One of the most effective ways to safeguard children’s mental health through separation

is to support their parents in the process. Yet many separating parents receive support

from health and welfare practitioners who have limited training in working with separating

families. Evidence-based programs for separating families can provide practitioners in diverse

sectors with information about ‘what works’. This paper identifies the common elements of

evidence‑based parenting programs that support children’s (aged 0–12 years) mental health

through parental separation to inform the decisions practitioners make in their practice.