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The literature suggests that the dynamics of an ongoing, cooperative, mutually supportive relationship between divorced parents are in the best interests of the children, as well as the adults involved. The Forgiveness Model for Coparenting presented here draws upon and synthesizes the literature on forgiveness and empirical studies to offer a therapeutic guide for clinicians working with individuals or couples in this situation. The intervention model is a three-stage conceptual framework, each stage having cognitive, affective and behavioral tasks. The therapeutic goal is to assist former partners to move beyond initial hostilities and resentment to more civil and mutually supportive interactions as coparents, doi: 10.1300/J087v48n01_06 [Article copies available .for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-HAWORTH. E-mail address: Website : [c] 2007 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.] KEYWORDS. Forgiveness, coparenting, quality coparenting, separation, divorce, divorce intervention

Several states have laws that declare a presumption for joint legal custody for divorced families. Although some presumption laws have existed for over two decades, their effects remain unexamined. This study assessed the impact of a presumption law on father involvement by examining days and nights of contact between father and child per month, father attendance at children's activities, father participation in decision-making and payment of child support orders. The results indicate that a presumption law does not currently result in more father involvement; however, the author recommends the application of more well controlled studies before making recommendations to professionals in the field. KEYWORDS. Divorce, custody, joint custody, divorce and fathers, fathers and custody

The purpose of this study was to develop a questionnaire that assesses family's post-divorce family processes from the children's perspective. Subjects were 214 undergraduate psychology students between the ages of 18 and 36 who experienced their parents' divorce before the age of 18. Initial items for the questionnaire were developed through a literature review and focus groups. The questionnaire was then administered to the subjects. Data were analyzed in five steps: (1) internal consistency (2) an initial principle components analysis (3) reassessing the internal consistency of the modified scales (4) confirmatory principle components analysis and (5) a second order exploratory principle components analysis. Eleven scales with high internal consistencies resulted. These scales fell into three broad categories: Hostility scales, Co-Parenting scales, and General Parenting scales. Implications of this study, directions for future scale development, and instrument limitations are discussed. Keywords: Children of divorce, co-parenting after divorce, co-parenting questionnaire

A study was conducted to investigate the trend in physical custody for children in families where the parents have divorced and the variables linked to the award of custody to the father, mother or both parents. The investigation was based on data from a sample of 4,073 court cases in 21 Wisconsin counties between 1986 and 1992. Results suggest that there has been a small but important increase in fathers and mothers sharing custody of children but no increase in the number of fathers being awarded sole custody of their children.

The impact of joint legal custody on non-resident fathers' relations with children after divorce are investigated using data from the National Survey of Families and Households. In particular, the study evaluated about 160 families for which parents divorced to assess the frequency of visits between fathers and children and child support payments. The findings support the view that joint legal custody might enhance some facets of paternal involvement with children after divorce.

Objective: There were two main objectives of the study: (1) To assess the effectiveness of a model of family reunification which united the role of parent aide and foster parent; and (2) to determine which characteristics of the families with children in care were associated with reunification. Method: A multisite project known as the Shared Parenting Project recruited families from five child protection agencies to participate in a program in which foster parents became extended rather than substitute families. Families were tested before the program began on a number of sociodemographic, psychological, and family measures. The success of the program was determined by whether the child was able to return home or if the program facilitated permanency planning. The success of the project was also examined by considering the relationship between returning home and a number of risk factors measured in the families with children in care. Results: Very few families who met the criteria for the project could be recruited and only 31% of the participants completed the program and returned home. The process of permanency planning was facilitated in another 50% of the cases. The more stable families with less risk factors were more likely to complete the program successfully and to have their children return home. Conclusions: The results indicate that although the treatment model has excellent potential with less at-risk families it could not meet the treatment needs of the majority of families with children in foster care in the five child protection agencies. It is recommended that this model could be most helpful offered through parent aides attached to community support agencies that could provide respite care, support, and resources to families as needed thus avoiding the child having to be placed in care. Key Words - Foster care training, Foster children, Child abuse, Prevention, Parenting programs, At-risk populations.

Recent reforms to the family law system and Child Support Scheme reflect and promote a major cultural change in relation to parenting after separation. Introduction of these reforms coincided with, [...]

The Children Act 1989 abolished concepts of custody and access to children on divorce, its emphasis on joint parenting after divorce encouraging parents to forge new kinds of relationship. However research shows that making cooperative post-divorce parenting work is exceedingly difficult. No matter how aware they may be of their children's needs, fathers resent having to negotiate with their ex-wives. Mothers can find it difficult to sustain a relationship with their ex-husband at the very time when they are trying to re-establish a sense of self.