ERIC ED410064: Speak Out for Children. Fall 1995 through Summer 1996.

62 Pages·1996·2 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
PS 025
756
ED 410 064
Levy, David L., Ed.
AUTHOR
through Summer
Speak Out for Children. Fall 1995
TITLE
1996.
Washington, DC.
Children's Rights Council, Inc.,
INSTITUTION
ISSN-1042-3559
REPORT NO
PUB DATE
96
61p.; For 1995 newsletters, see ED 405 967.
NOTE
Children's Rights Council, Inc., 220 "I" Street, N.E., Suite
AVAILABLE FROM
200, Washington, DC 20002-4362; phone: [phone].
Serials (022)
Collected Works
PUB TYPE
Speak Out for Children; v11 n1-3 Fall-Win 1995-Sum 1996
JOURNAL CIT
MF01/PC03 Plus Postage.
EDRS PRICE
Child Advocacy; *Child Custody; Child Development; *Child
DESCRIPTORS
Support; Child Welfare; *Childrens Rights; Court Litigation;
*Divorce; Financial Support; Legislation; *One Parent Family
ABSTRACT
"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. Commission Supports More
Mediation, Unified Courts, Parenting Plans"; and "Joint Custody Favorable for
Children, says APA [American Psychological Association] group." Feature
article for issue number 2 of this volume is: "Presumption for Joint Custody
Takes Effect in Washington, D.C." The feature article for issue number 3 is
"Landmark Divorce Study Had the Numbers Wrong" (Katharine Webster). Regular
departments in the newsletter include "Family Facts," "In the Courts," "Bills
and Resolutions in Congress," "Chapter News," and "Around the Country." (HTH)
********************************************************************************
Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
from the original document.
********************************************************************************
Fall 1995/Winter 1996
ISSN 1042-3559
Vol. 11- No.1
Assisting Children of
Strengthening Families
Separation and Divorce
Through Education
PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND
DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL
HAS BEEN GRANTED BY
TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Once 01 Ec luut,onal ROSgrtJ1 sno Insorommen.
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION
CENTER (ERIC)
o This document has been reproduced as
received from the person or organisation
originating it.
O Minor changes have been made to
improve reproduction quality.
The Quarterly Newsletter of The Children's Rights Council, Inc.
Points of view or opinions stated in this
220 "I" Street N.E., Suite 200, Washington, D.C. 20002-4362 Phone [phone]
document do not necessarily represent
official OERI position or policy.
U.S. Commission Supports More Mediation,
IN THIS ISSUE:
Unified Courts, Parenting Plans
U.S. Commission Supports
More Mediation
The U.S. Commission on Child and Family Welfare has concluded
About CRC
its nine months of hearings and deliberations with recommendations to
Congress aimed at demilitarizing divorce and strengthening families.
Action Alert
Those recommendations include:
* mediation should be required in most cases involving child
10th Conference 4
custody;
* parenting plans should be required for separating, divorcing or
Child Support Owed .
5
. .
unmarried parents;
Guidubaldi
* unified court systems should be established in the states to deal
CRC's 10th
Anniversary
with all aspects of family matters; and
* the terms "custody" and "visitation" should be replaced with terms
Conference 96
that describe parenting responsibilities such as "parental
decisionmaking", "parenting time", and "residential
41,1
Conference 96
arrangements" for minor children.
Awards/Raffle
8
Commissioners John Guidubaldi, Ph.D., of John Carroll and Kent
State Universities in Ohio, and Bill Harrington, of Takoma,
Family Facts
Washington, president of the American Fathers Alliance, who led the
Harrington
fight to get these recommendations approved, called these proposals to
Bills and Resolutions .
10
. .
Congress "important breakthroughs for families."
(Continued on page 3)
the Courts
13
Joint Custody Favorable for Children, says APA Group
and the Country
14
A review of the major research on joint custody by a division of the prestigious
r.t.sChapter News
American Psychological Association (APA) shows "favorable outcomes" for children
15
who experience joint custody.
amide CRC
16
Joint custody resulted in
* increased father involvement with children,
17
* adolescents' positive adjustment (best interest of the child standard),
4hapters
* increased child support compliance,
ank You
18
* less relitigation and reduced costs for the family; and
* reduction of parental conflict,
Catalog of Resources .. .
19
said Division 16 (School Psychology) of the APA.
