Parenting Resources 2

Compiled for Flying Solo by
Margorie Engel, © 1994
Second of Three Files

Solo Parent Empowerment Circles/Peer Support Groups
139 23rd Ave. S.
Seattle, WA 98144
Phone: (206)720-1655

Stepfamily Association of America
215 Centennial Mall S., Ste. 212
Lincoln, NE 68508
Phone: (402)477-7837
William F. Munn, Exec.Dir.
Families interested in stepfamily relationships. Acts as a support network and national advocate for stepparents, remarried parents, and their children. Works to improve the quality of life for American stepfamilies and affirm the value of step relationships. Helps the community and members of stepfamilies understand and deal with differences in positive ways that bring satisfaction and a sense of personal growth and accomplishment. Provides education and children’s services, chapter meetings, stepfamily survival courses, support groups, communication courses, and referral services. Conducts mutual help groups consisting of couples who meet on a regular basis to share experiences and discuss their remarriage and stepfamily situations. Publications: Stepfamilies, quarterly. Also publishes Learning to Step Together (manual), Stepfamilies Stepping Ahead: An Eight-Step Program for Successful Family Living, bibliography of books, articles, and research reports on stepfamily issues, and media information packets.

Stepfamily Foundation
333 West End Ave.
New York, NY 10023
Phone: (212)877-3244
Fax: (212)362-7030
Jeannette Lofas, Pres.
Remarried persons with children, interested professionals, and divorced persons. Gathers information on the stepfamily and stepfamily relationships. Provides counseling on stepfamily relationships to individuals, couples, and groups. Maintains small library. Conducts educational programs. Telephone counseling service; toll-free number, (800)SKY-STEP. Publications: New American Family, quarterly. Step News, quarterly. Newsletter including calendar of events. Also publishes 10 Steps for Step, Dynamics of Step, Stepfamily Statistics, History of the Stepfamily Foundation, digest and pamphlets; produces audio- and videotapes.

Stepparents Need Legal Clout
Philip S. Gutis. McCalls, Vol. 117, May 1990, pp. 66(2).
Study: Poverty Major Plight of Single Parent Homes Headed by Females
Jet, Vol. 82, October 19, 1992, p. 25(1).

Successful Single Parenting
Harvest House Publishers
1075 Arrowsmith
Eugene, OR 97402
Phone: (503)343-0123
Free: 800-547-8979
Gary Richmond. 1990. Covers such topics as balancing your needs and the needs of your children without guilt, how to successfully handle visitation rights and support payments, setting financial priorities, disciplining children, and developing an emotional support group.

The Survival Manual for Women in Divorce
Quantum Press
2724 Winding Trail Place
Boulder, CO 80304
Carol Ann Wilson and Edwin Schilling III, Esq. 1990. Designed to help women get a fair divorce. Answers 150 of the most commonly asked questions regarding marital property, child custody, alimony and debt, child support, and retirement benefits. Appendices include state charts listing grounds for divorce, residency requirements, property distribution, spousal contribution in professional degrees, and alimony.

Toughlove International
PO Box 1069
Doylestown, PA 18901
Phone: (215)348-7090
Free: 800-333-1069
Fax: (215)348-9874
Teresa Quinn, Exec.Dir.
A network of over 500 support groups for parents of problem teenagers. Encourages parents to work together in the community to initiate and maintain positive behavior changes for young people in trouble. Local support groups meet weekly; members volunteer to help other parents and kids with active support such as tutoring, driving to counseling, and negotiating living arrangements. Encourages alternatives to suspension for school discipline. Conducts regional workshops for parents and professionals interested in forming a local support group. Maintains Toughlove for Kids Program, which is designed to help children complete school. Publications: Toughlove, A Self-Help Manual for Kids in Trouble, Toughlove, A Self-Help Manual for Parents Troubled by Teenage Behavior, Toughlove for People Who Care About a Cocaine Abuser, and Toughlove for Teachers.

The Two-Parent Family Is Not the Best
Diemer, Smith Publishing Co., Inc.
3377 Solano Ave., Ste. 322
Napa, CA 94558
Phone: (707)224-4251
June Stephenson. 1991. A research study of women raised by single fathers, single mothers, both biological parents, and stepparents. Examines whether single-parent families have any advantages over two-parent families.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Administration for Children, Youth, and Families
Office of Public Affairs
Hubert H. Humphrey Bldg., Rm. 352G
200 Independence Ave. SW
Washington, DC 20201
Phone: (202)690-8477
The Administration was established to support and encourage the sound development of children, youth, and families, by planning, developing, and implementing a broad range of activities.

The Way It Is: The Remarried Family
Sandra R. Arbetter. Current Health 2, Vol. 15, March 1989, pp. 17(3). Includes related article on legislatures of stepparents.

Weddings for Complicated Families
Mt. Ivy Press, Inc.
PO Box 142
Boston, MA 02258
Marjorie Engel. 1993. Subtitle: The New Etiquette. Offers practical suggestions regarding wedding etiquette for families reshaped by divorce. Topics cover invitations, showers, ceremony seating, and other other details to help avoid minefields.

