Public awareness of the problem of child abuse and public willingness to participate in solving the problem have grown in recent years. To further the success of advocacy efforts, volunteer recruitment, fund-raising, and implementing programs for child abuse prevention and treatment, an understanding of both non-professionals' and professionals'…

Examined female social work students' (N=216) perceptions of major custody arrangements. Subjects made recommendations regarding hypothetical custody dispute by ranking nine predefined custody arrangements. Although subjects used appropriate criteria in recommendations, custody was seldom awarded to fathers even when they qualified for it.…

Reviews the recent history of custody conflicts between foster and birth parents in the Pennsylvania courts. Traces the development of laws relating to foster care and examines conflicts between the legal system and child welfare services. (JAC)

Surveyed 141 single fathers about their experience as homemakers, the nature of their father/child relationship, and overall role satisfaction. Most men felt comfortable and competent as single parents, regardless of the reason for custody or their financial status. Both economic status and reason for custody influenced the father/child…

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) norms based on 508 child custody litigations are presented. Defensive underreporting and self-favorability were often exhibited along with an elevation on the Over-Controlled Hostility Scale. Results highlight the importance of context specificity in personality assessment. (SLD)

In a recent survey, 53% of responding middle and elementary school counselors reported testifying in a formal hearing involving students. Child custody cases most frequently required counselor involvement, followed by sexual and child abuse cases. Counselors most frequently utilized school attorneys, personal attorneys, professional counseling…

Studied 205 children who were subjects of child protection investigations in 1995 in England. Found that for the vast majority, welfare needs were ignored in the process of investigation. Identified the need to refocus investigations and suggested criteria to be used to provide a clearer focus on whether to investigate a referral. (Author/LPP)

Using a symbolic interactionism framework, this study examined the relationship between the perceptual differences relating to parenting and custody and coparental conflict. For both mothers and fathers, perceptual divergence regarding fathers' child-rearing skills and perceptual divergence regarding mothers' willingness to be accommodating…

Several policy and practice issues impede successful implementation of the federal Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997. Montgomery County, Maryland devised a blended model of intervention to achieve the dual mandates of county Child Welfare Services and alcohol and drug services. The approach made use of graduated levels of intensity in…

Examined the effectiveness of a family-centered residential treatment model, Reasonable Efforts to Permanency through Adoption and Reunification Endeavors (REPARE), for achieving permanency outcomes for children. Found that the REPARE program achieved greater postdischarge stability for participants than the agency's standard residential treatment…

This paper presents the stories of three mothers with learning difficulties whose children have been involved in care proceedings. Drawing on the example of the legendary interviewer, Studs Terkel, the authors let the mothers describe their experiences of the child protection system in their own words. From out of their intensely personal accounts…

This guide is a compilation of material critical to incarcerated women and to women in the community who have a history involving the criminal justice system. It provides them with a framework for analyzing problems, formulating strategies for change, and crafting solutions. Section 1 deals with negotiating the prison system. Six chapters address…

This Congressional report found that today's social and economic conditions harm large numbers of American families in ways that the child welfare, mental health, and juvenile justice systems were not created and are ill-prepared to address. The following findings are reported: (1) the number of children placed outside of their homes during the…

Professional standards of practice for psychologists are vital in child custody work. The psychologist should examine all parties involved and should be acutely aware of and compliant with the current state laws as related to child custody. Objectivity is of paramount importance. This can best be achieved if the psychologist is appointed by the…

A sequence of stages in children's emotional response to parental separation and divorce is described, some effects of continued parent hostility are pointed out, and aspects of children's adjustment to changed family circumstances are briefly discussed. Developmental differences in children's responses to divorce are considered on the basis of…