Save the date and feel free to preregister for our 5th International Conference on Shared Parenting on May 29 - June 1, 2020 in Vancouver, Canada
Theme: The Intersection of Family Violence and Shared Parenting
Conference Website: https://vancouver2020.org
Greetings from Strasbourg
Some of our participants are greeting you from our ICSP Strasbourg Conference on Shared Parenting 2018 in the Council of Europe.
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Conference Conclusions
In accordance with the articles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the ICSP calls upon the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, the Council of Europe, governments and professional associations:
1. to identify shared parenting as a fundamental right of the child.
2. to focus on the specific need of children of separated and divorced parents to know and be raised by both of their parents, and to endorse shared parenting as best ensuring that this need is protected.
3. to respect the views of children of separated and divorced parents in regard to their stated preferences for post-separation living arrangement.
4. to clearly define and operationalize the concept of the “best interests of the child” in the context of parental separation, toward an evidence-based, child-focused understanding of “best interests.”
5. to identify shared parenting as in the best interests of the child, as it maintains children’s relationship with both parents and reduces conflict between parents.
6. to ensure to the maximum extent possible the survival and development of children of separated and divorced parents, and to take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect these children from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including parental alienation as a form of emotional child abuse and family violence.
We call upon governments and employers:
7. to institute family policies that support and protect both parents’ involvement in work and family life, including equal support for mothers and fathers in regard to parental leave and leave for family reasons.
We call upon the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, the Council of Europe, and International Institutions:
8. to take measures to ensure that member states do not discriminate against children of separated and divorced parents on the basis of parental status, specifically in regard to removing a parent from the daily life of a child.
9. to encourage states that are signatories to the Convention to adopt shared parenting as the foundation of family law.to encourage states that are signatories to the Convention to adopt shared parenting as the foundation of family law.
Download Final Conference Report (pdf)
Register for the fourth International Conference on Shared Parenting
Shared Parenting, Social Justice and Children´s Rights
The fourth International Conference on Shared Parenting will be held in Strasbourg, France, on November 22-23, 2018, at Palais de l’Europe. The theme of this conference is: Shared Parenting, Social Justice and Children´s Rights.
The conference is organized under the auspices of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mr. Thorbjørn Jagland. It is also supported by the City of Strasbourg, the University of Strasbourg and the Jardin des Sciences.
Plenary speakers are:
• Regina Jensdottir, Head of the Children´s Rights Division of the Council of Europe
• Jean Zermatten , President and Member of UN committee for Children’s rights (2005-2013), University of Geneva – Switzerland
• Michael Lamb, Professor of Psychology, University of Cambridge – United Kingdom
• Edward Kruk, Associate Professor of Social Work, ICSP/CIRA President, University of British Columbia – Canada
• Malin Bergström, Centre for Health Equity Studies (CHESS), Stockholm University – Sweden
• Christine Simon, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - USA
• Derrick Gordon, Associate Professor of Psychiatry (Psychology Section), Ph.D., Yale University School of Medicine – USA
• José Manuel de Torres Perea, Professor of Civil Law, University of Málaga – Spain
• Marie-France Carlier, Judge at Namur Family Court (division of the Namur and Dinant Family Court) – Belgium
• Josiane Bigot, President of the Federation of Child Protection Associations (FAPE), Former judge at the Court of Cassation of Colmar – France
• Blaise Pierrehumbert, PhD, former Privat-Docent in psychology, University of Lausanne - Switzerland
• Livia Olah, Associate Professor, Ph.D., Dept. of Sociology, Stockholm University – Sweden
• Gerardo Meil, Professor in Sociology, University Autónoma of Madrid – Spain
• Lluis Flaquer, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, University Autònoma de Barcelona – Spain
• Adeline Gouttenoire, Professor of Law, University of Bordeaux – France
• Hildegund Sünderhauf, Professor for family law and youth welfare law, Lutheran University of applied sciences, Nuremberg – Germany
The conference intends to report how, within judicial systems and social work practices, both parents are recognized as vital in their children’s lives. It will explore how shared parenting seems a means for keeping with the principles and articles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Thus, a focus of the conference is to stress how shared parenting, viewed as in the best interests of children, is a crucial issue for practitioners and policymakers around the globe, regarding the alignment of national law and practices with the articles of the UN CRC.
To ensure the quality of the presentations and to facilitate the discussions, two workshops and poster sessions will offer the opportunity for exchanging about new research outcomes, and helpful professional or collective practices.
