Archive for the ‘Family & Parenting’ Category
Parenting Time (Visitation)
(An excerpt from the Community Education booklet Family Law in Oregon)
The laws about child parenting time apply to both married and unmarried parents. For unmarried parents, paternity must be established before parenting time can be ordered.
(See Questions 50 through 63 of the booklet Family Law in Oregon for information about establishing paternity.)
Who gets parenting time rights?
The parent who does not have custody gets some sort of parenting time rights except in unusual situations. See “Can court-ordered parenting time rights be denied or restricted?” below. Grandparents and other people who have a substantial relationship with the child can also get visitation rights in some situations.
How are parenting time rights decided?
Parenting time rights are usually decided as part of a divorce or custody case. Parenting time rights are often part of restraining order booklet.*cases. See Questions 9, 10, and 12 of the Family Law in Oregon
If you can come to an agreement with the other parent on your own or through mediation, the judge will probably make your parenting plan part of the final order. See Question 70*. If you can’t come to an agreement, the judge will decide.
Do I need a court order if I have an agreement with the other parent about parenting time?
Usually, a court order is a good idea. If the parent with custody stops the visits, only a court order can be enforced.
How much parenting time does the parent without custody get?
Judges in many cases will give two weekends each month, some holidays, and approximately one month in the summer. But the amount of parenting time ordered depends on facts such as the age of the child and the distance between the parents’ homes. In restraining order cases, parenting time may be more limited.
For more information about parenting time, including “safety-focused parenting plans,” go to the OJD Family Law website** and click on “Parenting Plan Information.”
Can court-ordered parenting time rights be denied or restricted?
You must obey the court order that sets out the other parent’s court-ordered
Legal Aid Services of Oregon and Oregon Law Center Parenting Time (Visitation)
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parenting rights. If you deny parenting time, a judge might find you in contempt of court, which can have serious results. If you have immediate concerns about the safety of your child should parenting time take place, you can contact a lawyer for advice or make a report to the police or to the Department of Human Services’ Child Welfare Program. You also can ask the court to change the terms of the court ordered parenting time by filing court papers. See “How do I change the terms of parenting time?” below. It is helpful to have witnesses to the other parent’s behavior that you believe is putting your child in danger.
Do I have to make my children go on visits if they don’t want to?
Your children should go on visits that a court has ordered, even if they don’t want to go. You should try to find out why your child does not want the visits and you should try to work out the problems by talking to the other parent (if that is safe) or through counseling. In rare cases a judge might change the parenting plan. See “How do I change the terms of parenting time?” below.
Can I deny parenting time to the other parent if child support is not paid?
No. You must give the other parent the parenting time ordered in the divorce or custody judgment even if child support is not being paid.
Do I have to let my child visit the other parent out of state? If so, who pays travel expenses?
In most cases you must let the child visit out of state unless the order limits the visit to within the state. The divorce or custody judgment may state who pays travel expenses. If there is nothing in the court order about who pays travel costs, the person who asks for the visiting time may end up paying. You also may agree to share the costs.
What should I do if my child’s other parent denies parenting time that the court gave me?
You should first try to talk to the other parent to try to work out the problem if you can do this safely.
If that fails, you can file papers with the court complaining about the denial of parenting time. Every county has a special hearing procedure to handle parenting time problems. Go to the circuit court clerk’s office and ask for the parenting time enforcement forms. The court will schedule a hearing within 45 days. Some counties will require you to attend mediation first. (See Question 70* about mediation.) At the hearing, the judge can make an order to try to make sure the parent with custody gives you the parenting time the court ordered; one or more different types of court orders could be issued. You should not need a lawyer to file the papers or to go to the hearing with you.
Legal Aid Services of Oregon and Oregon Law Center Parenting Time (Visitation)
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If nothing else works, you should get a lawyer so you can ask the judge for an order holding the custodial parent in contempt of court. The rules and paperwork in these “contempt” cases are complicated. The judge can order penalties until the other parent allows visits.