The evaluation by Division 16 was conducted at the request of John Guidubaldi,Ph.D,
(Continued on page 5)
Attend CRC's 10th National Conference April 24-28, 1996
at the luxurious Crowne Plaza Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia
2
EST COPY AVAILS = LE
"Speak Out for Children" is published by the Children's Rights Council, Inc. Editor.
CRC is a member (Number 1513) of
David L. Levy.
Contributors to this Issue: Harvey Walden, Don Bieniewicz; college
student interns Carolyn Dumas, University of New Hampshire, and Jessica Fredette, St.
Ansehn's College.
Newsletter layout by Shari Sternberg.
About CRC
CHILDREN'S
CHARITIES
of AMERICA
The Children's Rights Council
without permission, provided the
substituting conciliation and mediation
(CRC) is a nation-wide, non-profit
for the adversarial process, and
source ("Reprinted from the
IRS 501(c)(3) children's rights
providing for comprehensive child
Children's Rights Council newsletter
organization based in Washington,
`Speak Out for Children,' Fall
support. We also favor school-based
DC.
programs for children at risk.
1995/Winter 1996") is given. For non-
Formed in 1985 by concerned
CRC works to strengthen families
CRC material, obtain permission from
through education and advocacy. We
parents who have more than 40 years
the copyright owner.
favor family formation and family
For further information about
collective experience in divorce reform
preservation, but if families break up, or
membership, publications, cassettes,
and early childhood education, CRC has
are never formed, we work to assure a
chapters in 30 states and three national
catalog and services, write: CRC, 220 "I"
child the frequent and continuing
affiliate organizations: Mothers Without
Street N.E., Suite 200, Washington, D.C.
contact with two parents and extended
Custody (MW/OC), Parents Without
20002; phone [phone]; fax (202)
family the child would normally have
Partners (PWP), and the Stepfamily
546-4CRC (4272).
during a marriage. Our motto is "The
With a browser, the CRC home
Association of America (SAA).
Best Parent is Both Parents."
Prominent professionals in the
page's URL is http://www.vix.com/crc/
For the child's benefit, CRC favors
fields of religion, law, social work,
aboutcrc.htm. Speak Out for Children is
parenting education before marriage,
psychology, child care, education,
published four times a year and is sent free
during marriage, and in the event of
business, and government comprise our
to members. Library rate: $20.00 a year.
separation. We work to demilitarize
Advisory Panel.
Send letters, comments and articles for
Material in this newsletter
divorce between parents who are
publication to Editor, CRC.
involved in marital disputes,
authored by CRC may be reprinted
OFFICERS:
ADVISORY PANEL:
Larry Gaughan, Professional Director
David L Levy, Esq. President
Rabbi Mendel Abrams, M.Min
Family Mediation of Greater
Joan Langworthy, Treasurer
Former President, Board of Rabbis
Washington, D.C.
Ellen Dublin Levy, Secretary
of Greater Washington, DC
Jonathan M. Goodson, President
David Birney, Actor
Mark Goodson Productions
HONORARY PRESIDENT:
Santa Monica, California
Los Angeles, California
David Brenner, entertainer
New York, New York
Jim Cook, President
Hon. Bob Graham
Joint Custody Association
U.S. Senator (D-FL)
GENERAL COUNSEL:
Los Angeles, California
Michael L Oddenino
Jennifer Isham, President
Arcadia, California
"Dear Abby"
Mothers Without Custody (MW/OC)
(Abigail Van Buren)
Crystal Lake, Illinois
DIR. OF INFORMATION SERVICES:
Los Angeles, California
Ed Mudrak
Joan B. Kelly, Ph.D.
Judith L. Bauersfeld, Ph. D.
Executive Director
DIRECTOR OF PARENTING EDUCATION
President, Stepfamily Association of America
Northern California Mediation Center
PROGRAMS:
Lincoln, Nebraska
Elizabeth Hickey, M.S.W.
Elisabeth KublerRoss, M.D.
Salt Lake City, Utah
Author, Psychiatrist
Karen DeCrow
Head Waters, Virginia
Former President of N.O.W.
PARENTING EDUCATION SPOKESPERSON:
Jamesville, New York
Wes Unseld, VP Washington Bullets
Vicki Lansky, Author/Columnist
Member, NBA Hall of Fame
Deephaven, Minnesota
Elliott H. Diamond
CoFounder, CRC
NATIONAL SPOKESPERSONS:
James Levine, The Fatherhood Project
Reston, Virginia
Darryl Grant, Washington Redskins
The Family and Work Institute
Superbowl XVII and MIL Champion
New York, New York
Phyllis Diller, Comedienne
Doug Supernaw, County Music Singer
Los Angeles, California
Dwight Twilley, Pop Singer/Author
John Money, Ph.D. Professor of
Medical Psychology and Pediatrics
Warren Farrell, Ph.D., Author
Johns Hopkins University and Hospital
former Member of the Board of
Baltimore, Maryland
Directors, New York City N.O.W.
