Conference shines light on plight of battered mothers seeking custody

Conference shines light on plight of battered mothers seeking custody - The Washington Post:

THE BATTLES over child custody that unfold in courtrooms across the United States don’t get much attention. If a celebrity is involved, there might be headlines, but publicity is generally shunned out of the not-unreasonable urge to protect the privacy of children. Unfortunately, though, that has tended to shroud problems in how these critical decisions are made. That’s why a conference focusing attention this week on systemic issues in family court is so important.

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Poor practices by social workers 'leaving children at serious risk'

Poor practices by social workers 'leaving children at serious risk' - Independent.ie:

CHILDREN have been left at serious risk of harm due to failures by social services in the south-east to properly investigate possible cases of abuse and neglect.

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Law Makes Adoption of Foster Kids Easier

Law Makes Adoption of Foster Kids Easier:

Montgomery, Ala.

Adoptions involving foster children will be streamlined in Alabama under a new law Gov. Robert Bentley has signed.

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How Could You? Hall of Shame-Canada

How Could You? Hall of Shame-Canada- Greg Simard | REFORM Talk:

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

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Grandma, 85, given parenting rights in case that highlights growing trend in 'grey-sitters'

Grandma, 85, given parenting rights in case that highlights growing trend in 'grey-sitters' | Herald Sun:

AN 85-year-old woman has been granted parenting rights over her 
granddaughter as courts take a tougher stand over denied access.

With a rising number of so-called "grey-sitters" left raising grandchildren, the Full Court of the Family Court of Australia has reaffirmed the notion of "parents and non-parents" having the same legal rights to children." 

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Parent-Child Reunification After Alienation

Parent-Child Reunification After Alienation | Psychology Today:

Children and parents who have undergone forced separation from each other in the absence of abuse, including cases of parental alienation, are highly subject to post-traumatic stress, and reunification efforts in these cases should proceed carefully and with sensitivity. Alienated children seem to have a secret wish for someone to call their bluff, compelling them to reconnect with the parent they claim to hate; despite strongly held positions of alignment, alienated children want nothing more than to be given the permission and freedom to love and be loved by both parents (Baker, 2010). Yet the influence of the alienating parent is too strong to withstand, and children’s fear that the alienating parent may fall apart or withdraw his or her love holds them back. Research has shown that many alienated children can transform quickly from refusing or staunchly resisting the rejected parent to being able to show and receive love from that parent, followed by an equally swift shift back to the alienated position when back in the orbit of the alienating parent (Fidler and Bala, 2010). Thus while children’s stated wishes regarding parental residence and contact in contested custody after divorce should be considered, they should not be determinative in cases of parental alienation.

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MSPs warned over easy assumptions about drug users

MSPs warned over easy assumptions about drug users - Health - Scotsman.com:

MSPs have been warned against making “easy assumptions” about the lifestyle of drug and alcohol users when issuing guidance on taking children into care.

Not all parents who misuse substances experience difficulties with family life, child care or parenting capacity, according to Commissioner for Children and Young People Tam Baillie.

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