You cannot stop making child support payments on your own just because parenting time was denied. But you can ask a judge to free you from paying child support until you get your visits. Judges do not like to stop child support payments, and they will only do so if there is proof that you have had very serious problems getting parenting time.
Can the parent with custody move out of state with the children? Can that parent then deny the other parent parenting time?
A parent with custody can move out of state with the children unless this is forbidden by a divorce or custody judgment or other court order. Most custody orders contain a provision requiring a parent who moves more than 60 miles away to give the other parent reasonable notice of the move and to send a copy of the notice to the court. A parent who moves has no right to deny parenting time to the other parent. You or the other parent may need to ask the court to change the parenting time order to take the move into account. See “How do I change the terms of parenting time?” below. A parent who is denied parenting time with children who live out of state may need to talk to a lawyer about the best way to enforce parenting time. Except in emergency situations, courts in other states must honor parenting time terms that were ordered by an Oregon court.
How do I change the terms of parenting time?
You may be able to reach an agreement in mediation which could then be approved by a judge as a court order. You may need to file court papers asking for a change in the original parenting time order. Self-help forms to modify (change) parenting time are available online at the OJD Family Law website**.
To get the parenting time terms changed, you need to prove to the judge that it is best for the children if the parenting time terms are changed. You do not need to show that there has been a change from the way things were at the time of the first order.
If you file papers to enforce the parenting time the court ordered (See “What should I do if my child’s other parent denies parenting time that the court gave me?” above), you can ask the judge at the hearing to change the parenting plan. At that hearing, the judge can change parenting time, but cannot change custody.
See the Family Law in Oregon booklet on www.oregonlawhelp.org*
** See the OJD family law website: http://courts.oregon.gov/OJD/OSCA/cpsd/courtimprovement/familylaw/index.page?
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Children’s books about divorce suggested by and information written by: www.kidsturn.org
Books for 5 to 6-year olds
Charlie Anderson, Abercrombie, Barbara. Two girls who live with their mother adopt a cat who comes to their house every night. When he doesn’t appear one night, they go looking for him and discover that he has two homes where he is loved and cared for, just like they do.
Taxi Taxi. Little Brown, Best, Cari. This story features a young Latina girl whose parents don’t live together. Every Sunday, her father comes to visit in his bright yellow taxi.
Dinosaur’s Divorce, Brown, Laurene Krasny and Brown, Marc
Little. A family of dinosaurs provides the vehicle for helping children understand divorce, life with a single parent, visitation, living in two homes, relating to friends, and parents’ dating and remarriage. The book has a section to help children identify their own feelings about divorce, and emphasizes what children can do to help themselves. A non-threatening and captivating book with superb illustrations. (Note: This book is read by the 7-9-year-olds during Session 2.)
Boundless Grace, Hoffman, Mary. Grace, a young African-American girl, lives with her mother and grandmother. But one day, she gets to go to Africa to visit her father.
It’s Not Your Fault, Koko Bear, Lansky, Vicki. Koko Bear learns what divorce means, how to deal with changes, how to recognize and deal with feelings, and that divorce is not Kokos fault. Each page includes tips for parents.
Tots Are Non-Divorceable, Bonkowski, Sara. A Workbook for Parents and Their Children (Birth to 5 years).
Let’s Talk About It: Divorce, Rogers, Fred. This book uses simple direct language in addressing the worries and questions of young children. Beautiful photographs depict culturally diverse families.
Daddy’s Roommate, Willhoite, Michael. This story’s narrator begins with his parents’ divorce and continues with the arrival of ‘someone new at Daddy’s house.’ The young boy discusses his father’s new living situation, in which the father and his gay roommate share eating, doing chores, playing, loving and living.
Good-Bye Daddy! , Weninger, Brigette. Tom hates it when Daddy leaves, until one night when his teddy bear whispers to him a story about a little bear who has problems just like his. Ages 4-8.