Leucadia, California
Hon. Fred Thompson
U.S. Senator (R-TN)
3
Page 2
Speak Out For Children
Fall 1995/ Winter 1996
(Continued from page 1)
arrangements on children, 4) the impact of divorce on the well-being of children,
flaws in the current legal process of divorce, and 6) the impact of being born to
5)
Guidubaldi and Harrington, who
unmarried parents on the well-being of children;
were both appointed by former House
B) Public and private efforts should be made to improve the training of lawyers in
Speaker Foley to the Commission, also
family law and to increase their availability for pro-bono work;
fought hard to get the Commission to
C) Strengthening the Family and the Community is possible through a variety of
adopt a recommendation in favor of a
education and pre-marital counseling programs to prepare people for marriage on
presumption for joint custody.
issues such as parenting skills and conflict resolution, and other programs;
The Commission decided not to
D) Religious institutions should join with other community-based groups to make
available information about the positive impact of two-parent involvement on
make any recommendation on custody
children;
determinations, which Guidubaldi and
E) Businesses should devise family friendly policies; and
Harrington criticized as an avoidance of
the main reason the Commission was
F) States should encourage extensive use of public schools as a meeting place for
establishedto make recommendations
parent groups and be a catalyst for wider-based community efforts to strengthen
families.
in the custody as well as in the visitation
However, David Arnaudo, an
area.
official in the Child Support Office of the
ACTION AILIEWIN 2 2 ACTION ALEIRTH
U.S. Department of Health and Human
Ac TIMiki AILIEWIN 8 2
Services (HHS) who oversees the
access/visitation grants awarded to seven
Write to your U.S. Representative and two U.S. Senators, informing them
states as a result of Congressional action
about defective child support provisions in the Welfare Reform bill.
See
called the recommendations
in
1988,
Numbers 1,
on page 10.
and
Guidubaldi and Harrington
"significant.
3
2,
You can use essentially the same words as are used on page 10. With all the
got the Commission to adopt almost
mail your Congresspersons get, they need to get many letters telling them about
everything they recommended, and that is
these items before these issues register on their Congressional Radar.
quite important," said Arnaudo.
The commission recommended
Write to House members at:
requiring mediation in contested domestic
Senator -
relations cases except in instances
Representative
(name of your Senator)
(name of your Representative)
U.S. Senate
involving domestic abuse, substance
House of Representatives
Washington, D.C.
abuse, mental impairment and/or other
20510
Washington, D.C.
characteristics of the litigants that would
20515
make mediation inadvisable or that could
Dear
(name)
preclude a fair mediation process.
The recommendations of the
In the welfare reform bill, Congress is requiring the states to adopt the Uniform
Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA). Congress is under the mistaken
Commission are expected to be made
impression that it is non-custodial parents who generally move out of state. Not
available before the end of
Copies
1995.
In the majority of cases, it is the custodial parent who moves out of state.
so.
are available by phoning
[phone].
(Then pick up the rest of #1 on page 10).
Congress will decide whether to enact
Sincerely yours,
certain recommendations into federal law,
Your name and address
and whether to recommend that the states
adopt other recommendations.
In a separate letter (or in the same letter), write about
from page 10.
Guidubaldi and Harrington plan to
#2
file minority reports, particularly about
Dear
(name)
the failure of the Commission to adopt a
In the welfare reform bill, Congress is requiring the states to revoke all licenses
recommendation in favor of joint custody.
of any obligor (non-custodial) parent who is
days or more behind in his or child
90
Other Recommendations
support. (pick up rest of
on page 10).
