Describes Beloit (Wisconsin) School District's systemwide policy on school-related rights of divorced parents. In 1982, a committee of divorce lawyers, clinical social workers, school administrators, and a judge designed a comprehensive policy (based primarily on "no fault" divorce provisions) governing visits during school hours,…

Attempted to identify sources which influence custody decisions and determine association between arrangements and changes in child's and parents' lives. Results from 72 divorced parents revealed that custody arrangements did not predict life change events. Respondents reported contacting attorneys first, then friends and family. Physicians and…

Clinical research shows that children have emotional investments in stepfamilies and are negatively affected by marital conflict, which can actually be greater than between couples without stepchildren. Stepchildren's perceptions of conflict heightens their need for affection. Views of parents and children about conflict do not necessarily…

Analyzes data from children and families seen at the Children's Divorce Clinic. Finds that preschool children are often told nothing about the divorce and that ethnically mixed marriages tended to fail before nonmixed marriages. Reports data concerning custody and parents' emotional response to the divorce. (Author/ABB)

Discusses the effects of a support group for single, custodial fathers (N=36) on measures of divorce adjustment, loneliness, and self-concept. Results indicated that men who attended the group meetings made more positive changes than those who did not attend and indicated a desire for support, sharing, and discussion. (JAC)

Every year the parents of a million American children are newly divorced. While divorce is difficult for all parties involved, children are often the most affected. If the children have disabilities and are involved with the special education system, the situation can be even more complex. The information in this document may help parents think…

In October of 2000 more than 30 researchers, policymakers, practitioners, school leaders, and other specialists in the field of fathers and families gathered to convene the National Center on Fathers and Families (NCOFF) Roundtable on Fathering and Family Processes. Themes emerging from the roundtable discussion included: refining concepts of…

Reports on a literature review of adolescent development, family relationships, and the impact of divorce on adolescents. Results reveal that adolescents experience divorce differently than younger children and that a positive parent-adolescent relationship can ameliorate a divorce's negative effects. Identifies major gaps in the literature,…

Discusses factors in providing safe, supervised setting for visits between parents and children who have been removed from them by child protective services. Presents common overestimations of parental capacity that doom visits, principles for effective visiting, and practical and inexpensive suggestions that are easy to implement and enjoyable…

In cases of marital separation, educators should determine a person's entitlement to a child before giving out information about the child. Courts may have denied a parent access to a child or, in the case of domestic violence, criminal charges may be involved. Educators should avoid giving evidence, but should cooperate with court-appointed…

Reviews literature on noncustodial parents to discuss issues having major ramifications for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners. Discusses implications of the literature, highlights gaps in knowledge, and identifies areas for future research. Notes need for further research to investigate changing demographic composition of American…

Investigated social and demographic determinants of frequency of noncustodial father visits with children, amount of noncustodial father-child support, and association between visiting and paying support. Surveyed divorced custodial mothers (N=180). Found more frequent visitation and greater child support among fathers with higher education and…

Describes survey of households that uncovered cases of missing children that did not fall into the four federally defined categories of missing children. Suggests two of these categories, injured and lost children, should particularly be included in missing children's typologies. Notes that vulnerability to all four kinds of episodes was…

Highlights four key areas of case law in which courts have begun to examine the effects of domestic violence on children: child custody and visitation; restraining orders; failure to protect a child from harm; and termination of parental rights. A survey of appellate court decisions since 1990 shows the ongoing need for mandatory judicial training…

This study examined postadoption experiences of parents who adopted children in state custody 18-24 months prior to interview. Parents rated the adjustment year as being more smooth than stressful. They saw how the child contributed to their lives, but were less positive about available social supports, and were dissatisfied with the speed of…