Studied families with either maternal, paternal, or joint custody after divorce. Most children were not maladjusted, and adjustment was independent of custody type. It appears that joint custody at its best is superior to single-parent custody at its best. Cautions against a legal presumption for the joint award. (Author/ABB)

Follow-up of 64 neglected and abused children, seen one to seven years earlier, with mentally retarded parent revealed that six children had been relinquished voluntarily for adoption; that courts had terminated parental rights for 34 children; and that nine had been placed in foster care. Cognitive limitations prevented parents from utilizing…

Provides guidelines and suggestions for schools faced with legal problems associated with children from nontraditional families. Sections are included on children with changed surnames, access to school records for noncustodial parents, policy conflicts between spouses over children's schooling, and attempts by noncustodial parents to remove…

This document comprises the three issues of Volume 13 of the "Speak Out for Children" newsletter, published to strengthen families through education and to assist children of unwed parents, separation, and divorce. The Spring 1998 issue contains articles on joint custody and the reduction of parental conflict, access grant programs,…

Discusses the compelling need for clear standards, a knowledge base, training, and knowledge application in child custody evaluations. Recommends some substantive areas to be mastered when dealing with child custody within the legal context. Defines features of competence as well as ethical considerations relevant to this area of clinical…

Placement outcomes for 206 severely maltreated Boston (Massachusetts) children 7.5 years after arraignment on care and protection petitions were examined, with attention to the percent permanently removed from parents, cases dismissed, temporary custody, drifting back to parents despite removal, time spent in probate proceedings, and rate of court…

The welfare of children in Lagos, Nigeria, after marital disruption was assessed using 1,000 social welfare case records. Findings include: single custody was commonly practiced; few of the women remarried; and many of the biological fathers were not responsible for the maintenance of their children, and the few that were defaulted regularly.…

Contrasts the experiences of 398 White and 319 Black grandmothers raising their grandchildren. Similarities include age, education, familial relationship to the grandchild, age of grandchild, and impacts on the grandmother's work life. Differences include marital status, work status, and income. White grandmothers experienced more burden from…

The quality of life of maltreated children placed with relatives was examined through interviews with nine families in Walton County (Georgia) who had taken in related children. Over half of the children had experienced some improvement in home life, school performance, and their physical and mental status. Kinship care families indicated needs…

Describes a longitudinal study examining children's attachment and relationship preferences and residence wishes as a custody decision criterion in divorced families. Advocates constituting by law the child's attachments and residence wishes as custody criterion for children of any age and for establishing appropriate social and legal contexts to…

Explores circumstances in which working-class and low-income custodial African American fathers (N=24) gained custody of their children and transitioned to full-time parenting. Findings suggest that these men are often reluctant to take on single, full-time parenting role. Adaptation to role seems to be enhanced by use of extended kin support…

Discusses development of indicators for the safety of children in out-of-home care using administrative data from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. Reports rates of abuse and neglect from 1996 to 1999, and presents an alternative that accounts for the length of time children are exposed to abuse or neglect. (JPB)

This handbook is a "how-to" guide to help parents get the child support payments their children need and deserve. The handbook is written in a question and answer format. Chapter 1 provides information on child support enforcement problems, how parents can get help, and the basic fees and steps in getting child support. Chapter 2…

"Speak Out for Children" is the quarterly newsletter of the Children's Rights Council (CRC), which is concerned with the healthy development of children of divorced and separated parents. The newsletter consists of feature articles and regular sections and columns. Feature articles for volume 11, issue number 1, are: "U.S.…

These three newsletter issues, published by the Children's Rights Council (CRC), are concerned with the healthy development of children of divorced and separated parents. Feature articles in issue number 1 of this volume are: (1) "Commission to Focus on Custody/Access"; and (2) "Congress to Move on Welfare Reform." Feature articles in issue number…