#2
Sincerely yours,
Your name and address
The Commission said that:
A) The federal government and other
In a separate letter (or in the same letter), write about
from page 10.
research funding sources should
#3
sponsor research and disseminate
Dear
(name)
findings on such important issues
as 1) what makes a successful
In the welfare reform bill, Congress is requiring mandatory wage withholding
W-4
and
tracking through employers. (pick up rest of
on page 10)
marriage,
#3
the causes of divorce,
2)
Sincerely yours,
the effects of different parenting
3)
Your name and address
Speak Out For Children
Fall 1995/ Winter 1996
Page
3
4
41.MateLLOOTPM1
early bird
Grab the
ECIAL
sponsored by
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Register now for
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CRC's TENTH NATIONAL CONFERENCE
University of Pennsylvania
Health System
"Family Values" Means Valuing Families
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and PENN
10 Years of Kids and CRC
COUNCIL
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April 24 to 28, 1996 at the luxurious Crowne Plaza Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia
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Maw/44We. PA 14,104
6\
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(To obtain the special conference
rate of $99 per room, call the
` Crowne Plaza Ravinia at 1-800-554-0055 before April 3, 1996.
11:W' Panels of national experts including Richard A. Gardner, John Guidubaldi, Mavis Hetherington,
Elizabeth Hickey, Wade Horn, Isolina Ricci, David Gray Ross, and Richard Warshak on topics such
as custody, alternatives to litigation, family court, move-aways, children's needs, and 1996 politics.
CEUs and CLEs are available for those attending (details will be provided at the conference). Plus: IW pages of handouts for use by
parents, professionals, and policymakers.
CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FORM
Complete and mail to:
CRC Tenth National Conference
Children's Rights Council
April 24 to 28, 1996
220 'I' Street, NE, Ste 200
Atlanta, Georgia
Washington, DC 20002-4362
is made by:
PAYMENT of $
For more info, call [phone]. To register fast
Check made payable to Children's Rights Council
Exp. Date
Visa
Master Card
by credit card, fax this form to [phone]. Fee
Am Ex
includes Author Luncheon, Banquet, Sock Hop, and
Card No.
Candlelight Vigil near Olympic Stadium.
Registration
CRC
Non-
Signature
Member
Fee
Member
Received
Name (as it will appear on badgetype or print)
by March 24
$190.00*
$155.00
After March 24
210.00*
175.00
Single Day
75.00
Organization
* Includes one-year membership of $35 in CRC.
80% Refund if cancellation by April 1, 1996.
50% Refund if cancellation by April 15, 1996.
Address
Bonus for paid registrants:
City/Sate/Zip
Check here if you would like a a free copy of CRC's
book, The Best Parent is Both Parents. (A $10 value.)
(
1
Phone
Joint Custody Favorable
$5 Billion, Not $34 Billion
Nastasi, 1984; Hetherington, Cox &Cox,
Child Support
for Children
1982; and Wallerstein & Kelly, 1980)."
Owed Each Year
* The consensus of studies that addressed
(Continued from page 1)
the issue of child support found that
Many people have heard the
child support to mothers is either
a member of the National Commission on
report that supposedly $34 billion
increased in joint custody families or
Child and Family Welfare, in the hope that a
per year is owed in court-ordered
thoughtful review of the research ,might
not significantly different from those
child support. Everyone familiar
with sole maternal custody;
convince the U.S. Commission on Child and
with the research on child support
Family Welfare, of which Guidubaldi is a
* The" emotional and financial relitigation
has known that figure is incorrect.
member, to recommend a presumption of
costs to families and judicial systems is
The author of that figure,
often cited by proponents and
joint custody.
Elaine Sorensen, a senior research
The Commission did not deal with the
associate at the Urban Institute,
opponents regarding joint custody. The
subject of joint custody in its final report
studies reviewed that investigated this
Washington, D.C., has orally stated
that the $34 billion was only meant
(see related story in this issue), "but the
issue consistently indicated decreased
to be a hypothetical figure of what
survey is increasing the understanding by
relitigation for joint custody versus sole
could be collected in child support
parents and professionals of the value of
maternal custody.
if every man had only one child,
including both fathers and mothers in
* "The replicated finding and the weight
was fully employed, and paid child
post-divoice arrangements," said
of evidence were that joint custody
support based on the highest child
results in either less or no greater
Guidubaldi.
support guidelines in the country.
conflict than in sole maternal custody.
The survey, released June 14, 1995, is
Nevertheless, members of
not based on anecdotes or self-serving
The sole exception to these findings
Congress, President Clinton, and
was by Johnston, Kline and Tschann
questionnaires, but is "a comparison of joint
the media, have picked up the $34
custody with sole custody for children,"
(1989) but as Ferreiro (1990) pointed
billion figure as a reality and stated
that this is what is owed in
out, this study included a biased sample
noted Guidubaldi.
court-ordered child support.
of divorced families referred due to
For the first time in print, Dr.
Survey Findings
high conflict."