What to Do When Your Son or Daughter Divorces
Bantam Books, Inc.
Div. of Bantam Doubleday Dell
666 5th Ave.
New York, NY 10103
Phone: (212)765-6500
Free: 800-223-6834
Dorothy Weiss Gottlieb, Inez Bellow Gottlieb, and Marjorie A. Slavin. 1988. Subtitle: A New Guide of Hope and Help for Parents of Adult Children. Offers advice to parents whose son or daughter is getting a divorce, explaining how to deal with the emotional ups and downs, how to avoid being caught in the middle, and how to maintain a relationship with the grandchildren.

Whats Happening to American Marriage?
Norval D. Glenn. USA Today Magazine, Vol. 121, May 1993, pp. 26(3). Research indicates a decrease in the probability of being happily married and reveals that the increasing divorce rate harms the happiness of both children and adults. Expectations of marital happiness have increased, but willingness to give may have declined.

When Children of Divorce Become Parents
Claire Berman. Parents Magazine, Vol. 67, July 1992, pp. 82(8). Children of divorced parents have a strong commitment to their own families. They remember the pain of separation and do not want their children to experience it. These parents have to re-learn trust and share feelings with their spouses. Includes related article.

When Families Fall ... The Social Costs
University Press of America, Inc.
4720 Boston Way
Lanham, MD 20706
Phone: (301)459-3366
Free: 800-462-6420
Bryce J. Christensen, editor. 1991. Discusses the social changes resulting from the rise of divorce and illegitimacy in the United States in the past few decades. Covers topics such as divorce and separation, illegitimacy, and family policy.

When the Only Parent is Daddy
Aaron Bernstein. Business Week, November 23, 1993, pp. 122(2). Single fathers, many of whom have low incomes, receive little help from social agencies and employers. Child-support officials are not very helpful, and the family policies of most companies are geared toward women.

Whos Watching the Children?
Rosalind Wright. McCalls, Vol. 117, January 1990, pp. 22(5).

A Woman’s Guide to Divorce and Decision Making
Fireside
Simon & Schuster Inc.
Simon & Schuster Bldg.
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
Phone: (212)698-7000
Christina Robertson. 1989, first Fireside edition. Subtitle: A Supportive Workbook for Women Facing the Process of Divorce. Chapters cover emotional support, decision making, legal assistance, divorce settlement, children, money, careers, social life, and assertivenees. Includes a bibliography, and lists organizations or associations that assist divorcing women.

Women, Power and Policy
Pergamon Press, Inc.
660 White Plains Rd.
Tarrytown, NY 10591
Phone: (914)524-9200
Fax: (914)333-2444
E. Boneparth and E. Stoper, editors. 1988. Chapters cover topics such as alternative work patterns and the double life, in search of a national child-care policy, and divorce and the transition to the single-parent family.

Women on Their Own
PO Box 1026
Willingboro, NJ 08046
Phone: (609)871-1499
Maxine Karelitz, Exec.Dir.
Participants are single, divorced, separated, or widowed women raising children on their own. Links participants together to help each other. Offers support and advocacy; provides referrals. Conducts workshops and seminars. Makes available small, interest-free loans. Assists other organizations serving the same population. Publications: Directory, periodic. Newsletter, periodic. Also publishes brochure.

CHILD CUSTODY

Association for Children for Enforcement of Support
723 Phillips Ave., Ste. 216
Toledo, OH 43612
Phone: (416)476-2511
Free: 800-537-7072
Fax: (419)478-1617
Geraldine Jensen, Pres.
Also known as ACES. Custodial parents seeking legal enforcement of child support. Provides educational information about the legal rights involved in child support enforcement. Advocates improved child support enforcement services from the government. Seeks to increase public awareness of how a lack of child support affects children of divorced parents. Sponsors research and educational programs. Maintains speakers bureau. Publications: Newsletter, semiannual. Also publishes How to Collect Child Support (handbook) and Status of Child Support in U.S.

Breaking Up Is Hard to Do
American Demographics, October 1992.

Child Custody
Columbia University Press
562 W. 113th St.
New York, NY 10025
Phone: (212)316-7100
Free: 800-944-8648
Fax: (212)316-7169
James C. Black and Donald J. Cantor. 1989.

Child Custody: A Complete Guide for Concerned Mothers
Harper & Row
10 E. 53rd St.
New York, NY 10022
Phone: (212)207-7000
Marianne Takas. 1987.

Child Custody Battles Take on Question of Where Children Attend School
Boston Sunday Globe, June 13, 1993.
Child Custody Litigation
Richard A. Gardner, M.D. Subtitle: A Guide for Lawyers, Parents and Mental Health Professionals. Deals with the trauma of divorce to both parents and children. Section One details the psychological damage probable to both children and parents due to prolonged child custody litigation. Section Two describes alternative methods for resolving conflicts, including mediation. Section Three discusses therapeutic treatment for children and parents. Section Four deals with proposed changes to the social structure, legal system, and educational process.

Child Custody and the Politics of Gender
Routledge, Chapman & Hall, Inc.
29 W. 35th St.
New York, NY 10001-2291
Phone: (212)244-3336
Fax: (212)563-2269
Carol Smart and Selma Sevenjuijsen, editors. 1989. Examines how family law regulates the lives of family members, particularly women and children. Includes eight case studies from the United States, the Netherlands, France, Norway, Canada, Australia, Ireland, and Great Britain, as well as a general essay on reproductive technologies and child custody law.

