Children, Courts, and Custody: Interdisciplinary Models for Divorcing Families

The level of conflict between parents is the key factor in how children overcome the challenges divorce creates. This book provides an overview of relevant trends in law, conflict resolution and mental health and the empirical research that supports them. It analyzes the principal challenges facing the child custody court of today which entails assuring the safety of parents and children from violence and providing access to justice and services. Concluding with an agenda for reform of the child custody court, the volume advocates interdisciplinary collaboration to help courts meet the needs of twenty-first century parents and children.

Divorce puts the emotional, economic and educational well being of thousands of children at risk every year. The level of conflict between parents is the key factor in how well children overcome the challenges divorce creates. This book provides an overview of these trends in law, conflict resolution and mental health and the empirical research that supports them. It analyzes the principle challenges facing the child custody court of today: assuring the safety of parents and children from violence and providing access to justice and services. The book concludes with an agenda for reform of the child custody court based on interdisciplinary collaboration that can help courts meet the needs of twenty-first century parents and children.