I Don’t Want to Talk About It, Ransom, Jeanie. A story comparing the child’s feelings to those of various animals; beautifully illustrated. Afterword for parents suggests how to help their children adjust. (Preview the book)
Mom and Dad Break Up, Prestine, Joan. This book is better for kids who remember their parents breaking up. Beautiful illustrations and descriptions of how kids feel.
Always My Dad, Wyeth, Sharon Dennis. A father whose visits are unpredictable but treasured reminds his family that, no matter where he is, he’s always dad. Beautiful illustrations of an African-American family. Ages 4-8.
Mom and Dad Don’t Live Together Anymore, Stinson, Kathy
Firefly Books, 1984. A simple text with effective illustrations portraying the feelings of a young girl.
When Daddy Comes to Visit, Burke, Maggie. A story in rhyme about the imaginary games a child plays when his father visits on Sundays.
Daddy, Caines, Jeannette. This is a warmly told story about the joys of a child’s visits with father and stepmother each Saturday. Although this book is not specifically about divorce, the loving and caring relationships portrayed in this African-American stepfamily offer the child reader a sense that he or she continues to be loved by his or her father after divorce and remarriage.
Books for 7 to 9-year olds
Priscilla Twice, Caseley, Judith.This book tells the story of a girl who feels split in half. It helps her understand in reassuring and even humorous ways that there is more than one kind of family.
Dear Mr. Henshaw, Cleary, Beverly. An award winning book about a 10-year old boy who writes letters to an unmet hero describing how he misses his father. Also available in Spanish. Ages 8-12.
Changing Families: A Guide for Kids and Grown-Ups, Fassler, David, Michele Lash, Sally Blakeslee Ives. This workbook is designed to be used by children and parents together. Through such activities as writing, drawing, and circling appropriate responses, children are able to express common thoughts and feelings about separation, divorce and stepfamilies.
My Life Turned Upside Down, But I Turned It Rightside Up, Field, Mary Blitzer and Hennie Share. This novel book tells the story of a young girl whose parents are divorced and how she handles the challenges of living in two places. On every other page she tells about a problem she had and when the reader flips the page, the next page tells how she solved it. Told with humor and sensitivity, this child’s feelings and concerns echo those of most children of divorce.
At Daddy’s on Saturday, Girard, Linda Walvoord. Fiction, 29 pp. This book is especially appropriate for children who have been told about separation plans in which they will live primarily with their mother and visit their father regularly. The book reassures children that they will have an ongoing relationship with the father after he moves out of the family home.
When Mom and Dad Separate, Hiegaard, Marge. In this book, children are encouraged to understand and express their feelings about separation and divorce through drawings. Space is reserved on each page for your child’s drawings.
Through the Eyes of Children: Healing Stories for Children of Divorce, Johnston, Janet, Karen Breunig, Carla Garrity and Mitchell Baris. This text contains 15 stories for school-age children dealing with various aspects of families being reorganized through the process of divorce. These stories help children cope through the use of allegory and the magical life of animals endowed with human emotions. Children find in these stories some answers to the issues they face in ways they can process and understand.
Megan’s Two Houses, Jong, Erica. Struggling with the many problems faced by children of divorced families, eight-year-old Megan tries to adjust to having two rooms, two pets, two sets of possessions, and two potential stepparents.
What Can I do? A Book For Children of Divorce, Lowry, Danielle. A short chapter book which follows Rosie from her parents’ announcement of their intent to divorce through her attempts to reunify them, and eventually to her finding help from her teacher and school counselor.
Why are We Getting a Divorce?, Mayle, Peter. In short, this book is packed with information that may be helpful for children. It puts divorce in perspective by addressing why people get married and have children, and how some parents come to the decision to divorce. It offers some ideas about the reorganizing family that are positive for children, such as having special time with each parent separately. It also encourages children to have some empathy for their parents, and to take responsibility for helping with household chores and caring for themselves. This book is an updated version of the author’s previous book, Divorce Can Happen to the Nicest People.