Child Custody Services of Philadelphia, Inc. Resource Center
PO Box 202
Glenside, PA 19038-0202
Phone: (215)576-0177
Dr. Ken Lewis, Dir.
Provides information on child custody, single-parent families, divorce, child-snatching, mental health, and law.

Child Splitting
Gina Kolata. Psychology Today, Vol. 22, November 1988, pp. 34(3). Subtitled: Many States Now Favor Joint Custody. But Its Not Always the Happiest Arrangement. Includes related article.

Childrens Rights Council
220 Eye St. NE
Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202)547-6227
Fax: (202)546-4272
David L. Levy, Pres.
Promotes strengthened families and the achievement of divorce and custody reforms; work to minimize hostilities between parents involved in marital disputes. Favors joint custody and shared parenting, mediation, access enforcement, equitable child support, family formation, family preservation, and school-based programs for children at risk. Files amicus curiae briefs in cases of domestic relations matters such as joint custody, support, and visitation issues. Conducts research and compiles statistics; monitors legislation; maintains speakers bureau. Bestows: Chief Justice Warren E. Burger Healer Awards for judges, lawyers, and others who promote healing, not just litigation, in the domestic relations area; Media Awards for best in media affecting children of separation and divorce; Positive Parenting Awards for organizations and individuals who promote active parenting by both parents. Computerized services: Database of custody and divorce reform groups in the U.S. Committees: Early Childhood Education; Research. Affiliated with: Mothers Without Custody. Formerly: National Council for Children's Rights. Publications: Catalog of Resources, periodic. Lists books, reports, and cassettes. Parenting Directory, annual. Lists 1,200 parenting groups in the U.S. Speak Out for Children, quarterly. Newsletter; includes book reviews. Also publishes The Best Parent is Both Parents, reports, and audiocassettes; distributes My Mom and Dad are Getting a Divorce, I Think Divorce Stinks, and Kids Guide to Divorce (books for children), Helping Your Child Succeed After Divorce, Mom’s House, Dad’s House, and How to Win as a Stepfamily (books for parents), reports, audiocassettes, legal briefs, model bills, and other material.

Committee for Mother and Child Rights
210 Ole Orchard Dr.
Clear Brook, VA 22624
Phone: (703)722-3652
Elizabeth Owen, Coordinator
Concerned people, many of whom are mothers who have either lost custody, have been faced with contested custody of their children, or have other custody-related problems. Purposes are to help mothers and children who are going through the trauma of contested custody or who have been through it, or have custody but fear losing it, and to educate the public about some of the injustices that they believe occur to mothers and children. Aims to improve the status of mothers because when mothers cease to be so powerless, children will thrive.

Custody and the Courts: Mental Health and the Law
Irvington Pub.
522 E. 82nd St.
New York, NY 10028
Phone: (212)472-4494
William Wittlin and Robert Hinds, editors. 1989.

Custody and Evaluation Tests
Village Publishing
350 S. Main St., Ste. 211
Doylestown, PA 18901
Phone: (215)794-0202
Free: 800-553-7678

The Custody Revolution
Poseidon Press
Simon & Schuster Bldg.
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
Phone: (212)698-7290
Richard A. Warshak. 1992. Subtitle: The Father Factor and the Motherhood Mystique.

The Custody Trap
Stephen Perrine. M, Vol. 10, October 1992, pp. 63(3). Includes related article The Daddy Track. Richard Warshak, an expert in child custody and psychology professor at the University of Texas Southwestern, believes that divorced men tend to discontinue support for their children when they are denied custodial rights. Warshak feels that encouraging joint custody will help correct the situation.

Daddy vs. Mommy
Michael J. Weiss. Redbook, Vol. 177, June 1991, pp. 96(4). Includes information on where fathers stand legally and on joint custody. Subtitle: Divorce is Always Painful, but When Parents Begin a Tug-of-War Over Custody, the Chances for Heartbreak Skyrocket.

The Debate Over Child Custody
Marilyn Webb. Working Woman, Vol. 11, May 1986, pp. 162(3).

Dividing the Child
Harvard University Press
79 Garden St.
Cambridge, MA 02138
Phone: (617)495-2600
Fax: (617)495-5898
Eleanor E. Maccoby and Robert H. Mnookin. 1992. Subtitled: Social and Legal Dilemmas of Custody. Draws from a study of 1,000 families to examine the social and legal realities of child custody arrangements. Follows parents filing for a divorce, how divorce agreements are reached, and custody outcomes.

Divorce and Child Custody
Makai Publishing Group
PO Box 14213
Scottsdale, AZ 85267-4213
Phone: (602)951-2653
Richard L. Strohm. 1992. Subtitled: Your Options and Legal Rights.

Father Sometime
Sean Elder. M, Vol. 9, August 1992, pp. 47(2). Non-custodial fathers often feel guilty for not being there for their children. This guilt has sometimes resulted in fathers giving up on building relationships with their children. Stresses the importance of fathers throughout children’s lives.