Sorensen said unequivocally that
the actual amount of child support
Data Misinterpreted
The APA survey found that:
that is owed is more than $5 billion.
* "The weight of evidence from the studies
In an article in the Washington
reviewed unambiguously found increased The survey quoted Joan Berlin Kelly,
Post, Page A25, November 11,
Ph.D., co-author of "Surviving the
father contact and involvement with
1995, Dr. Sorensen said "The latest
Break-Up" as stating that the
children in joint custody versus sole
census figures show that 'deadbeat
maternal custody families of divorce
misinterpretation of research conclusions
dads' owe more than $5 billion in
child support to 2.3 billion
could be due to political distortion as
(Albiston, Maccoby & Mnookin, 1990;
custodial mothers and their
reflected by the following statement by
Arditti, 1992)" and other studies.
* "The two studies with the best
children."
Kelly:
This approximate $5 billion
methodology (Buchanan, Maccoby, &
"The current practice of feminist
figure is also confirmed by the U.S.
writers and fathers' rights groups to use a
Dornbush, 1991; Burnett, 1991) indicated
Department of Health and Human
that joint custody versus sole maternal
particular research finding to bolster a
Services (HHS) 18th Annual
political or gender-linked point of view
custody was associated with adolescents'
Report to Congress, issued in 1995.
positive adjustment. This finding was
while ignoring other data makes it
Sorensen also said in the article that
replicated for children by Abarbanel
difficult for legislators, judges, attorneys
"There is also is a reluctance to
(1979), Greif (1979) and Luepnitz (1986)
or parents to obtain a balanced informed
reduce child support orders.
view."
but not Johnston, Kline & Tschann (1989)
According to U.S. census data, only
and Kline, Tschann, Johnston &
Kelly recommended joint custody,
4 percent of non-custodial fathers
who were paying child support
however, "for increasing the access of
Wallerstein (1989). It is concluded that
under an order received a
the present research supports joint
both parents which has consistently been
downward adjustment when their
custody for facilitating children's
shown to promote positive adjustment of
earnings fell by more than 15
adjustment."
children."
percent between one year and the
The authors of the APA report call for
"The above conclusion is supported by
next."
"improved policy to reduce the present
the more generalized research with optimal
Downward modifications as
adversarial approach that has resulted in
methodology concerning children's divorce
well as upward modifications are
adjustment. Several studies found that
primarily sole maternal custody, limited
authorized by the 1988 Family
increased and reliable visitation by the
Support Act when there is a
father involvement and maladjustment of
"material change of
both children and parents. Increased
non-custodial parent (usually the father)
mediation, joint custody and parent
predicted positive adjustment of children
circumstances."
(e.g., Guidubaldi, Cleminshaw, Perry &
education are supported."
Speak Out For Children
Fall 1995/ Winter 1996
Page 5
6
Moran, Barry, Brazil, Grant
CRC's 10th Anniversary
America (SAA) will hold a Western
Regional Conference in San Diego,
and Starke were honorary hosts of
Launches "2 Parents by
CA on Feb. 3-4, 1996. The
CRC's 10th anniversary event.
2000" Drive
conference rate starts at $30. per
Honorary hosts also included
sports team owner and
person; extra fees for workshops and
luncheons. To register, contact Emily
philanthropist Abe Po llin, U.S.
Visher [phone], Kim
Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD),
Matthews [phone], or Gloria
Governor Parris Glendening
Clark, [phone]. Speakers will
(D-MD), Congressman Albert
include authors and SAA founders
Wynn (D-MD), and child activist
Emily and John Visher. For hotel
Susan DeConcini.
conference rate of $74. per night,
phone the hotel at 1-800-882-0858,
The Marrakesh Restaurant was
Koujachji, Starke, Moran, Barry, and Levy at
and mention the SAA conference.
chosen for the event, because its
CRC's 10th Anniversary Dinner
owner, Bashir Koujachji, has
spoken out in favor of the
CRC Guideline Available
Political leaders, sports figures
two-parent family in newspaper
and 100 CRC supporters attended
Copies of the model child support
ads and in other forums.
guideline prepared by CRC that is
CRC's 10th anniversary dinner at
based on a child having two parents
the Marrakesh (Middle Eastern)
kancianartacceatactautta
are still available from the federal
Restaurant in Washington, D.C. on
government.
November 9, 1995.