My Parents Still Love Me Even Though They’re Getting Divorced, Nightingale, Lois V., Ph.D. Fiction, 128 pp. This book presents the struggles of four children facing their own parents’ divorce and how they cope with the feelings and conflicts that inevitably arise. The enchanting fantasy story/workbook format helps children feel more comfortable dealing with a topic that many children find difficult to face, even when it is happening in their own family.
Don’t Make Me Smile, Park, Barbara. An eleven-year-old boy feels his life will never be the same again after his parents divorce; people try to cheer him up to no avail. He goes for professional counseling. Ages 8-12.
The Case of the Scary Divorce, Pickhardt, C.E. Fiction, 88pp. A ten-year old boy meets the mysterious ‘Professor Jackson Skye: Helping Investigator’ who enlists his aid in solving eight cases, each dealing with a problem he himself is experiencing during his parents’ divorce. Ages 9-12.
Mom’s House, Dad’s House for Kids: How to feel at home in one home or two, Isolina Ricci, Ph.D. This is an upbeat,comprehensive and wise roadmap on divorce, stepfamilies, and self-care alive with tips, examples, exercises, stories, ways to solve problems, confidence builders, and ‘words to try’. It also sensitively addresses issues like violence, absent parents, some legal aspects, dating, and parent conflict.
Divorced But Still My Parents, Thomas, Shirley, Ph.D. and Dorothy Rankin. Fiction, 90pp. This book is designed to be read by children and their parents together. Alternates between the story of Kristin the kitten whose parents decide to divorce and lessons for children. The interactive workbook is perfect for children because it keeps their attention while they learn more about divorce and themselves. This book educates children about the divorce process, identifies and validates their feelings, and leads them through the grief process in an organized and compassionate way.
Families, Tax, Meredith. Non-fiction, 32 pp. This book is short, sweet and to the point. There are all kinds of families, and ‘the main thing isn’t where they live or how big they are… it’s how much they love each other.’ This book normalizes differences between many types of families, and is recommended for children who feel stigmatized by coming from a divorced family. It is culturally sensitive and the illustrations are great.
Books for 10 to 14-year olds
It’s Not the End of the World, Blume, Judy. This excellent book is the story of how a girl and her siblings react to their parents’ separation. Karen is concerned about how the family will manage financially and who will take care of them. She tries to get her parents to reconcile. Her 6-year-old sister develops fears of the dark and of being left alone. Her 14-year-old brother runs away for a few days. Karen meets another girl whose parents are divorced, and learns some new ways of coping from her.
Teens Are Not Divorceable: A Workbook for Divorced Parents and Their Teens, Bonkowski, Sara. An inviting format for teens. The author uses a non-judgmental attitude which helps her to tackle difficult topics such as adult dating and abuse. Ages 12-18.
The Divorce Express, Danziger, Paula. A 14-year-old girl lives in a joint parenting situation. Problems arise when her mom plans to marry. After Phoebe’s parents divorce she has to travel every Sunday to see her dad. Just when she thinks she has a handle on it all, her mom makes a decision that will change everything again. Ages 12-15.
This is Me and My Two Families, Evans, Marla D. An awareness scrapbook/journal for kids living in two separate families.
The Kids’ Book of Divorce: By, For and About Kids, Fayerweather Street School. Twenty children, aged 11-14, discuss various aspects of divorce including custody arrangements, parents’ boyfriends and girlfriends, how they were first told abut their parents’ divorce and how divorce has changed them.
Billie’s World, Finkel, Kim Grossman. A young girl’s journey through her parent’s surprising divorce and the challenges of being a preteen. This novel is based on the author’s experiences as a child of divorce. For more information visit www.myjourneybooks.com.
My Parents Are Divorced, Too, Ford, Melanie, Annie and Steven. Three stepsiblings in a blended family discuss their experiences, and those of friends, with divorce and remarriage. These young authors write about their own experiences frankly and clearly, in a way that can be understood by young readers. More than just a recounting of experiences it is a guidebook for getting adjusted to a new life, and a means for opening new avenues of communicate at a difficult time in everyone’s life. Ages 8-12.