Father’s Day Every Day
Michael Goodwin. Woman’s Day, Vol. 56, June 29, 1993, pp. 126(1). More courts and laws have returned to awarding one-parent custody of children rather than custody to both parents. The rulings favor mothers, while fathers pay support and have visitation rights. Children need both parents to provide them with guidance to be able to function in society. Subtitle: Does the End of Joint Custody Mean the Beginning of Disposable Dads?

Fathers for Equal Rights
PO Box 010847, Flagler Sta.
Miami, FL 33101
Phone: (305)895-6351
Louis Welch, Exec.Dir.
Parents and grandparents involved in divorce and child custody disputes. Strives to prevent children from becoming victims of the legal divorce process. Fights discrimination against men in divorce cases involving custody issues. Seeks to educate the public about the ramifications of the absence of a father figure in the family. Works to establish minimum standards of competence for attorneys in child custody cases. Serves as clearinghouse on matters involving child custody litigation; makes recommendations to the legislature and courts. Researches issues such as the single-parent family in America and the changing family unit. Offers referral service. Publications: Fathers Winning Child Custody Cases. Also publishes books, booklets, and other educational materials related to child custody and divorce; makes available Pro Se kits and Pro Per packages for members who are unable to hire an attorney.

Fathers are Forever
PO Box 4338
West Hills, CA 91308-4338
Phone: (818)566-3368
Non-custodial parents, second wives, grandparents, stepparents, and others concerned with child custody. Promotes the elimination of unfairness against fathers and mothers in child custody matters. Lobbies for equality in joint custody laws concerning child visitation, custody, and support. Favors mediation and arbitration over litigation. Monitors court cases and legislation dealing with child custody. Promotes the rights of noncustodial parents; supports coparenting. Publications: Fathers are Forever, newsletter, monthly. Focuses on child custody matters.

Fathers Rights and Equality Exchange
701 Welch Rd., Ste. 323
Palo Alto, CA 94304
Phone: (415)853-6877
Anne P. Mitchell T.D., Dir.
Also known as FREE. Acts as an advocate in issues relating to non-custodial fathers. Offers educational programs.

The Good-Bye Girls and Boys
Heather Millar. Parenting, Vol. 6, September, 1992, pp. 187(2). A less than friendly exchange of a child between divorced parents can cause much anxiety in the child. Parents should stick to schedules and be cordial or at least businesslike. They should acknowledge the child’s feelings about confrontations and not turn the child into an informer.

Grandparents Anonymous
1924 Beverly
Sylvan Lake, MI 48320
Phone: (313)682-8384
Luella M. Davison, Founder
Grandparents who are denied legal visitation of grandchildren as a result of divorce, death of a son or daughter, custody disputes, or a breakdown in family communications. Promotes the well-being of grandchildren regardless of race, color, or creed. Assists grandparents who are seeking legal visitation rights. Is seeking to have March 18 observed in all schools in the United States as Grandparents and Grandchildren Day (presently observed in Michigan). Disseminates information for establishing observance in other states. Conducts children’s services. Publications: Newsletter, periodic.

Grandparents/Children’s Rights
5728 Bayonne Ave.
Haslett, MI 48840
Phone: (517)339-8663
Lee and Lucile Sumpter, Study Dirs.
Grandparents and others interested in the rights of children, especially those who have been emotionally, mentally, physically, or sexually abused. Promotes and organizes lobbying efforts toward uniform laws safeguarding the rights of children, grandparents, and grandparents visitation rights. Acts as clearinghouse for information pertaining to state laws and pending legislation across the country. Serves as liaison among grandparents and state self-help groups.

Grandparents Rights Organization
555 S. Woodward Ave., Ste. 600
Birmingham, MI 48009
Phone: (313)646-7191
Fax: (313)646-9722
Richard S. Victor, Exec.Dir.
Conducts educational and advocacy activities aimed at preserving and fostering the child-grandparent relationship in cases where grandparents have been denied the right to visit their grandchildren for any reason. Conducts research programs; compiles statistics. Publications: Grandparents Rights Organization Newsletter, periodic.

Helping Your Children Survive Divorce
John Rosemond. Better Homes and Gardens, Vol. 71, February 1993, pp. 42(1). Children of divorced parents benefit from custody arrangements that allow the children to live with one parent and visit the other on a regular basis. Parents should treat each other with dignity, show realistic expectations, and agree on flexible visitation rights. Subtitle: Suggestions to Ease the Pain.

How Could You? Mothers without Custody of Their Children
Crossing Press
PO Box 1048
Freedom, CA 95019
Phone: (408)722-0711
Free: 800-777-1048
Fax: (408)722-2749
Harriet Edwards. 1989.

How to Handle Your Child Custody Case
Prometheus Books
PO Box 1569
Glendale, CA 91209
Phone: (818)956-8193
Leonard Diamond. 1989. Subtitle: A Manual for Parents, Psychologists and Attorneys.

In the Name of the Fathers
Amanita Enterprises
PO Box 784, Sta. P
Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 2Z1
Susan Crean. 1988. Discusses the problems plaguing child custody, including current situations; the part played by mediators and mental health professionals; tactics employed by fathers rights groups; and the effects of mandatory joint custody. Subtitle: The Story Behind Child Custody.