Already we have participants from countries like Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iran, Norway, Portugal, Rumania, Kenya, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and USA.
For registration, please use the following link:
strasbourg2018.org/registration
For more information about the conference, please follow the link:
strasbourg2018.org
If you have any questions, please contact
info@strasbourg2018.org
Second Announcement and Call for Papers
The fourth International Conference on Shared Parenting will be held in Strasbourg on November 22 and 23, 2018. Being under the auspices of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mr. Thorbjørn Jagland, and supported by the City of Strasbourg, this conference represents a landmark in the implementation of children’s rights in situations of parental separation and divorce.
Specialists in the field of shared parenting – representing both the academic sciences and the legal and family professions – are invited to present their research results and professional practice accounts at this interdisciplinary conference.
The theme of this conference will be “Shared Parenting, Social Justice and Children´s Rights”.
The first ICSP conference, held in July 2014 in Bonn, Germany, focused on bridging the gap between empirical evidence and socio-legal practice. The second conference, held in December 2015, also in Bonn, Germany, discussed best practices for the legislative and psycho-social implementation of shared parenting as a viable and beneficial solution for children whose parents are living apart. The third conference, held in May 2017 in Boston, MA, examined whether the current state of knowledge has reached a watershed in regard to understanding children’s best interests in separation and divorce, and concluded that shared parenting is in fact commensurate with children’s best interests in the great majority of cases. The detailed conclusions of this last conference will be published in a special issue of the Journal of Child Custody in 2018.
Shared parenting as in the best interests of children of separated parents has become a crucial issue for practitioners and policymakers around the globe. Within judicial systems, both parents are now increasingly recognized as vital in their children’s lives after separation and divorce.
The following questions will be addressed during the conference in both plenary and workshop presentations:
- To what extent and how is shared parenting promoted as a legal presumption in legal and judicial systems, at national or supra-national levels, for supporting children’s rights?
- To what degree is shared parenting promoted as a means for improving and sustaining the work-life balance between women and men in both two-parent families and after parental separation and divorce?
- How can professionals support divorcing parents and influence social attitudes and knowledge about shared parenting and children’s well-being and rights?
We invite submissions for two types of presentations to the ICSP scientific committee:
(1) oral presentations that correspond to completed scientific research and practical accounts; or (2) posters that correspond to ongoing research and practical accounts.
The conference aims to encourage international reflection on shared parenting. Scientists, researchers, child and family professionals, and members of civil society, from the fields of justice, social work, psychology, sociology, and other academic disciplines concerned with children’s rights and wellbeing, are warmly invited to present and discuss their findings.
If you are interested in submitting a poster or a paper for consideration to present at the conference, please prepare and submit a 150-250 word abstract of your poster or a 350-450 word abstract of your oral presentation (file format .doc/docx, .odt, .txt).
Considering the patronage of the Council of Europe and the City of Strasbourg as an additional incentive for participating in the conference, the deadline for submitting your paper or poster has been changed to March 29, 2018. For submitting, please use the following link:
The abstract should be preferably written in English. However, French language will be also considered.
Your proposal will be reviewed by members of the ICSP Scientific Committee, and notifications of acceptance will be made by May 15, 2018.
For more information about the conference, please follow the link
About the Organizers:
The International Council on Shared Parenting (ICSP), founded 2014 and based in Bonn, Germany, is an international association with individual members from the sectors science, family professions and civil society. The purpose of the association is first, the dissemination and advancement of scientific knowledge on the needs and rights (“best interests”) of children whose parents are living apart, and second, to formulate evidence-based recommendations about the legal, judicial and practical implementation of shared parenting.
First Announcement and Call for Papers
The fourth International Conference on Shared Parenting will be held in Strasbourg on November 22 and 23, 2018. Specialists in the field of shared parenting – representing both the academic sciences and the legal and family professions – are invited to present their research results and professional practice accounts at this interdisciplinary conference.
The theme of this conference will be “Shared Parenting, Social Justice and Children´s Rights”
The first ICSP conference, held in July 2014 in Bonn, Germany, focused on bridging the gap between empirical evidence and socio-legal practice.
The second conference, held in December 2015 also in Bonn, Germany, discussed best practices for the legislative and psycho-social implementation of shared parenting as a viable and beneficial solution for children whose parents are living apart.
The third conference, held in May 2017 in Boston, MA, examined whether the current state of knowledge has reached a watershed in regard to understanding children’s best interests in separation and divorce, and concluded that shared parenting is in fact commensurate with children’s best interests in the great majority of cases.
