NPO ISSUE | Child Well Being & Parental Separation

In 2018, 26% of American children
lived with only one parent.

 

Too often, under current laws and practices, parental separation results in children losing a full relationship with one of their parents. These policies lead to the sidelining—sometimes the complete removal—of one parent from the day-to-day child-rearing activities. And, too often, the overburdening of the other parent. In 2018, 26% of American children lived with only one parent.

ADVERSE EFFECTS

Children raised with only one parent actively involved in their lives are at higher risk for a wide variety of ills. Compared to children with two actively engaged parents:

  • They are more likely to experience drug abuse, be victims of abuse and neglect, have behavioral problems, commit crimes, and go to prison.

  • They are twice as likely to drop out of high school, and three times as likely to carry guns and deal drugs.

  • Boys raised without both parents involved in their lives are more likely to become involved in gang activities.

  • Girls raised without both parents involved are seven times as likely to become pregnant as a teenager.

MISCONCEPTIONS

These risks are often attributed to parental separation. But research shows that these risks are not the result of the parents’ separation but the loss of the significant involvement of both parents in the day-to-day parenting activities.

These risks to children can be minimized by ensuring that even when parents are living apart, both are fully involved in raising their children.

 HOW NPO IS ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE

Five states have now passed laws explicitly establishing a rebuttable presumption of equal shared parenting after divorce or separation

 

In order to provide children of separated parents with the benefits both parents can provide, NPO develops state chapters to educate legislators about the value of legislative changes to promote shared parenting and to educate judges and other divorce professionals about the importance of court rules and practices in promoting children’s well-being. Five states have now passed laws establishing a rebuttable presumption of shared parenting after divorce or separation. Our chapters are working to add to that list.

Our Work

  • NPO promotes high quality research on the positive effects of shared parenting and we conduct our own research into state statutes concerning shared parenting and the court rules on parenting time.

  • NPO educates the public and divorce professionals about the latest research concerning children’s well-being and the importance of shared parenting.

MISCONCEPTIONS

  • NPO has commissioned independent polling in 27 states showing overwhelming support for shared parenting, which our chapters have used to push for legislative changes.

  • NPO state chapters meet with legislators, conduct judicial candidate forums, arrange public events such as screenings of relevant documentary films, and more.