Interrelation of Child Support, Visitation, and Hours of Work
Jonathan R. Veum. Monthly Labor Review, Vol. 115, June 1992, pp. 40(8). Research results indicate that young mothers are more likely to be employed if they receive child support payments. These women are more likely to earn more and work longer hours if the father visits the children. Young fathers who provide child support payments have a greater likelihood of visiting their children than those who do not pay child support.

Joint Custody
Linda Silver Dranloff. Chatelaine, Vol. 60, May 1987, pp. 54(3). Subtitle: Controversial Cure-All.

Joint Custody: A Great Idea But Does it Work?
Marianne Takas. Vogue, Vol. 176, April 1986, pp. 156(2).

Joint Custody: Are the Kids Alright?
Maja Beckstrom. Utne Reader, May-June 1989, pp. 11(2).

Joint Custody Association
10606 Wilkins Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Phone: (310)475-5352
James A. Cook, Pres.
Psychologists, social workers, marital and family counselors, attorneys, judges, concerned parents, and others concerned with joint custody of children and related divorce issues. Disseminates information on joint custody for the children of divorce; surveys court decisions and their consequences. Assists with implementation of joint custody practices. Supports legislation in several states regarding joint custody for children involved in divorce. Maintains bibliographical archives of joint custody and other materials.

Joint Custody, Double Trouble?
Erica Franklin. American Health, Vol. 8, Jul.-Aug. 1989, pp. 113(1). Subtitled: For Children of
Divorce, Quality Time Counts More Than Quantity.

Joint Custody OK if Parents Don’t Fight
USA Today, Vol. 120, March 1992, p. 7(1). Researchers at Stanford University found that joint custody of children is a satisfactory arrangement when there is no conflict between parents. Children who are made to feel torn between divorced parents display signs of poor adjustment, depression, and deviant behavior.

Joint Custody and Shared Parenting
Guilford Publications, Inc.
72 Spring St.
New York, NY 10012
Phone: (212)431-9800
Free: 800-365-7006
Fax: (212)966-6708
Jay Folberg. 1991. Covers joint custody and shared parenting issues such as what it takes to succeed in shared parenting, in whose best interest these decisions are made, resistance to joint custody, economic considerations of shared physical custody, ongoing post-divorce conflict, and issues and trends in the law of joint custody.

Kids in the Crossfire
Maria Speidel People Weekly, Vol. 38, September 14, 1992, pp. 145(2). Allegations of sexual abuse against children are appearing as custody battles during divorces become bitter. Differentiating between true and false allegations can be difficult. The social and family repercussions are discussed.

Men Have Rights Too
John Leo. Time, Vol. 128, November 24, 1986, pp. 87(2). Subtitle: A Convention of Fathers Calls
for Divorce and Custody.

Men in the Shadows
Liberty Bell Press & Publishing Company
4700 South 900 East, Ste. 3-183
Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Phone: (801)943-8573
Jason C. Roberts. 1988. Subtitle: Millions of Victimized Men, Many Forced Underground by Unjust Divorce & Child Custody Laws, Reveal Their Secrets of Financial Freedom.

Mothers on Trial
Phyllis Chesler. Ms. Magazine, Vol. 1, May-June 1991, pp. 47(1). Fathers who fight for custody usually win.

Mothers Without Custody
Geoffrey L. Greif and Mary S. Pabst. 1988. Presents actual case histories of noncustodial mothers. Describes their childhoods and family backgrounds, marriage and divorce, how the custody decisions were made, the mothers relationship with their children and ex-husbands, life as a noncustodial mother, experiences with the court system, and more.

My Kids Don’t Live With Me Anymore
CompCare Publishers
2415 Annapolis Ln.
Minneapolis, MN 55441
Phone: (612)559-4800
Free: 800-328-3331
Fax: (612)559-2415
Doreen Virtue, M.A. 1988. Geared toward men and women who have endured the emotional trauma of lost, surrendered, or shared child custody. Describes the custody crisis, the various psychological stages involved, and ways to help yourself and your children adjust to changing circumstances.

National Center on Women and Family Law
799 Broadway, Rm. 402
New York, NY 10003
Phone: (212)674-8200
Fax: (212)533-5104
Laurie Woods, Exec.Dir.
Litigates and provides technical assistance to legal services staff and other advocates on women’s issues in family law. Provides consultations and participates in impact litigation as co-counsel or amicus. Maintains files on custody, support, divorce, division of property, battery, and rape; other resources include a comprehensive state-by-state resource library on women’s issues in family law.

National Child Support Advocacy Coalition
PO Box 420
Hendersonville, TN 37077
Phone: (615)264-0151
Beth Bellino McKinney, Exec.Dir.
Organizations, parents, and others advocating improved child support enforcement. Promotes public awareness of the economic effects of lapsed child support; works to ensure enforcement of child support laws. Evaluates changes in child support laws; monitors legislation and implementation of new laws. Facilitates exchange of information and networking among parents and child support advocates. Operates referral service; conducts research and educational programs; maintains library and speakers bureau. Publications: NCSAC Bits, 8/year. NCSAC News - Child Support Advocate, quarterly. Newsletter covering legislation, current research, and association activities.