This is the first time that the
Congressman Jim Moran
National Conference for
federal government has ever
Fathers and Children
(D-VA), Washington, D.C. Mayor
distributed a guideline that takes into
Marion Barry, D.C. Councilman
account the direct expenditures on a
The National Conference for
Harold Brazil, and Redskins
child by the non-custodial parent.
Fathers and Children (NCFC) will
Superbowl Champions Darryl
To obtain a copy of the federal
hold its 12th annual convention at the
Grant and George Starke attended
publication, phone [phone],
Holiday Inn Holidome in Kansas City,
the event.
which is the Office of Child Support
KS, August 8-11, 1996. For
Enforcement's Child Support
They spoke about children,
conference registrations, phone NCFC
Reference Center, located at 370
CRC, and the successes CRC has
at 1-800-733-DADS. The
L'Enfant Promenade SW,
had over the years in Congress, the
educational conference will focus on
Washington, D.C. 20447. There is no
courts, state legislatures, and in
the needs of fathers, on improving
charge for the publication, entitled
helping to awaken people to the
attorneys' representation for fathers;
"Child Support Guidelines: The Next
acknowledgement that children
and second wives. The room rate for
Generation", as long as supplies last.
conference registrants at the hotel is
need, want, and love two parents.
Copies of the guideline itself as
$65; up to four persons may share a
"CRC has accomplished some
published by the government are
room; ,phone the hotel at
of its goals, yet America is in
available from CRC for $5.00 for
1-800-527-0582. Childcare will be
family crisis," said CRC President
CRC members, and $10.00 for
available at the family-friendly
David L. Levy at the event.
non-members, including shipping and
Holidome.
Levy announced a new CRC
handling.
If you would like to contact Don
initiative, "2 Parents by 2000", a
Parents Without Partners
Bieniewicz, author of the guideline,
drive to assure that all children in
for his assistance in getting this
America have two parents by the
Parents Without Partners (PWP)
guideline adopted in the states, write
will hold its 37th International
year 2000.
him at 10004 Fairoaks Road, Vienna,
Convention July 2-7, 1996 at the
"Single parents do all they can
VA 22181, or phone [phone]
for their children in a difficult
Hyatt Regency Dearborn, Dearborn,
(evenings).
Michigan. Workshops, speakers,
situation, and many children of
social activities, and entertaining
single parents turn out fine, but
youth program, will highlight the
children with two parents generally
Change of Address
convention. For information, contact
do better in school, have higher
PWP at 401 North Michigan Avenue,
self-esteem, and avoid drugs and
keep
To
newsletters
and
Chicago, Illinois 60611, phone (312)
crime more than children raised by
other
materials coming, please
611 6610.
single parents," said Levy.
notify CRC three weeks in advance
CRC plans, with its chapters, to
of any address change. Send old
Stepfamily Association
hold a series of town-hall meetings
of America
and new addresses to CRC, 220 "F'
Street N.E., Suite 200,
to form a grass-roots effort to
promote the "2 Parents by 2000"
The Stepfamily Association of
Washington. DC 20002.
drive.
7
Speak Out For Children
Page 6
Fall 1995/ Winter 1996
Donors are Appreciated
CRC Conference April 24-28, 1996 in Atlanta
CRC thanks everyone who
Gardner
Hetherington
contributed to CRC in the charity drive
that took place in all federal government
offices in the Fall of 1995.
Ricci
Ross
CRC is listed as number 1513 in the
Children's Charities of America listing,
Panel discussions on moveaway issues, a unified family court
which is part of the Independent Charities
system, financial and emotional child support, and political issues facing
of America. We also thank those who
families, will be among the highlights of CRC's 10th national conference
contribute to CRC in the Washington,
at the luxurious Crowne Plaza Hotel in Atlanta April 24-28,1996.
D.C., and San Francisco (Bay Area)
The tentative conference schedule is:
United Way campaigns.
* Wednesday evening, April 24a welcome reception for early
We also thank those who contribute
arrivals and CRC board and chapter meeting open to everyone.
to CRC through their United Way in some
* Thursday morning, April 25a threehour session with Dr. Richard
other fiart of the country, where we are not
Gardner, who will speak on the Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS)
listed, but where employers may
and the Differentiation between Real and False Allegations of Child
sometimes allow employees to designate
Abuse in Child Custody Cases.
CRC.
* Thursday afternoon, April 25workshops for CRC chapters (and
CRC also appreciates all those who
other individuals who want to start and build organizations) on how
contribute to CRC through the Global
to build a chapter, work with the press, the legislature and the
Focus credit card campaign run by
judiciary.