Will Dad Ever Move Back Home?, Hogen, Paula Z. This book presents many of the emotions experienced by children in divorcing families. It also includes realistic life changes. The child learns how to share his or her feelings and the parents learn how to respond in helpful ways. Ages 9-12.
How to Survive Your Parents’ Divorce, Kimball, Gayle, Ph.D. 268 young people share how they coped with their parents’ divorce. Includes comments from 20 counselors who work with youth whose parents are divorcing. Illustrations, bibliography and resource lists.
Bad, Badder, Baddest, Voigt, Cynthia. Bad Girls Mikey and Margalo are now in the sixth grade. The plot centers on Mikey’s parents impending divorce and her plotting, with Margalo’s help, to prevent it – mainly so their own lives will not be disrupted by a move. Ages 9-12.
The Hatchet, Paulsen, Gary. Fiction. (In Spanish: El Hacha.) After a plane crash, thirteen-year old Brian spends fifty-four days in the wilderness, learning to survive with only the aid of a hatchet given him by his mother, and learning also to survive his parents’ divorce.
Books for Adolescents
How it Feels When Parents Divorce, Krementz, Jill. A sensitive view of the experiences of children, mostly adolescents, who were interviewed and photographed.
How to Get It Together When Your Parents Are Coming Apart, Richards, Arlene & Irene Willis. A comprehensive ‘coping’ book that addresses those needing help with the stresses and confusion of parental divorce; includes an excellent section on legal aspects of divorce.
Solitary Blue, Voigt, Cynthia. A sophisticated sensitive story about a high school boy (Jeff) who resolves his feelings about his custodial father and absent mother. Jeff’s mother, who deserted the family years before, re-enters his life and challenges Jeff to overcome his pain about his family.
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Book suggestions from and information written by: www.kidsturn.org for divorcing parents
Books for Parents
Good Parenting Through Your Divorce by San Francisco author, Mary Ellen Hannibal. Based on the Kids’ Turn Program, this parenting guide serves as a useful tool to help parents before, during or after participation in a Kids’ Turn workshop. An essential, comprehensive guide for parents, Good Parenting Through Your Divorce helps parents and their children adjust to a new family arrangement. Chapters on childhood development, discipline, healthy communication, and moving forward make this a complete treatment of a common but challenging experience.
The Good Divorce: Keeping Your Family Together When Your Marriage Comes Apart, Ahrons, Constance R. Dr. Ahrons shows couples how they can move beyond the confusing, even terrifying early stages of breakup and learn to deal with the transition from a nuclear to a ‘binuclear’ family-one that spans two households and continues to meet the needs of children.
Children of Divorce: A Developmental Approach to Residence and Visitation, Baris, Mitchell and Carla Garrity.
Caught in the Middle: Protecting the Children of High Conflict Divorce, Garrity, Carla B. and Baris, Mitchell A. This book explains the nuances of how high-conflict divorce affects childrena and then provides concrete strategies for minimizing the damage.
Back in Control, Gregory Bodenhamer. This book was designed for parents who feel out of control with their kids. It teaches how to take back the control by using parental authority.
Parenting Teenagers, Denkmeyer and McKay. A guidebook for improving parent-teen relationships based on STEP/teen (Systematic Training for Effective Parenting of Teens). It is structured like a classroom textbook with summaries and tests at the end of each chapter.
Parents’ Handbook, Don Dinkmeyer Sr. Also based on STEP (Systematic Training for Effective Parenting of Teens), this handbook offers a democratic philosophy about child training. It follows the same format as the book described above.
How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk, Farber and Mazlish. A basic yet effective step-by-step book which teaches parents how to communicate with kids. Cartoons and practice exercises help make this book fun, interactive, and easy to get through.
The Parents’ Book About Divorce, Richard A. Gardner M.D. This book provides extensive coverage of the many problems that parents must attend to when dealing with children’s reactions to separation and divorce. It gives detailed descriptions of how problems may come about, and offers ways to prevent them.
