Archive for the ‘Parenting Plans’ Category
Study Shows Value of Amicable Divorce on Child’s Academics and Social Skills
Friday, April 27th, 2012We previously have suggested in previous blog articles the value of an amicable divorce in minimizing the negative impact on children. However, a study published in the American Sociological Review quantifies the potential impact of divorce on children but also offers hope for parents that are able to navigate a fairly amicable divorce. The study reveals that children of divorce tend to struggle in math, social skills and a number of other areas, but also suggests that the impact may not be significant where divorces are relatively amicable.
The researcher considered data from a longitudinal study of children from the time they were in kindergarten to fifth grade. The study focused on children whose parents divorced between the first and third grade. The study specifically found that children whose parents divorced during this period were adversely impacted in the following areas:
- Lower math proficiency
- Difficulty maintaining friendships
- Decreased ability to express their feelings in constructive ways
- Less empathy toward others
- Challenges relating to children who are different
While it may come as little surprise that children of divorce face more challenges in interpersonal skills, the study also revealed a direct impact on academic performance. Interestingly, the study found only that divorce seemed to affect math performance but did not have a comparable impact on reading proficiency. The data indicated that children whose parents divorce were 12 percent less proficient in math. The researchers speculated that the disparity in results between the impact on math and reading skills might be tied to the cumulative nature of math. While math knowledge builds on prior foundational material, reading does not require a child to “catch up”. This explanation is also supported by the fact that children who are impacted do not close the gap in terms of lagging behind on math as time passes.
The study also found that pre-divorce conflict or animosity does not seem to have the same impact as an actual divorce. The indications that the children occurred after the actual divorce process had been initiated even where there was conflict at the pre-divorce stage. Predictably, divorces that were relatively amicable did not show the same adverse impact as those where the proceedings were fairly contentious.
While it can be extremely difficult to deal with the other parent following a divorce, this study shows that finding ways to resolve your differences amicably can have significant academic and socialization benefits for your children. The experienced Boca Raton child custody attorneys at Eric N. Klein and Associates are committed to helping our clients minimize any negative impact of divorce on their children. We offer a free initial no obligation consultation so contact us today at (561) 353-2800.
The Role of Parenting Plan Recommendations in Developing Florida Parenting Plans
Wednesday, May 4th, 2011If you file for dissolution of marriage (i.e. divorce) in Florida and have minor or dependent children, an important issue in your divorce will be developing a parenting plan. Parenting plans govern the relationship between parents and their minor children and define their respective rights, responsibilities and custodial time-share arrangements. All parenting plans in Florida include a time-sharing schedule, which outlines when the child will reside with each parent. The plan may also include arrangements on a wide range of issues involving the child’s education and health care as well as physical, social, and emotional wellbeing.
The parenting plan can either be developed by the parents or established by the court. A parenting plan developed by the parents must have the agreement of both parents and be approved by the court. If the court must develop a parenting plan, it will consider a wide variety of factors that affect the best interest of your child including those that impact your child’s physical, social and emotional wellbeing. The court establishes parenting plans if the parents cannot agree to a plan, or if the plan developed by the parents has been disapproved by the court. The parenting plan established by the court may be with or without the use of a court-ordered parenting plan recommendation.
A parenting plan recommendation is non-binding, and concerns one or more elements of a plan made by a court-appointed mental health practitioner or other professional designated under the Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure 12.363. When there are controversies in developing a parenting plan, such as time-sharing, parental responsibilities, and ultimate decision-making, the court may appoint a licensed mental health professional or other expert for the evaluation of your minor children. The mental health professional may either conduct an examination, evaluation, testing, interview of the minor child or conduct a social and home study investigation. You and your spouse may agree on the expert to be appointed, or the court will appoint an expert if you are unable to agree on who will perform the evaluation.
The purpose of social investigations and studies is to examine all pertinent details related to the minor children and their parents to provide the court with a written study containing recommendations for the court. The court may rely heavily on the recommendations of the court evaluator when implementing a parenting plan. Social investigations can be conducted by qualified staff of the court, a licensed child-placing agency, a psychologist, a clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist or mental health counselor.
The order for expert evaluation will include the issues that the expert must address and may require recordings of interviews of the minor child where such recordings shall be maintained in the expert’s file, and will include allocation of responsibility for payment. The parties involved in the custody dispute (usually the parents) are responsible for paying for the costs of the investigation and study. The court may also order the written report provided by the expert be evaluated by another expert should a party to the action file a motion for review.
It is also common that parents are asked to take a parenting course. The parenting course is designed to minimize the potential short-term or long-term detrimental economic, emotional, and educational effects of a child custody dispute on minor children. Parenting courses provide information regarding issues and legal procedures regarding time-sharing, child support, parents’ emotional experiences, problems related to divorce, family problems and emotional concerns of children, as well as the availability of community services and resources. These parenting courses are designed to educate, train, and assist divorcing parents regarding the consequences of divorce on both parents and children.
To maximize the benefits of the program, it is recommended that parents attend parenting courses in the early stages of their child custody dispute. These parenting courses will be approved by the Department of Children and Family Services and will last for a minimum of four hours. Other issues that are addressed in the parenting courses include spousal or child abuse or neglect, family relationships, family dynamics, financial responsibilities to children, and the legal aspects of deciding child-related issues between parents. If you are involved in a Florida divorce and have children, the process of going through a custody evaluation is a tricky process that is fraught with peril.
The Fort Lauderdale child custody attorneys at Eric N. Klein and Associates, P.A. can guide you through the process. Our Broward County divorce attorneys understand the importance of your relationship with your children and can assist you in developing a parenting plan that you believe is in the best interest of your children. We offer a free initial no obligation consultation so contact us today at (954) 580-8080.