National Child Support Enforcement Association
Hall of States
400 N. Capitol NW, No. 372
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202)624-8180
Kathleen Duggan, Exec.Dir.
State and local officials and agencies responsible for enforcing reciprocal and family support enforcement laws for support of dependents. Committees: Family Support Councils; Indian Reservations; Legislative; Resolutions. Formerly: (1984) National Reciprocal and Family Support Enforcement Association. Publications: National Roster and Interstate Referral Guide, biennial. Newsletter, bimonthly.

National Institute for Child Support Enforcement
7200 Wisconsin Ave., Ste. 500
Bethesda, MD 20814
Phone: (410)654-8338
Athena M. Kaye, Dir.
For-profit. Consulting firm that provides training and technical assistance for those working in child support enforcement agencies and research on more efficient processing of child support caseloads. Dedicated to improving administration of programs that protect the rights of children to have their paternity established and receive support from both parents. Maintains Child Support Enforcement Training Program. Publications: Reports, handbooks, and guides.

On Our Own
D.C. Heath & Co.
125 Spring St.
Lexington, MA 02173
Phone: (617)862-6650
John Defrain, Judy Fricke, and Julie Elmen. 1987. Discusses issues related to divorce and child custody.

Parents Sharing Custody
420 S. Beverly Dr., Ste. 100
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Phone: (310)286-9171
Linda Blakeley Ph.D., Exec. Officer
Parents sharing custody of children after divorce; interested individuals. Works to protect the inherent right of children to have both parents after divorce, and to educate parents on maintaining their parental roles. Offers training for mental health professionals on divorce-related counseling and private consultations for families. Publications: Do It With Love: Positive Parenting After Separation and Divorce. Also makes available workbook and audiocassette.

A Practitioner’s Guide to the Joint Physical Custody of Children
William S. Hein & Co., Inc.
1285 Main St.
Buffalo, NY 14209
Phone: (716)882-2600
Free: 800-828-7571
Fax: (716)883-8100
Michelle Virzi. 1989.

School Quality and Child Custody
Education Today, May-June 1992.

School Quality Plays Larger Role in Custody Battles in Divorce Cases
The Wall Street Journal, January 31, 1992, Sec. B.

Schools Matter When Its Mom v. Dad
School and College, June 1993.

Searching for Ways to Keep Fathers in the Family Picture
Suzanne Fields. Insight, Vol. 8, July 20, 1992, pp. 18(2). There is bipartisan support in Congress to make avoidance of child support payments a federal crime. The ChildrenŐs Rights Council feels the law should address negligent mothers as well as fathers, especially those mothers who violate custody and visiting rights for fathers.

Separate Houses
Fireside
Simon & Schuster Bldg.
Rockefeller Ctr.
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
Robert B. Shapiro. 1989. Subtitle: A Practical Guide for Divorced Parents. Covers custody, visitation rights, holidays, education, and related topics.

Sharing the Children
Adler & Adler Publishers, Inc.
5330 Wisconsin Ave., Ste. 1460
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
Phone: (301)654-4271
Robert E. Adler. 1988. Subtitled: How to Resolve Custody Problems and Get on with Your Life. Provides tools for divorcing parents to deal effectively with each other and to cope with the intense custody disputes that can traumatize the family. Introduces parents to techniques that make a successful settlement possible. Includes a basic self-help checklist for parents and a state-by-state summary of custody laws.

Solomon’s Sword
Jossey Bass, Inc.
350 Sansome St.
San Francisco, CA 94104
Phone: (415)433-1767
Benjamin M. Schultz et al. 1989. Subtitled: A Practical Guide to Conducting Child Custody Evaluations.

Split Decisions
Armin Brott. Men’s Health, Vol. 7, Nov.-Dec. 1992, pp. 68(1). Subtitled: Is Justice Blind to the Value of Fathers After a Divorce? In most divorce cases, men have to prove they are fit parents, while women are presumed to be fit for parenting. Just thirteen percent of men get sole custody of children at divorce proceedings, while seven percent receive joint custody.

ŇA Surprise Legal Angle
American Bar Association Journal, March 1, 1988, pp. 20. Subtitled: Firm That Rates Schools Used by Lawyers in Custody Cases.

Taking the Trauma Out of Custody Cases
Liza Nelson. McCalls, Vol. 117, April 1990, pp. 27(2).

Understanding Child Custody
Franklin Watts, Inc.
95 Madison Ave.
New York, NY 10016
Phone: (212)686-7070
Fax: (212)213-6435
Susan Neiburg Terkel. 1991. Describes the legal processes of custody disputes and how rights and obligations of parents and children vary under different circumstances.

United Fathers of America
595 The City Dr., Ste. 202
Orange, CA 92668
Phone: (714)385-1002
Marvin Chapman, VP
Assists individuals experiencing family disruption due to divorce. Seeks to establish equal rights for fathers with regard to child custody in divorce cases and provide the best possible environment for the children of divorce. Provides counseling and support services. Conducts educational programs. Monitors legislation pertaining to custody and divorce and disseminates information about this legislation to the public. Offers referral service.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Administration for Children and Families
Office of Child Support Enforcement
370 L’Enfant Promenande, SW, 4th Fl.
Washington, DC 20447
Phone: (202)401-9373
Fax: (202)401-4683
Helps states develop, manage, and operate their child support enforcement programs effectively and according to federal regulations. These programs are a federal, state, and local effort to collect child support from parents who are legally obligated to pay. Services include the Federal Parent Locator Service, which assists states in locating persons responsible for child support payments. The Locator Service is used in cases involving parental kidnapping related to custody and visitation determinations.

