Facilitator Bios of Co-Parenting Kids Through Divorce with Divorce Education MN

Marilyn Groenke is a Rule 114 Qualified Neutral under the MN General Rules of Practice, and is registered on the MN state roster of civil and family mediators. She holds a BA degree in sociology and psychology from the University of MN, and a graduate certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution from Hamline University School of Law. She has taken certified training as a Family Mediator and training in Transformative Mediation.

She has worked as a social worker in family counseling and at a half-way house for chemically dependent women. She has trained adult and student learners in communication and conflict resolution skills, including coaching mediation trainees for community programs and training peer mediators in school.

Ms. Groenke has facilitated court mandated co-parenting classes for divorcing or never married parents since 1999. She founded and developed the comprehensive eight hour “Parenting Kids Through Divorce” classes specifically to meet the requirements of MN statute 518.157, which requires co-parenting education for divorcing or never married parents who are disputing custody or parenting time. She also facilitates small groups for high conflict co-parenting partners. She has nine years experience in mediation, mediation training, and co-parenting education. She is a child of divorce, and parent of one son.

Jessica Kuchta-Miller is the primary facilitator of the legal class. She is a licensed attorney and a Rule 144 qualified neutral for both civil and family matters under the Minnesota General Rules of Practice. Ms. Kuchta-Miller manages the divorce mediation program at the Mediation Center for Dispute Resolution at Hamline University School of Law. Prior to that she worked with and advised community mediation programs throughout the Twin Cities and has served as an adjunct professor at Hamline University School of Law since 2002.

Ms. Kuchta-Miller earned her Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, with a certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution from Hamline University School of Law, and holds a Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology from Gonzaga University. She has nine years experience in mediation and mediation training, as well as in the coordination and facilitation of co-parenting programs. She is a child of divorce and the parent of three children.