Outlines important considerations in maintaining legal relationships between the school, pupils, and third parties (including parents). Defines "child" and "parent." Discusses the impact on school personnel of the complex variety of persons and institutions that may claim rights and privileges as "parent" with regard…

Offers administrative directives, including visitor identification and student release policies and a specific release procedure, for preventing and dealing with problems related to child snatching by spouses or former spouses. (KS)

Single parents and their children experience stress that the school and community can ease through effective programs. Problems arise in one-parent families because of economic changes, practical responsibilities, social and interpersonal relationships, and emotional adjustment. (DF)

Uses family systems theory to conceptualize family dissolution and child custody disputes. Describes a family assessment model involving a therapy team with each member responsible for a family subsystem. The role of each therapist and the functioning of the team is outlined. Criteria for determining custody recommendations are identified. (JAC)

This study of 60 contested custody cases in Florida found that judges appeared responsive to allegations of abuse with regard to awards of the children's primary physical residence but not with regard to shared custody. Reports of parental substance abuse had no apparent impact on judicial decision making. (Author/JDD)

Thirty-three mothers with mental retardation with or without a history of child abuse/neglect were compared. Abusing mothers had higher intelligence quotients, were married, and had at least two children. Removal of abused children occurred if the mother had a problem in addition to retardation or was unwilling to participate in a training…

Notes that many school counseling programs designed to help children of divorce focus on child and custodial parent, usually mother. Contends that, to help child cope with divorce and maintain academic performance level in school, counselor needs to involve child's noncustodial father as well. Considers fathers in therapy, examines characteristics…

Examines the plight of children who are being victimized by the criminalization of their parents and the ways in which these children are being traumatized. The few programs that offer some solutions are described, and the need for more attentive, relevant, and effective policies is outlined. (GR)

Examines the prevalence of substance abuse among families involved with the child welfare system and the impact of substance abuse on child welfare practice. Discusses how both the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 and welfare reform legislation intensify the need to address parental substance abuse effectively. Considers strategies for…

Background: The area of child custody assessments continues to fail to meet the evidence-based threshold now established in clinical practice. This is despite the existence, for many years, of published guidelines governing the practice of custody assessments available from a number of professional bodies. Methods: This article reviews the…

In this Alaska Native study, cultural "insiders" analyzed problems associated with increased alcohol availability, factors which have reduced alcohol-related problems, and ideas for improving treatment in an Inuit community. Participants described frequent bingeing, blackouts, family violence, suicide, loss of child custody, and feelings…

This document contains 17 conference presentations: (1) "Results of an Evaluation of Five Access Enforcement Programs" (Jessica Pearson); (2) "Conflict and Children's Post-Divorce Adjustment: A Closer Look" (Joan B. Kelly); (3) "What's Normal' for Stepfamilies?" (Claire Berman); (4) "How Psychiatry Promotes Child…

The National Council for Children's Rights (NCCR) is a child-advocacy group that works to assure a child the right to two parents. This proceedings contains three presentations from the NCCR's fourth annual conference and highlights of the remaining presentations. The proceedings include: (1) a welcoming address by NCCR President David L. Levy,…

In an attempt to understand perceptions of custody arrangements from the perspective of children with a focus on sibling and stepsibling relationships, exploratory research was conducted. Lengthy, unstructured interviews were conducted with 12 college students who ranged in age from 18 to 37. Data were gathered on family communication and…

No published research has investigated the impact of joint custody on the adjustment of children of divorce who become stepchildren. This research examined the differential effects of joint versus maternal custody, structural complexity (presence or absence of stepfather's children from a prior marriage), and sex and age of adolescent on…