MBNA American Bank, in Newark,
* Thursday evening, April 25 to Sunday noon, April 28talks, panel
Delaware. CRC depends on volunteer
discussion, a book and author luncheon, a banquet, Candlelight Vigil
help and contributions for its existence.
near the site of the Summer 1996 Olympics, a Sock Hop,
If you wish to make your
entertainment and other activities.
taxdeductible contribution direct to
Confirmed speakers and panelists, aside from those listed above, include:
CRC, send it to CRC, 220 "r' Street, Suite
* Isolina Ricci, Ph.D. author of "Mom's House, Dad's House," and
200, Washington, D.C. 20002
Administrator, California Statewide Office of Family Court
Services;
Intellectual Property Protection
* Mavis Hetherington, Ph.D., of Virginia, longtime researcher in
divorce, remarriage, and single parent families;
Charlie Ruggiero, who obtained
* Wade Horn, director of the National Fatherhood Initiative;
trademark protection for the name and
* David Gray Ross, director of the federal Office of Child Support
logo "Children's Rights Council" and the
Enforcement;
name and logo for our newsletter "Speak
* John Guidubaldi, Ph.D., nationally known custody researcher and
Out for Children" is a specialist in
member of the U.S. Commission on Child and Family Welfare.
trademark, patent, copyright, and
Conference attendees will be able to obtain CEUs (continuing
licensing law. He is a partner in the law
education units) for mediators (through the Academy of Family
firm of Ohlandt, Greeley and Ruggiero, 1
Mediators), lawyers (through the American Bar Association),
and
Landmark Square, Suite 903, Stamford,
psychologists and other mental health professionals (through the
CT 06901, telephone [phone].
American Psychological Association).
Helping Kids Materials
Rooms in Luxury Hotel for Only $99.
Rooms at the Crowne Plaza, which normally run $160 to $180 per
The Bureau For AtRisk Youth is
night, are only $99 a night. Up to four people can share the room and cost.
offering free its new 80 page buyer's
Phone the Crowne Plaza at 1-800-554-0055, and mention CRC to get the
Guide with hundreds of awardwinning
low rate.
videos, posters, and prevention programs
Delta Airlines is offering low airfare rates for CRC conference
for parents, educators, counselors and
attendees; phone Delta at 1-800-241-6760, and mention File Number
other professional youth workers.
XL2866 which is for the CRC conference. ValuJet also flies from many
To receive a free copy of the Guide
cities to Atlanta at very low rates.
write to The Bureau For AtRisk Youth,
"This will be the best conference ever," said CRC General Counsel
645 New York Avenue, Huntington, New
Michael L. Oddenino, who urged CRC to hold the conference in Atlanta,
York, 11743 or call 1-800-99YOUTH.
and who, along with CRC Georgia Coordinator Sonny Burmeister, is
Let the Bureau and CRC know if the
assisting with conference planning. This is the first CRC conference to be
materials are helpful.
held outside of the Washington, D.C., area.
(Continued on page 8)
Speak Out For Children
Fall 1995/ Winter 1996
Page 7
8
(Continued from page 7)
Buy Raffles
Win a Picasso Print
CRC's 1996 Conference in Atlanta
Awards Time Again
At the 1996 conference CRC will present the annual Chief Justice Warren E. Burger
award for "healers" among lawyers, judges, and others, and its annual Media Awards and
Active Parenting Awards. The awards consist of engraved plaques. Nominations should
be received by February 28, 1996.
A "Healer" might be:
* a judge who takes the lead in promoting joint custody (shared parenting);
"Tete"
* an attorney who has had an impact on the legal community or a state legislature on
behalf of a child's right to two parents and extended family (this is a revised
An anonymous donor has given CRC
criteria for attorneys).
a Picasso print, valued at $1,000, to raffle
For Media Awards possible contenders are:
at our 1996 conference.
* best treatment of children and parents of divorce in the news media (including
An inscription on the back of the print
newspapers, magazines, TV and radio coverage):
says "Limited edition, recreation of an
* best media coverage of a county agency that provides programs for teenage
oil on canvas entitled 'Tete' by Pablo
parents, or
Picasso created on August 1, 1937.
* best TV series on abuse and false abuse charges.
Approved by the estate of Pablo Picasso."