When Fathers Have Custody
Robert B. McCall. Parents Magazine, Vol. 62, August 1987, p. 211(1).

When Parents Divorce Who Gets the Children?
Family Circle, April 21, 1992.

Wheres Poppa?
Andrea Engber. Parenting, Vol. 6, Dec.-Jan. 1992, pp. 230(2). Some custodial parents have difficulty explaining to their children why their ex-spouses are absent. Others have trouble talking to their children about positive aspects of the absent parent’s character. Advice on how to respond to these problems is presented.

Who Gets the Children?
Armond D. Budish. Family Circle, Vol. 105, April 21, 1992, pp. 138(3). The decision to end a marriage poses complications, especially when dependent children are involved. There are many factors that judges take into account when determining custody, such as a parent’s lifestyle and a child’s preference for one parent over the other.


Who’s Looking After the Interest of Children?
Geoffrey Cowley. Newsweek, Vol. 122, August 16, 1993, pp. 54(2). The recent child custody cases involving baby Jessica and Kimberly Mays depict the need for better laws that protect the interests of both the child and the parents. Reformers believe a birth mother should have a longer period to make up her mind about adoption proceedings.

Why I Gave Up Custody of My Children
Good Housekeeping, Vol. 217, July 1993, pp. 58(4). Financial problems, poor health, youth, and other factors led to four women relinquishing custody of their children to the fathers. The women’s stories are recounted, and guilt and society’s attitudes toward non-custodial mothers are described.

Why More Dads are Getting the Kids
Elizabeth Grillo Olson. Business Week, November 28, 1988, pp. 118(2). Subtitle: Fathers Are On the Offensive in Demanding Custody.

HELPING CHILDREN COPE

About Divorce
ChildrenŐs Press
5440 N. Cumberland Ave.
Chicago, IL 60656
Phone: (312)693-0800
Fax: (312)693-0574
Joy Berry. 1990.

The Adolescent in the Family
Routledge, Chapman and Hall, Inc.
29 West 35th St.
New York, NY 10001-2291
Phone: (212)244-3336
Fax: (212)563-2269
Patricia Noller and Victor Callan. 1991. Discusses issues such as theoretical perspectives and controversies about adolescents, the generation gap, and separation, divorce, and remarriage.

Adolescents, Family, and Friends
Praeger Pubs.
1 Madison Ave.
New York, NY 10010
Phone: (212)685-5300
Fax: (212)685-0285
Kandi M. Stinson. 1991. Subtitle: Social Support After Parents Divorce or Remarriage. Provides interviews with 30 adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17, and their custodial parents, on coping with the effects of divorce. Four chapters focus on adolescent support networks and relationships.

Adult Children of Divorce
Delacorte Press
666 5th Ave.
New York, NY 10103
Phone: (212)765-6500
Edward W. Beal and Gloria Hochman. 1991. Subtitle: Breaking the Cycle and Finding Fulfillment in Love, Marriage, and Family. Links problems of relationships, commitment, and self-esteem to a parental divorce during childhood or adolescence. Case histories are used to illustrate points and demonstrate how the cycle can be broken.

Adult Children of Divorce Speak Out
Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Simon & Schuster Bldg.
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
Phone: (212)698-7000
Claire Berman. 1991. Examines the long-term effects of divorce on children. Findings are based partly on interviews with children.

The Adult Children of Divorce Workbook
Jeremy P. Tarcher, Inc.
Div. of the Putnam Publishing Group
5858 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 200
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Phone: (213)935-9980
Mary Hirschfeld. 1992. Explains the origins of the psychological symptoms often experienced by adult children of divorce such as low self-esteem, difficulty in bonding, and delayed maturity. Helps readers overcome these feelings, through journal writing and visualization exercises.

Adult Children of Legal or Emotional Divorce
InterVarsity Press
PO Box 1400
Downers Grove, IL 60515
Phone: (708)964-5700
Fax: (708)964-1251
Jim Conway. 1992. Subtitle: Healing Your Long-Term Hurt.

Assessment and Treatment of Childhood Problems: A Clinician’s Guide
Guildford Publications, Inc.
72 Spring St.
New York, NY 10012
Carolyn S. Schroeder and Betty N. Gordon. 1991. Offers clinical guidance for dealing with such common childhood problems as toilet training or sleeping through the night, as well as more stressful events, including divorce and death in the family.

At Daddy’s on Saturday
Linda Walvoord Girard. Depicts the story of a young girl coming to terms with her feelings about her parents divorce and the visitation process after her father moves out of the house.

Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America
230 N. 13th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: (215)567-7000
Federation of professionally staffed local agencies administered by volunteer boards of directors. Operates One-to-One program which matches a child from a single-parent home with an adult volunteer who serves as a mentor and role model. The match is made with the assistance of a professionally trained caseworker who also supervises the relationship.

