Investigated 17 custodial and 18 noncustodial fathers of abused or neglected children to determine: (1) how fathers get custody; (2) how situations in which fathers get custody differ from those in which they do not; and (3) the degree to which father placements are satisfactory. (SAK)

Provided fathers' reports, matched to mothers', and court record data concerning nonpayment of child support. The court records were shown to be an underestimate. Fathers' reports of compliance was much higher than mothers' reports, illustrating that both might be biased in opposite directions. Ability to pay was shown to be a key correlate of…

Conducted one-year follow-up study on families randomly assigned to settle custody disputes either in mediation or through adversary procedures. Consistent with Time 1 reports, at Time 2, fathers who mediated were substantially more satisfied than were fathers who litigated. Fathers who mediated also complied more with child support orders.…

This article examines children's living arrangements when parents separate, during a period of rapid increase in shared physical custody in the 1990s. With prospective data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (N= 758 families) and a sample of families experiencing parental separation between successive survey cycles, we use…

This study compared parental psychiatric symptom severity, and the absence or presence of severe substance abuse, as predictors of contact with minor children for a representative sample of adults with diagnoses of serious mental illness (N = 45). Child contact and psychiatric symptom severity were measured during regularly scheduled 6-month…

In this article, I suggest that postdivorce paternal disengagement may be rooted in the father's tendency to link his children and ex-wife as a single entity in consequence of his failure to adequately mourn the loss of his ex-wife and to redefine his paternal role and identity in distinction from his spousal role and identity. I also suggest that…

The authors describe a study of families in the Family Drug Treatment Court (FTDC), an effort to promote permanent placement for substance-exposed infants within time requirements mandated by the 1997 Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA). The purpose of the study was to evaluate parent functioning after FTDC involvement, infant developmental…

Focuses on noncustodial parents, who are usually fathers. Discusses 10 dilemmas of parents in the noncustodial position and delineates what can be done by individual and family counselors to enhance ability of noncustodial parents to maintain parenting relationships with their children. (Author)

Surveys the literature and provides case examples supporting the view that social workers are uniquely qualified to evaluate child custody questions and can learn to handle themselves in the courtroom, either as employees of the court or as private consultants. (Author/NB)

Uses contested child custody cases between divorcing parents to examine the interconnections between legal and familial processes. Examines the structure of the legal system in relation to the factors leading to custody litigation, the strategies of parents contesting the custody of their children, and the impact of these actions on the legal…

Explored the impact of custodial arrangement on the adjustment of recently divorced fathers. Indicated that divorced fathers with custody exhibited less depression and anxiety and fewer problems in general adjustment than those without custody. Results highlight the importance of the children's presence as a facilitative, stabilizing factor in…

Used court records to investigate children and divorce in New Zealand. Found a marked trend toward more involvement of children, reflecting both a rising divorce rate and a shift to higher parities in distribution of divorcing couples by parity. Maternal monopoly on formal custody awards has intensified. (NRB)

This brief documents the numbers of children living in different types of kinship environments, characteristics of those environments, and services these children receive. Data come from the 1997 National Survey of America's Families, a nationally representative survey of households with people under age 65 that measures economic, health, and…

Presents national data on each state's legislative approach to custody cases involving allegations of domestic violence. Findings suggest that each regulatory schema has strengths and weaknesses, but that these approaches have been developed without the benefit of extensive study. (Contains 45 references and 1 table.) (GCP)

Examines adult children's reports of relationship changes with their fathers were 20 years after their parents' divorce. Findings indicated that most adult children felt that their relationships with their fathers had either improved or remained stable over time. Custody did not directly affect reported changes in the quality of their relationship…