The detailed conclusions of this last conference will be published in a special issue of the Journal of Child Custody in 2018.
Shared parenting as in the best interests of children of separated parents has become a crucial issue for practitioners and policymakers around the globe. Within judicial systems, both parents are now increasingly recognized as vital in their children’s lives after separation and divorce.
The following questions will be addressed during the conference in both plenary and workshop presentations:
- To what extent and how is shared parenting promoted as a legal presumption in legal and judicial systems, at national or supra-national levels, for supporting children’s rights?
- To what degree is shared parenting promoted as a means for improving and sustaining the work-life balance between women and men in both two-parent families and after parental divorce?
- How can professionals support divorcing parents and influence social attitudes and knowledge about shared parenting and children’s well-being and rights?
We invite submissions for two types of presentations to the ICSP scientific committee:
(1) oral presentations that correspond to completed scientific research and practical accounts; or
(2) posters that correspond to ongoing research and practical accounts.
Submission information
If you are interested in submitting a poster or a paper for consideration to present at the conference:
Please prepare and submit a 150-250 word abstract of your poster or a 350-450 word abstract of your oral presentation (file format .doc / docx, .odt, .txt)
The abstract should be preferably written in English. Nevertheless, French language will be also considered.
Your proposal will be reviewed by members of the ICSP Scientific Committee, and notifications of acceptance will be made by May 15, 2018.
How to submit
Thank you very much for your interest in submitting an abstract / a paper to apply for participating with a presentation at the International Conference on Shared Parenting, being held in Strasbourg, France, 22 - 23 November 2018.
To submit a paper you need to perform the following steps:
- Register to the conference website, if you do not yet have an account
- Login to the conference website
- Then click on ‘Submit a Paper’
- Fill out the form and upload the abstract
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Contact for organisational and technical questions
contact and further questions
Conference Office:
Organisation Committee:
Ioannis Paparigopoulos
Member of the ICSP Board
Chair of the Organisation Committee
Greece, mobile
General Secretariat:
Angela Hoffmeyer
Secretary General of the ICSP
Germany, mobile
Torsten Fabricius
Chief Technical Administrator
Assistant of the Secretary General
On-Site Conferene Management
Germany, mobile
Contact for paper and lecture related questions
scientific committee
Scientific Committee:
Chairs of the Scientific Committee:
Dr. Chantal Clot-Grangeat
Vice-President of the ICSP
Co-Chair of the Scientific Committee 2018
Prof Dr. Michel Grangeat
Member of the ICSP
Co-Chair of the Scientific Committee 2018
International Conference on Shared Parenting 2017
Conclusions of the Third International Conference on Shared Parenting
Co-Parenting After Divorce
The Third International Conference on Shared Parenting recently concluded, co-sponsored by the National Parents Organization and the International Council on Shared Parenting. The theme of this year’s conference related to the concept of the “best interests of the child” in divorce, the source of protracted debate within both the academic and professional practice communities. Many years ago, Hilary Rodham, then a family lawyer, declared that children’s best interests are nothing more than an empty vessel into which adult prejudices are poured. Since that time, however, family scholars have taken a much more child-focused approach to the study of children’s needs and interests, a “best interests of the child from the perspective of the child” perspective.
Thus the question, “Have we reached a watershed in understanding the best interests of children in situations of family separation and divorce?,” was placed front and center during conference deliberations. Specifically, it was asked, have we reached the point where we can conclude with some confidence that the best interests of children are commensurate with a legal presumption of shared parenting responsibility for children and families, rebuttable in cases of family violence and child abuse? Are we at a point where the scientific evidence points in the direction of mandating that shared parenting becomes the foundation of family law?
Shared Parenting Research: A Watershed in Understanding Children’s Best Interest?
The Scientific Committee for the National Parents Organization and the International Council on Shared Parenting is pleased to announce the preliminary scientific program for the International Conference on Shared Parenting (NPO-ICSP 2017).
Critical Review: New approaches to divorce with children: A problem of public health
This broad review elaborates on the most up-to-date knowledge on biochemical and psychobiological aspects of parental loss and other childhood adversities during divorce involving minor children. So far, divorce involving minor children was unfortunately considered by authorities only as a purely juridical problem, and this approach has often allowed a completely different approach according to the Courts. Now, scientific research,also making use of animal models, is demonstrating the biological basis of the problem and the ndisputable consequences on the well-being and health of children. The innovative conclusion of this review is that this argument (because of its frequency and gravity) is primarily a question of public health and that it is necessary to further harmonize practices in this area.
