First International Conference on Shared Parenting

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National Parents Organization improves the lives of children and strengthens society by protecting every child's right to the love and care of both parents after separation or divorce. We seek better lives for children through family court reform that establishes equal rights and responsibilities for fathers and mothers.

Bridging the Gap between Empirical Evidence and Socio-Legal Practice Submitted by International Council on Shared Parenting The International Conference on Shared Parenting on 9-11, July 2014 in Bonn, Germany under the theme "Bridging the Gap between Empirical Evidence and Socio-Legal Practice" was the first international and interdisciplinary gathering of scholars, practitioners and NGO representatives interested in the emerging paradigm of shared parenting in families in which parents are living apart. The conference was jointly chaired by the President of the International Council on Shared Parenting (ICSP), Professor Edward Kruk, Canada, and Professor Dr. jur. Hildegund Sünderhauf, Lutheran University Nuremberg, Germany, and supported, among others, by the German Federal Ministry of Family (Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend/BMFSFJ). A wide range of topics as well as perspectives on shared parenting were discussed and debated, leading to 6 major theses. "First of all," Professor Kruk, stated, "shared parenting — being defined as encompassing both shared parental authority and shared parental responsibility — is a viable post-divorce parenting arrangement. Thus national family law should at least include the possibility to give shared parenting orders." Nevertheless, "an accessible network of family relationship centres that offer family mediation and other relevant support services are critical in the establishment of a legal presumption of shared parenting, and vital to the success of shared parenting arrangements," Professor Sünderhauf underlined. "The above apply to the majority of children and families, including conflict families, but not to situations of substantiated family violence and child abuse." The Preliminary Conference Conclusions are available on the conference website: The International Council on Shared Parenting (ICSP) will offer conferences on an annual basis. The follow-up International Conference on Shared Parenting is scheduled for 28-30 May 2015 in Bonn, Germany. Conference Conclusions: At the conclusion of our first International Conference on Shared Parenting the Scientific Committee has developed the following Consensus Statement: Keeping in mind that the main goal of our Council is to develop evidence-based approaches to the needs and rights of children whose parents are living apart, we established as the theme for our first conference, "Bridging the Gap between Empirical Evidence and Socio-Legal Practice". We drew around 100 delegates from 17 countries to our first conference, from the scientific, family profession and civil society sectors. This was the first such gathering of scholars, practitioners and NGO representatives interested in the emerging paradigm of shared parenting in families in which parents are living apart. A wide range of topics as well as perspectives on shared parenting were discussed and debated, and at the end of the conference we were challenged in regard to determining what sort of consensus emerged on a number of important issues that we discussed and debated. Read more... Share This Article: Contribute Like and follow us: Share Our Newsletter: First Annual Conference of the International Council on Shared Parenting Met July 9-11, 2014 in Bonn, Germany Ned Holstein National Parents Organization has actively supported the formation of a new professional society, the International Council on Shared Parenting (ICSP). ICSP is based in Germany, and brings together researchers, child development experts, attorneys and judges from many countries, especially from Europe. It recently successfully completed its First Annual International Conference on Shared Parenting, drawing participants from 22 countries. View Ned's comments by clicking here. Read more...

About Us Mission Vision National Parents Organization PO BOX 270760 Boston, Massachusetts 02127-0760 (617) 542-9300 www.NationalParentsOrganization.org Parents@NationalParents Organization.org Information Resources > Share Your Story: Members share stories of their children and families. > Advice: Our most frequently asked questions are posted with answers from experts. > Forms and Documents: Many forms and documents are common to many cases in your state or even across the United States. > Parent To Parent: Your opportunity to share with other parents and with extended family members supporting you and other parents. Establish an Affiliation in Your State National Parents Organization is working to build a strong affiliate in every state. What will it take to bring National Parents Organization to your state? Leadership. It takes a team of volunteers to organize in your state and to reach out to legislators, media, and other groups who will work with us to make shared parenting the norm. If you are ready, please contact Rita Fuerst Adams, National Executive Director. Together we can build an affiliate in your state.   Rolling Stone, New York Channel Danielle Schreiber, Trash Jason Patric July 17, 2014 by Robert Franklin, Esq. The anti-dad crowd is at it again. This time it’s Jason Patric who’s in their sights. Patric of course did the unforgiveable in their eyes; he won in court. So Rolling Stone Magazine dispatched a reporter to do a hatchet job on Patric (Rolling Stone, 7/15/14). That done, New York Magazine uncritically channeled its claims that, for the most part, were solely sourced to Patric’s ex, Gabrielle Schreiber (New York, 7/16/14). Gee, what could be more fair and balanced than that? Rolling Stone’s bias in the matter becomes clear just from Patric’s written response to their questions. Read more... Heather MacDonald: A Little Right, A Lot Wrong on the Problem of Fatherless Kids July 16, 2014 by Robert Franklin, Esq. Here’s a good, and not so good, piece by Heather MacDonald in the Wall Street Journal (Wall Street Journal, 7/8/14). It’s part of a series of short pieces by various luminaries under the general title “Ideas for Renewing American Prosperity.” MacDonald rightly argues we must “Encourage Two-Parent Families.” Here’s what she has to say:. Read more... Georgia Court: More Indigent Fathers not Entitled to Lawyers When Facing Child Support Jail July 14, 2014 by Robert Franklin, Esq. Two years ago in Turner v. Rogers, the United States Supreme Court ruled that indigent non-custodial parents who’ve failed to pay all they owe in child support do not have the right to a court-appointed lawyer to represent them. As I discussed here, that decision was based in part on Justice Breyer’s fantasies about the nature of child support enforcement hearings. Specifically, he imagined that, perhaps, judges in those hearings might assist indigent litigants in producing the type of evidence and arguments that might allow them to avoid jail as by proving they have no assets with which to pay. Read more... National Public Radio Gets It on Absent Dads July 13, 2014 by Robert Franklin, Esq. The news media get so much wrong about fathers, families and children, it’s always nice when they get it right as National Public Radio did here (NPR, 7/8/14). Now, there are certainly some things amiss with the article, but, on par, it’s a pretty fair piece of work. Read more... Scottish Law an Unprecedented Usurpation of Parental Authority July 11, 2014 by Robert Franklin, Esq. The government of Scotland has established a program of intervention into family life and parental decision-making that is unprecedented in Western culture. Here’s one article (Spiked, 6/25/14). The law, entitled the Children and Young People Act, goes into full effect in August, 2016, but has already done so in certain areas. It requires local governmental authorities to establish a “Named Person Service. Read more... Latest Domestic Violence Study Stands Gender Feminism on its Head July 10, 2014 by Robert Franklin, Esq.This past Monday I posted a piece about a new study of domestic violence out of the United Kingdom. There’s not a lot new in it, but it certainly corroborates what we already know — that women are as likely or more likely to hit their intimate partners as are men. But the study itself is considerably more than that. For one thing it gives some of the history of feminism’s attempt to make DV a gendered issue, the frank dishonesty of that attempt and its utter failure. Read more...   JOIN US & TAKE ACTION Volunteer to help NPO achieve our objectives in numerous legislative,legal and media campaigns by organizing at a local level, making change happen on the ground, in your State. Learn More   Volunteer Testimonial “I have seen three generations of disregard for the actual mental well-being of children by the state and selfish parents and hope that I can help make a difference for those out there that are forced to go through it.” Charles Schramm, Member, Ohio Affiliate   The opinions expressed herein are those of our guest authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Parents Organization or its Board of Directors.

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