Parenting After Separation Course in PEI (PP2H)
PEI offers two parent education programs for separating families: Positive Parenting from Two Homes (PP2H) and New Ways for Families. Both are free for eligible Island families. PP2H is available to separating parents without a referral, while New Ways is for referred high-conflict families. Neither is a strict gatekeeper to filing court documents.
Positive Parenting from Two Homes (PP2H)
PP2H is the province's standard parent education program, administered through the Family Law Centre in Charlottetown. It is designed for all separating parents, regardless of conflict level.
Format. PP2H is delivered as an online self-paced module followed by a questionnaire. The program takes approximately six hours to complete. You work through it individually — not with the other parent.
Content. The program focuses on:
- How separation affects children at different developmental stages
- Recognizing and reducing the impact of parental conflict on children
- Building effective co-parenting communication
- Understanding the child's perspective during transitions
Completion. After finishing the online module and submitting the questionnaire to the Parent Education Coordinator, you receive a Certificate of Completion. This certificate must be filed with the court registry. In contested matters, the Case Management Judge will typically confirm both parents have completed PP2H at the first Case Management Conference.
Cost. Free. The program is funded by the province.
New Ways for Families
New Ways for Families is a specialized program for high-conflict separations. Unlike PP2H, you do not self-enroll — referrals come from the court, the Family Court Counsellors' Office, or the Office of the Children's Lawyer.
What makes it different. While PP2H is educational and informational, New Ways for Families is skills-based. Developed by Bill Eddy (a family law attorney and therapist known for his work on high-conflict personalities), it teaches parents specific techniques for:
- Managing emotional reactions during co-parenting interactions
- Making proposals instead of demands
- Responding to hostility without escalating
- Structuring communication to reduce conflict triggers
Cost. Also free for Island families.
Is Completion Mandatory Before Filing?
Technically, no. Unlike British Columbia (where the Parenting After Separation course is a mandatory prerequisite before appearing in court), PEI does not require PP2H completion before you can file a petition or application. You can submit your paperwork without it.
However, if your case reaches a Case Management Conference — which happens automatically when a contested Answer is filed — the judge will almost certainly direct both parents to complete PP2H. Showing up with your certificate already filed demonstrates initiative and good faith.
For parents trying to keep their separation uncontested, completing PP2H early has a practical benefit: the program often reframes how parents think about their proposals, making it easier to negotiate a workable parenting plan before positions harden.
The Prince Edward Island Child Custody & Parenting Plan Guide covers how PP2H fits into the broader court process and includes a pre-mediation preparation worksheet to use alongside the program.
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