Dissemination of Shared Parenting in Europe within the Perspective of Resolution 2079 (2015) of the Council of Europe
On June 22, 2016, the International Council on Shared Parenting (ICSP) held an informal meeting - endorsed by Mrs Françoise Hetto-Gaasch, the initiator of Resolution 2079 (2015) - with members of the Parlamentary Assembly at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, on the subject
The meeting language was French.
International Conference on Shared Parenting 2015
Best Practices for Legislative and Psycho-Social Implementation
Press Information
Best Practices for Legislative and Psycho-Social Implementation of Shared Parenting
The International Council on Shared Parenting (ICSP) endorses the Council of Europe Resolution 2079 on equality and shared parental responsibility
Bonn, Germany, 23 December 2015.
The International Conference on Shared Parenting on 9-11 December 2015 in Bonn, Germany, with about 120 participants from 20 countries and 3 continents gathered scholars, practitioners and representatives of civil society interested in the emerging paradigm of shared parenting in families in which parents are living apart. The conference was jointly chaired by the President of the International Council on Shared Parenting (ICSP), Prof. Edward Kruk, Canada, and Prof. Dr. jur. Hildegund Sünderhauf, Lutheran University Nuremberg, Germany.
According to Prof. Edward Kruk, this second International Conference on Shared Parenting constituted a significant advance from the first ICSP conference a year ago. “Whereas the first conference focused on bridging the gap between empirical evidence and socio-legal practice, the second conference moved toward the implementation of shared parenting in both law and mental health practice. We are witnessing a major paradigm shift globally in the acceptance of shared parenting as necessary to ensuring that the best interests of children are addressed, and the time has come for us to take responsibility to act and implement shared parenting on a broader global scale.”
Prof. Hildegund Sünderhauf, Chair of the Scientific Committee of ICSP underlined that “the conference has clearly shown the tremendous amount of positive scientific results towards shared parenting. There is clear evidence that this family form can help children after separation and divorce of their parents in many cases.”
Dr. Chantal Clot-Grangeat, Clinical Psychologist and Vice-President of ICSP confirmed: “Family professionals should adapt the evidence of scientific research into their daily work with families in the context of separation, providing the chance of deescalating family disputes at an early stage.”
Oliver Hunziker, Vice-President of ICSP and representative of civil society, stated that “based on this evidence and the recent Resolution 2079 of the Council of Europe on equality and shared parental responsibility, presented at the conference by the initiator of the resolution, Françoise Hetto-Gaasch, politicians from all countries should now take action and change their laws accordingly.”
The follow-up International Conference on Shared Parenting is tentatively scheduled for 2017 in Boston, USA.
The International Conference on Shared Parenting 2015 was supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), a major German research funding organization,
and the Lutheran University Nuremberg.
Contact:
Angela Hoffmeyer
Secretary General
International Council on Shared Parenting (ICSP)
Phone: +49-170-800 46 15
E-mail: angela.hoffmeyer@twohomes.org
Website: www.twohomes.org
Annex
Conference Conclusions
1. As shared parenting has been recognized by the research community, as well as by legal and mental health practitioners, as a viable post-separation parenting arrangement that is optimal to child development and well-being, there is consensus that both the legal and psycho-social implementation of shared parenting as a presumption should proceed without delay, with the full sanction and support of professional bodies and associations.
2. As shared parenting encompasses both shared parental authority (decision-making) and shared parental responsibility for the day-to-day upbringing and welfare of children, between fathers and mothers, in keeping with children’s age and stage of development, there is consensus that legal implementation of shared parenting, including both the assumption of shared responsibilities and presumption of shared rights in regard to the parenting of children by fathers and mothers who are living together or apart, be enshrined in law.
3. As shared parenting is recognized as the most effective means for both reducing high parental conflict and preventing first-time family violence, there is consensus that legal and psycho-social implementation of shared parenting as a presumption should proceed with the goal of reducing parental conflict after separation. There is further consensus that legal and psycho-social implementation of shared parenting as a presumption be encouraged for high conflict families in particular, with the full sanction and support of professional bodies and associations.
4. There is a consensus that the above apply to the majority of children and families, but not to situations of substantiated family violence and child abuse. In such cases, a rebuttable presumption against shared parenting should apply. There is a consensus that the priority for further research on shared parenting should focus on the intersection of child custody and family violence, including child maltreatment in all its forms. There is further consensus that a priority for both the scientific and the legal and mental health practice communities should be the development of legal statutes and practice guidelines with respect to safety measures in cases of established family violence.