For Active Parenting, possible contenders are:
The professionally double matted
* programs that help with family formation and family preservation;
frame, in a museum quality mounting
* programs that help parents do better parenting in the event of divorce.
encased in glass, cost CRC $250.; thus the
print and the frame together are valued at
Send "Healer" awards nominations to:
$1250. Only 750 raffle tickets will be
Vicki Lansky
printed. The tickets are $2. each, or three
Practical Parenting
for $5. The drawing for the print will be
18326 Minnetonka Blvd.
Saturday, April 27, 1996. You do not have
Deephaven, MN 55391-3200
to attend the CRC conference to win.
[phone]
Complete the Raffle Ticket form below
and mail in.
Send "Best in Media" award nominations to:
Raffle Ticket
James Morning, coordinator
CRC of Delaware
216 Bradley Road
Send me
tickets at $2. each,
Dover, DE 19901
or 3 for $5.
[phone]
Charge:
Visa
MC
AmEX
Send "Active Parenting" nominations to:
CC:
Eric Anderson
12103 Scribe Drive
Exp. date
Austin, TX 78758
[phone]
OR amount enclosed
Name
FAMILY FACTS
Address
Photocopy and distribute the "Family Facts" on the next page!
Use as hand-outs when visiting the Legislature, disseminating
information to the courts or the media, or as a resource for
testimony and Letters to the Editor. "Family Facts" will be a
regular feature of this Newsletter. Send us your verified facts
Phone No (
(with actual copies, sources, and dates) to "Family Facts" CRC.
Fill out the form above, and mail to:
Dr. Gary Santora, 6723 Whittier
Avenue, McLean, VA 22101
Speak Out For Children
Page 8
Fall 1995/ Winter 1996
FAMILY PAC
Two-Parent Families
Joint Custodg Positive for
Continue to Decline
A division of the prestigious American
The U.S. Census Bureau reports that:
Psychological Association (APA) finds that:
Fact #1: The number of families with
there are "positive outcomes" for
Fact #1:
children is increasing, but more of the
children in joint custody when compared
increase is occurring among
to children in sole custody. The review of
singleparent families than among
research in 1995 by Division 16 (School
twoparent families.
Psychology) of the APA found favorable
Fact #2: the number of twoparent families
outcomes for children in joint custody
rose 0.7 percent between 1990 and 1994.
through:
This positive development is
* increased father contact and involvement
overshadowed, however, by the 4 percent
with children;
growth in the number of singleparent
* adolescents' positive adjustment (the best
families over the same time period. Thus,
interest of the child standard);
the proportion of all families headed by
not significantly different
* increased or
two parents continues to fall.
child support payments;
Fact #3: In 1970, singleparent families
* decreased litigation;
comprised only 12.9 percent of all
* decreased costs to families and judicial
families. By 1990, singleparent families
systems; and
made up 28.1 percent of all childpresent
* less or no greater conflict than sole
families; and in 1994, 30.8 percent of all
maternal custody.
families with children were headed by a
Fact #2: Improved policies such as increased
single parent. Conversely, twoparent
mediation, joint custody and parent
families fell from 71.9 percent in 1990 to
education will "reduce the present
69.2 percent in 1994. Among white
adversarial approach that has resulted in
families, the proportion of all families
primarily sole maternal custody, limited
headed by two parents declined from
father involvement and maladjustment of
89.9 percent in 1970 to 77.4 percent in
both children and parents."
1990. Among black families, the
proportion fell from 64.3 percent to 39.4
For copies of this 21-page report, with citations,
percent.
released June 14, 1995, send $5.00 for postage and
handling to John Guidubaldi, Ph.D., John Carroll
October 1995 Census Bureau report, obtainable from the
University, P.O. Box 5190, Kent, Ohio 44242-0001.
Family Research Council, 700 Thirteenth St. N.W., Suite
500, Washington, D.C. 20005, Report No. !F96K3.
Crime
An article in the Washington Post said that:
Fact #1: Young black men raised in singleparent families are twice as likely to engage in criminal
activities, when compared with black men raised in twoparent families, even after holding
constant a wide range of variables such as family income, urban residence, neighborhood
environment and parents' education, according to research by sociologist June O'Neill of the City
University of New York.
Fact #2: Illegitimacy is an equalopportunity scourge, affecting blacks and whites. "The absence of
marriage, and the failure to form and maintain intact families; explains the incidence of high crime
in a neighborhood among whites as well as blacks," according to Patrick Fagan, a researcher at the
Heritage Foundation.
See The Washington Post Outlook Section, July 10, 1994.
Fall 1995/ Winter 1996
Speak Out For Children
Page 9