participate from separate locations and are not placed in the same virtual room.
The mediator is a trained neutral professional, not a judge or hearing officer. The mediator's goal is to help the parties reach a temporary agreement on custody terms without requiring a hearing. Many cases settle at the mediation stage, and those that do not settle proceed to a custody conciliation before a hearing officer.
Attorneys do not attend the mediation session. This is a firm rule in Allegheny County. Your attorney can help you prepare for mediation by clarifying your goals, the terms that are realistic, and the positions likely to draw judicial scrutiny, but will not be present in the session itself.
Going into mediation without a clear understanding of realistic outcomes, minimum acceptable terms, or how the session is structured typically produces worse results than going in prepared. What is said in mediation can affect how the case proceeds.
Waiver for Domestic Violence Victims
Victims of domestic violence within the past 24 months may request a waiver of the mediation component of the Generations Program. The waiver must be submitted to the Allegheny County custody department before mediation is scheduled. Documentation supporting the waiver request is advisable.
The online educational module still must be completed even when the mediation component is waived. The waiver covers only the joint mediation session.
If you have a history of domestic violence and have concerns about participating in a joint mediation session, discuss the waiver process with your attorney before mediation is scheduled. Proceeding to mediation without adequate safety planning, or without a waiver where one is appropriate, can create pressure to agree to terms that are not in your interest.
How the Generations Program Fits Into the Custody Case Timeline
In Allegheny County, parents who elect to litigate after mediation must present a praecipe to schedule a conciliation, with the certificate of completion of mediation attached, within 120 days of the completed mediation session. The Generations Program must be completed before a conciliation can be scheduled. Delay in completing the program, particularly the online module, can therefore hold up the entire case.
The practical sequence:
- Custody complaint filed and served on the other party
- Scheduling order issued requiring Generations Program completion
- Both parties complete the Able to Adjust online module independently
- Mediation session scheduled and completed via Microsoft Teams
- Case proceeds to custody conciliation if unresolved
- If conciliation does not resolve the matter: hearing before a judge
The faster both parties complete the online module, the faster the mediation can be scheduled. Delay by either party, intentional or not, extends the timeline for everyone.
Common Questions About the Generations Program
"Understanding what the Generations Program requires before the scheduling order arrives avoids delays that affect the entire custody timeline."
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