5. As there is mounting evidence that shared parenting can both prevent parental alienation, and is a potential remedy for existing situations of parental alienation in separated families, there is consensus that further exploration of the viability of a legal presumption of shared parenting in situations of parental alienation be undertaken.
6. As therapeutic and mediation services are vital to the success of shared parenting arrangements, there is a consensus that an accessible network of family relationship centres that offer family mediation and other relevant support services are critical components of any effort toward legislative and psychosocial implementation of shared parenting. We call on governments to establish such networks as a necessary adjunct to the establishment of a legal presumption of shared parenting.
7. We call on member states to fully adopt the Council of Europe Resolution of 2 October 2015. In particular, we call on member states to adopt the following provisions:
5.5. Introduce into their laws the principle of shared residence following a separation.
5.9. Encourage and develop mediation within the framework of judicial proceedings in family cases involving children.
International Conference on Shared Parenting 2015 / Press Information 20151223 (pdf)
International Conference on Shared Parenting 2014
Press Information
Bridging the Gap between Empirical Evidence and Socio-Legal Practice
Interdisciplinary Approaches to the Needs and Rights of Children whose Parents are Living Apart
Bonn, Germany, 28 July 2014.
The International Conference on Shared Parenting on 9-11 July 2014 in Bonn, Germany under the theme “Bridging the Gap between Empirical Evidence and Socio-Legal Practice” was the first international and interdisciplinary gathering of scholars, practitioners and NGO representatives interested in the emerging paradigm of shared parenting in families in which parents are living apart. The conference was jointly chaired by the President of the International Council on Shared Parenting (ICSP), Prof. Edward Kruk, Canada, and Prof. Dr. jur. Hildegund Sünderhauf, Lutheran University Nuremberg, Germany.
A wide range of topics as well as perspectives on shared parenting were discussed and debated, leading to six major items. “Shared parenting — being defined as encompassing both shared parental authority and shared parental responsibility with a minimum of one-third time with each parent, including weekday time — is a viable post-divorce parenting arrangement for the majority of children of divorce, and in their best interests. The above apply to the majority of children and families, including conflict families, but not to situations of substantiated family violence and child abuse”, Prof. Sünderhauf stated. “Thus national family law should at least include the possibility to give shared parenting orders, even if one parent opposes it.” “Nevertheless, an accessible network of family relationship centres that offer family mediation and other relevant support services are critical in the establishment of a legal presumption of shared parenting, and vital to the success of shared parenting arrangements”, Prof. Kruk underlined.
The Conference Conclusions are available on the conference website:
http://twohomes.org/conferenceconclusions_2014
The International Council on Shared Parenting (ICSP) will offer conferences on an annual basis. The follow-up International Conference on Shared Parenting is scheduled for 28-30 May 2015 in Bonn, Germany.
The International Conference on Shared Parenting 2014 was supported by the German Federal Ministry of Family (Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend - BMFSFJ), by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), a major German research funding organization, by the Lutheran University Nuremberg, by the City of Bonn and Bonn Rhein Sieg Touristik GmbH, as well as by Joe Sorge, Dr. Ned Holstein and the National Parents Organization (USA).
Contact:
Angela Hoffmeyer
Secretary General
International Council on Shared Parenting (ICSP)
Phone: +49-170-800 46 15
E-mail: angela.hoffmeyer@twohomes.org
Website: www.twohomes.org
International Conference On Shared Parenting 2014 Press Information 20140728
Press Information
First International Shared Parenting Organization Established to Develop Evidence-Based Approaches to Needs and Rights of Children
International Conference on Shared Parenting 2014 to take place in Bonn on 9-11 July 2014
Bonn, Germany, 27 February 2014.
Responding to the alarming increase in psycho-social and developmental problems among children whose parents are living apart, 26 leading research scientists, family professionals and representatives of civil society from 11 countries gathered in Bonn, Germany, on 21-23 February 2014 to found a new international organization focused on the feasibility of shared parenting as a viable and beneficial solution for children.
The new association will be known as the International Council on Shared Parenting (ICSP). Shared parenting means equivalent, alternating care of children by their separated parents. The purpose of the association is first, the dissemination and advancement of scientific knowledge on the needs and rights (“best interests”) of children whose parents are living apart, and second, to formulate evidence-based recommendations about the legal, judicial and practical implementation of shared parenting.