The Boys and Girls Book About Divorce
Aronson, Jason, Inc.
230 Livingston St.
Northvale, NJ 07647
Phone: (201)767-4093
Richard A. Gardner, M.D. 1992. Written in expository form for children age six to seven who are dealing with the divorce of their parents. Provides answers to common questions about feelings, fear of being alone, getting along better with divorced parents or stepparents, avoiding being used as a tool by parents, and the role of a therapist. Includes illustrations.

The Boys and Girls Book About One-Parent Families
Creative Therapeutics
155 County Rd.
Box 522
Cresskill, NJ 07626-0317
Phone: (201)567-7295
Fax: (201)567-8956
Richard A. Gardner. Contains practical advice for children who have lost a parent by death or divorce or whose mothers are unmarried. Encourages children to express their feelings. Presented in language comprehensible to the average seven- to eight-year-old child. Contains illustrations.

Breaking the Divorce Cycle
Barbara Kantrowitz and Nina Darnton. Newsweek, Vol. 119, January 13, 1992, pp. 48(6). Cover story. Subtitle: The Children of Broken Marriages Carry Deep Wounds into Their Own Adult Lives. The children of divorced parents have memories of not only the breakup, but of the fighting before their parents separated. The emotional wounds the children suffer are significant, and divorce remains an important issue throughout their lives. Includes related article.

Break-Up: Facing Up to Divorce
Childs Play
310 W. 47th St., Ste. 3-D
New York, NY 10036
Phone: (212)315-9623
Free: 800-472-0099
Fax: (212)779-4967
Gianni Padoan. Emanuela Collini, illustrator. 1990.

Broken Ties: Five Ways to Help Kids Cope with Divorce
Margery D. Rosen. Ladies Home Journal, Vol. 109, March 1992, pp. 46(3). Discusses the effects of divorce on children, especially children age eight through the teen years. Children will be better able to handle a divorce if they are prepared for it and are reassured that they are not the cause. Presents hints for helping children cope.

Can One Parent Be As Good As Two?
Benjamin Spock. Redbook, Vol. 168, April 1987, p. 17(1).

Caught in the Crossfire
PIA Press
19 Prospect St.
Summit, NJ 07902
Phone: (908)277-9191
Free: 800-874-2919
Lorraine Henricks. 1991. Subtitle: The Impact of Divorce on Young People.

Changing Families
Waterfront Books
85 Crescent Rd.
Burlington, VT 05401
Phone: (802)658-7477
Free: 800-639-6063
David Fassler, Michele Lash, and Sally Blakeslee Ives. 1988. Subtitle: A Guide for Kids and Grown-Ups. Provides information about separation, divorce, and remarriage at a level children can understand.

Child of Divorce
Susan Grobman. USA Today (magazine), Vol. 116, July 1987, pp. 40(3).


Children and Adjustment to Divorce: An Annotated Bibliography
Garland Publishing, Inc.
717 5th Ave.
New York, NY 10022
Phone: (212)751-7447
Free: 800-627-6273
Fax: (212)308-9399
Mary M. Nofsinger. 1990

Children After Divorce
Judith S. Wallerstein. The New York Times Magazine, Vol. 137, January 22, 1989, p. 18.
Subtitle: Wounds That Don't Heal.

Children of the Aftershock
Barbara Kantrowitz. Newsweek, Vol. 113, February 6, 1989, pp. 61(1). Subtitle: Exploring the
Long-Term Effects of Divorce.

Children of Divorce
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Public Health Service
Centers for Disease Control
National Center for Health Statistics
Hyattsville, MD
Kathryn A. London. 1989.

Children of Divorce
American Guidance Service
Circle Pines, MN 55014-1796
Free: 800-328-2560
Arnold L. Stolberg, Christopher W. Camplair, Michael A. Zacharias. 1991. Subtitle: A Support Program that Helps Children Adjust to Divorce. Explains how a divorce program for children is organized. Also offers advice on dealing with issues such as understanding ones feelings, using self-control and problem solving, and dealing with anger. Kit contains a leaders guide, kids book, and parents book.

Children of Divorce: Developmental and Clinical Issues
Haworth Press, Inc.
10 Alice St.
Binghamton, NY 13904-1580
Phone: (607)722-7068
Free: 800-342-9678
Fax: (607)722-1424
C.A. Everett. 1990. Collection of 18 articles previously published in the Journal of Divorce. Covers topics such as the impact of divorce on children’s development, a child’s perception of divorce, the impact of family structure on the child’s experience, and children’s adjustment to the divorce process.

Children of Divorce: Empirical Perspectives on Adjustment
Gardner Press, Inc.
19 Union Sq., W.
New York, NY 10003
Phone: (212)924-8293
Fax: (212)242-6339
Sharlene A. Wolchik and Paul Karoly. 1988.

Children and Divorce: New Thoughts About Its Impact on Kids Lives
Rona Maynard. Chatelaine, Vol. 62, October 1989, pp. 226(1).

Children Under Stress
Beth Brophy. U.S. News & World Report, Vol. 101, October 27, 1986, pp. 58(6).