Researchers considered what arrangements promote safe and positive contact for children following parental separation, consistent with the safety and well being of women (and some men) where domestic violence is an issue.
Source: Rosemary Aris, Christine Harrison and Cathy Humphreys, Safety and Child Contact: An analysis of the role of child contact centres in the context of domestic violence and child welfare concerns, Research Report 10/2002, Lord Chancellor's Department (020 7210 8500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2002-Nov
There were 143,818 divorces granted in England and Wales in 2001, compared with 141,135 in 2000 an increase of 1.9 per cent. This was the first increase in the number of divorces since 1996.
Source: Divorces in 2001: England and Wales, Office for National Statistics (0845 601 3034)
Links: Summary statistics (pdf)
Date: 2002-Nov
In response to the problem of runaway children, an official report proposed giving the Department of Health national responsibility for runaways; local agreements between agencies to cover children running away from home and care; development funding to test out, evaluate and disseminate learning about working with the most vulnerable runaways; and an advisory group to develop monitoring and evaluation.
Source: Young Runaways, Social Exclusion Unit/Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (020 7944 5550)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2002-Nov
About 125,000 children are believed to be affected by the imprisonment of a family member, according to a report. More than 11,000 prisoners are held more than 100 miles away from home.
Source: Parenting Under Pressure, Young Voice (fax: 020 8979 2952)
Links: Summary | Community Care article
Date: 2002-Nov
A research briefing explored divorce in Scotland, setting it in its historical context, and examining recent trends.
Source: Fran Wasoff, Divorce in Scotland, Research Briefing 6, Centre for Research on Families and Relationships/University of Edinburgh (0131 651 1832)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-Oct
The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service published its first annual report.
Source: Putting Children and Young People First: Annual Report and Accounts 2001-02, The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/1, Digest 121, paragraph 6.6
Date: 2002-Oct
A study looked at how contact is experienced by children and parents following a divorce, and what factors make this work or not. It concluded that existing legal interventions have limited capacity to facilitate contact or reverse a downward spiral in contact relationships; and that resources should be redirected to improving parental relationships.
Source: Liz Trinder, Mary Beek and Jo Connolly, Making Contact: How parents and children negotiate and experience contact after divorce, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 431213)
Links: JRF Findings 092
Date: 2002-Oct
A report made recommendations for reforming the administration of courts dealing with family justice, with the aim of reducing delays.
Source: The Report of the Working Party to Consider Delay in Family Proceedings Courts Under the Children Act 1989, Lord Chancellor's Department (020 7210 8500)
Links: Report | Press release
Date: 2002-Sep
A paper argued that the decline of the two-parent, married-couple family has resulted in poverty, ill-health, educational failure, anti-social behaviour, isolation and social exclusion for thousands of women, men and children.
Source: Rebecca O'Neill, Experiments in Living - The Fatherless Family, Civitas (020 7401 5470)
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Sep
A new book examined the effects of imprisoning fathers on the emotional development of their children and on their family relationships.
Source: Gwyneth Boswell and Peter Wedge, Imprisoned Fathers and their Children, Jessica Kingsley Publishers (020 7833 2307)
Links: Summary
Date: 2002-Sep
Research by a housing charity showed divorce and relationship breakdown are contributing significantly to an 'underclass' of hidden homeless people.
Source: Press release 20.8.02, Crisis (020 7015 1800)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Aug
The government announced that it will develop a strategy for child contact centres (places designed to provide a temporary venue for supported contact in cases where the child's parents are unable to provide an alternative), together with improved information for families and children, among measures in response to the 'Making Contact Work' report (published in February 2002).
Source: Press release 6.8.02, Lord Chancellor s Department (020 7210 8500)
Links: Press release | Making Contact Work report
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/4, Digest 124, paragraph 5.3
Date: 2002-Aug
A study interviewed children in four primary schools with very different catchment areas to discover how they deal with family change and what kind of support they would find useful.
Source: Amanda Wade and Carol Smart, Facing Family Change: Children s Circumstances, Strategies and Resources, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 431213)
Links: JRF Findings 772
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123, paragraph 5.2
Date: 2002-Jul
The number of divorces granted in England and Wales fell by more than 2 per cent in 2000 to 141,135, compared with 144,556 in 1999.
Source: Marriage, Divorce and Adoption Statistics, 2000, Series FM2 28, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report (pdf) | ONS press release (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/1, Digest 121, paragraph 5.2
Date: 2002-Jul
A report presented the findings from a large scale investigation into runaway children in Scotland; while many ran away to escape abuse, many more experienced further abuse on the streets.
Source: Jim Wade, Missing Out: Young runaways in Scotland, Aberlour Child Care Trust (0141 226 3700)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123, paragraph 5.2
Date: 2002-Jul