Vice-President Dr. Chantal Clot-Grangeat, Chambéry (France), stated, “Our aim is to find solutions for reducing the problems of children known to arise from family breakdown, such as diminished self-esteem, depression, and possible parental alienation, as well as educational failure, substance abuse, and trouble with the law.”
The first major initiative of the ICSP will be the International Conference on Shared Parenting 2014 at the “Wissenschaftszentrum Bonn” on 9-11 July 2014. The interdisciplinary conference under the theme “Bridging the Gap between Empirical Evidence and Socio-Legal Practice” will draw delegates from across the world. To facilitate an in-depth international exchange, simultaneous translation will be provided in English, French and German.
Contact:
Angela Hoffmeyer
Secretary General
International Council on Shared Parenting (ICSP)
Phone: +49-170-800 46 15
E-mail: angela.hoffmeyer@twohomes.org
Website: www.twohomes.org
Press Information International Council On Shared Parenting (pdf)
Shared Parenting Momentum Grows in Europe
The movement for shared parenting continues to grow in western democracies. In addition to support for shared parenting from the Roman Catholic Church, and the Resolution favoring shared parenting passed by the Council of Europe, now comes news of three recent European meetings.
Critical Review: New approaches to divorce with children: A problem of public health
This broad review elaborates on the most up-to-date knowledge on biochemical and psychobiological aspects of parental loss and other childhood adversities during divorce involving minor children. So far, divorce involving minor children was unfortunately considered by authorities only as a purely juridical problem, and this approach has often allowed a completely different approach according to the Courts. Now, scientific research,also making use of animal models, is demonstrating the biological basis of the problem and the ndisputable consequences on the well-being and health of children. The innovative conclusion of this review is that this argument (because of its frequency and gravity) is primarily a question of public health and that it is necessary to further harmonize practices in this area.
Family Law Reform Conference Gathers Leading Researchers and Practitioners
With his usual flair for presenting complex data in a form all can grasp and understand, Joe Sorge quickly made the case for how home and work life in the United States have changed dramatically yet our family laws and our family law courts and child support guidelines have remained stuck in the past. Modern family roles and structures have evolved, yet the laws have not.
A highlight of the conference was Malin Bergstrom, PhD, a developmental psychologist with the Division of Reproductive Health at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. Bergstrom and her colleagues have completed a study of the well-being of every (176,000) 12-15-year-old child in Sweden in order to ascertain the effects of family structure on the children. Children in intact families perform better on a wide variety of measures of physical health, mental health, and educational outcomes than do the children of divorce. Children of divorce whose parents share their care equally do better on all those measures than do the children of single parents.
The other striking piece of her presentation was that Bergstrom stated that the legal reform came first; followed by social change. Obviously, this confirms National Parents Organization’s work and strategy.
What ‘New’ Studies Say Is Best For Children Of Fractured Homes
What is the best custody arrangement for children after divorce? Most of us outside of family lawyers and courts don’t think about that question until we are faced with it. And then adults tend to choose administrative stability, figuring the kids are as exhausted and spent as themselves. Children of divorce face such an upheaval that it makes sense to adults that the children need time to rest and recover, and so we prioritize routine.
Lithuanian International Conference on “Equally shared parenting and residence after divorce – children’s psychological stability. Legal and psychological aspects.”
On October 4th, 2013 the conference on “Equally shared parenting and residence after divorce – children’s psychological stability. Legal and psychological aspects.” was organised at the Lithuanian Parliament Building” in Vilnius by:
1. Mrs Rimantė Šalaševičiūtė, chairmen of the Child Welfare Group of the Lithuanian Parliament;
2. Mr. Kestutis Griciunas, President of the Lithuanian Association Against Parental Alienation (APTA);
3. Mrs. Birutė van der Weg – Bražiūnienė, founder of the Lithuanian Association Against Parental Alienation (APTA), Netherlands.
The conference has resulted in the establishment of a Lithuanian taskforce preparing proposals for the reform of family law in Lithuania.
National Parents Organization Helps Found International Shared Parenting Organization
Last July, National Parents Organization agreed to serve as a founding member of “Two Homes: The International Platform on Shared Parenting.” This is an umbrella organization with representatives from fourteen countries in Europe and North America. Of these, National Parents Organization may be the only component group with a major grassroots presence. The other organizations consist primarily of child development experts, social scientists, psychologists and lawyers who wish to promote better lives for children through shared parenting after separation or divorce of the parents. Our Founder and Chairman of the Board, Ned Holstein, M.D., M.S., was asked to serve on the Scientific Committee of the new umbrella organization.