Between Parent and Child, Ginott. Although written in the early 60′s, this practical guide for talking to and dealing with your children is still useful today. It is clearly written, gives specific advice, and offers basic principles for raising children.
Between Parent and Teenager, Ginott. The second Ginott book was written in the late 60′s and is just as valuable as the first. In this book, Ginott offers straightforward advice about conflicts, communication, and understanding between parents and young adults.
Interventions for Children of Divorce Hodges. This book is intended to provide mental health professionals, lawyers and judges with principles for working with children of divorce, but it is also a valuable reference for parents. It touches on a wide range of areas related to divorce, and focuses on the legal aspects that affect families.
The New Creative Divorce, Mel Kantzler and Patricia Kantzler. The author of this book has led divorce seminars and dealt with divorce himself. He talks about coping with the trauma of divorce and the different phases one goes through in the process. He gives life after divorce an optimistic look by framing it as a renewal of life as a single person.
The Lesbian & Gay Parenting Handbook: Creating and raising our families, Martin, April, Ph.D. Drawing on in-depth interviews with families and sxperts and her own personal and professional experience, the author walks the reader through the many issues involved in forming and nurturing a lesbian or gay family.
Moms’ House, Dad’s House, Isolina Ricci Ph.D. In this step-by-step guide, divorced parents learn how to establish two homes for their children. The book takes into account various custody and living arrangements, and is geared specifically towards parents who do not necessarily have equal amounts of time with the children.
What Every Child Would Like His Parents to Know, Lee Salk M.D. Dr. Salk was the director of pediatric psychology at Cornell Medical Center. From his experience working with emotionally disturbed people, he has seen the benefits of taking preventive measures while children are still young. The book is meant to help parents ease their children’s emotional problems.
Loving Your Child is Not Enough., Samalin, Nancy
Viking, 1987. Samalin is a mother and counselor who draws on her own experiences to teach other parents alternatives to yelling, threatening and criticizing their children. She provides numerous examples of caring, effective ways to discipline and communicate with children.
Second Chances: Men, Women and Children A Decade After Divorce, Wallerstein, J., and S. Blakeslee.
Surviving the Breakup, How Children and Parents Cope with Divorce, Wallerstein, J. and J. Kelley.
Sharing Parenthood After Divorce, Ciji Ware. The author gives her perspective as a mother who got divorced and encountered exasperating court procedures. She offers first-hand advice about ways to handle custody-sharing and thenew day-to-day adjustments that must be made in a divided household.
Co-Parenting, Miriam Galper. In this book, Miriam Galper presents co-parenting methods and anecdotes gathered from friends, family, professionals, and her own experience. She asserts her ideas about the benefits of parents sharing their children equally.
Divorce is the Pits, So Stop Digging, J. Muha and M. Vernon. This self-help program is designed to be used by divorcing parents on their own or as part of a group. Videotape and workbook also available from Looking Glass Productions; 116 Defense Highway, Ste. 210; Annapolis, MD, 21401.
A Guide for Single Parents, Kathryn Hallett.
Celestial Arts,1975. Hallett stresses the importance of moving on after the end of a marriage (as a result of divorce or the death of a spouse), and of starting a new life. The author examines the feelings associated with being single and the change that comes with this new identity.
How to Survive Your Adolescent’s Adolescence , Kolodny, Robert C. Nancy J. Kolodny, Thomas Bratter, Cheryl Deep. This handbook teaches parents how to take preventive measures to influence teens in a positive way and reduce the possibility of self-destructive behavior. It covers topics ranging from sex and drugs to eating problems and suicide.
Domestic Violence Resources
Book suggestion: Managing Your Divorce: A Guide for Battered Women. Provided by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, 1998. This book is available by calling, 800-527-3223 or by visiting the website: www.ncjfcj.org/content/blogcategory/256/302/
Information and resources related to domestic violence at: www.stopfamilyviolence.org
Find information specifically for managing your divorce after domestic violence: www.stopfamilyviolence.org/info/custody-abuse/case-prep/managing-your-divorce-a-guide-for-battered-women
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-SAFE
National Resource Center on Domestic Violence: 800-537-2238
Resource Center on Domestic Violence: Child Protection and Custody 800-527-3223
Family Violence Prevention Fund, www.fvpf.org
Oregon websites on marriage, divorce and family law
This is a website for the Oregon courts. It contains information on parent education, parenting plans and general information about family law in Oregon.
This site helps direct you to Oregon family law resources in your county as well as self-help forms.
This site provides information on Conciliation Services in Washington County, Oregon.
This site offers the Department of Child Support’s parenting plan video.
This site is provides by the Family Law Assistance Program which is for self-represented parties in family cases. It also offers information on a variety of issues like; custody, legal definitions of different types of custody, etc.
Sites for Step Families
Support and networking for step families by The American Step Family Institute.
This site by the National Stepfamily Resource Center offers information on resources, programs, services and information about laws and policy.
This site offers information and resources about step families and the challenges that they face. It is provided by Step Families of America.
This site has tips to create healthy step families provided by the Stepfamily Foundation.
Search on this site, “NF212” to read an article called “Supporting Stepfamilies.” Also search “NF223” to find an article called, “Supporting Stepfamilies: What Do Children Feel?”
This site is geared towards supporting the relationship and ideas for step-mothers and original mothers.
This site offers message boards and chat rooms for step families to support one another. This site is provided by Step family Association of America.
This website deals with co-parenting issues, divorce, family law, dealing with exes, marriage, etc. It also provides tips, advice, and much more.
Single Parent Sites
This site helps single dads and moms connect with other single parents and get connected to resources.
This offers information and resources about divorce, child custody and child support. It also offers an on-line community.
This site offers chat rooms, links, book recommendations, social-dating connections etc.
This is a social networking site for single parents to form community with other single parents.
This site is for parents that have never been married. It is provided by Children’s Rights Council.
Parenting Sites
This YMCA sponsored site offers a state-by-state resource guide of social services for families. Find out information about family activities too!
Find here: a federal resource guide of information on several family issues and concerns.
Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder website
Parents Leadership Institute: learn about available parenting education resources.
Find expert information here on how to help your child get the most out of their education and environment.
Find great articles and links to parenting information.
Support for Single and Divorced Mothers
www.freshstartafterdivorce.com
This site is run by the National Association of Divorce for Women and Children. You will find a great site that provides information on networking, connecting to mentors, articles, legal information and more.
This is an all-encompassing website for information on life after divorce.
Woman can find information here on ways to rebuild their lives after divorce, as well as information on emotional, legal, financial, etc. issues.
www.lovetoknow.com/Help_for_Divorced_Women
Find here: information on Military Law on Child Support, Green Card divorce, Child Support and other legal resources.
There are educational resources, financial guidance and career options listed here for single moms. Find some fun things too for kids.
Find information here on governmental loans and grants for single moms.
This is an on-line magazine, “Myria” for single mothers.
Support for Single and Divorced Dads
You will find advice on separation, legal information, articles, child support calculators and more on this website.
Find here: parent networks to connect with other parents, comprehensive parenting guide for moms and dads, articles on various divorce-related topics (updated regularly) and more on this website.
This is a forum for single dads that offers advice and support.
www.singledadfinancialhelp.com
Find here: links to financial resources (including loans and help from the government), medication help/information, information on purchasing low-cost groceries and much more.
The National Center for Fathering: “to inspire and equip men to be better fathers.”
Find fathering tips, cooking ideas, cleaning information, support groups, resources and info. on legal matters and more fatherhood resources.
Find here: tips on parenting for dads, health information, Question and Answer, discussion groups, research, policy and practice.
National Fathers’ Resource Center…find a site with comprehensive information for divorce-related information and tips for divorced dads.
Dads Are Parents Too…a site that encourages collaborative parenting with mothers and fathers.