1. Working with families in particular circumstances
Divorce
Parents of Children with Special Needs
Teen Mothers
Families when Abuse Occurs

2. America and Divorce Discussion
What are some reasons you personally might consider a divorce?
Is falling out of love an appropriate reason for wanting a divorce?
What were you taught growing up about the acceptability of divorce?
YouTube - Divorce affects children!

3. Marriage and Divorce (2003)
60 million married couples in US
40-50% of all marriages end in divorce
Annually 2,187,000 marriages
7.5 marriages per 1000 total population
1.25 million divorces annually
3.8 divorces per 1000 total population

4. Factors Affecting Divorce
Shift from agricultural to industrial society
Social integration
Individualistic American culture
Demographic factors:
Employment status
Income
Educational level
Ethnicity
Religion.

5. Stations of Divorce
(Bohannan) As people divorce, they undergo these “divorces” simultaneously.
Emotional
Legal
Economic
Co-parental
Community
Psychic

6. Factors Affecting Divorce
Life Course Factors:
Intergenerational transmission (Amato, 1996)
Parental divorce increases chance of child’s marriage ending within first five years by as much as 70%.
Increased risk of divorce is especially great if both spouses experienced parental divorce.
Effects are strongest when parents divorce early in child’s life (age 12 or younger)

7. Consequences of Divorce
Economic consequences
Impoverishment of women
Changed female employment patterns
Fewer financial resources for family – often leading to moves to cramped apartments and less desirable neighborhoods

8. Consequences of Divorce
Non-economic consequences include:
More psychological distress, lower levels of happiness, more social isolation, more health problems.
Divorced people are three times as likely to commit suicide.
Some divorced people experience higher levels of personal growth and greater autonomy.

9. Children and Divorce
Children in happy two-parent families are the best adjusted
Children in conflict-ridden two-parent families are the worst adjusted.
Children from single-parent families are in the middle.
Kids' Turn

10. Children and Divorce Children of divorce suffer: Reduction of income
Weakening ties with fathers
Deterioration in family life
Loss of “residential stability”
Problems in school
Lower self-esteem
Increased likelihood of drug abuse
Greater likelihood of becoming teen parents

11. Children and Divorce Three-Stage Process of divorce for children:
Initial stage—Turmoil is greatest.
Transition stage—Adjusting to new family.
Restabilization stage—Integration of changes.

12. Children and Divorce Developmental tasks of divorce:
Acknowledging parental separation
Disengaging from parental conflicts
Resolving loss
Resolving anger and self-blame
Accepting the finality of divorce
Achieving realistic expectations for later relationship success

13. Factors Contributing to Children’s Adjustment
Mental health of parents
Quality of parent-child relationships
Degree of anger vs cooperation
Age, temperament, and flexibility of child
Extent to which parents are willing to have the same routines for the children in each home

14. Children and Divorce Adjustment to divorce:
Open discussion prior to divorce
Involvement with noncustodial parent
Lack of hostility between divorced parents
Good psychological adjustment to divorce by custodial parent
Stable living situation and good parenting skills.
Continued involvement with the children by both parents

15. Children and Divorce Adjustment to divorce:
Not all children suffer negative consequences.
90% of children with divorced parents achieve same level well-being as children of continuously married parents (Amato, 2003).
20-25% children from divorced families have problems (Wallerstein)

16. Child Custody Generally based on one of 2 standards:
The best interests of the child
The least detrimental of the available alternatives.
The major types of custody are sole, joint, and split.

17. Children and Divorce
26% of children under the age of 18 live with a divorced parent.
39% of divorced women with children live in poverty
Civility among parents and assurance that both still love the children is helpful
Some need brief individual play therapy, others need family counseling

18. Behavior problems
Children in single-parent or remarried families do not do as well as those in non-divorced households
25-30% of single-parent and divorced households reported behavior problems, while only 10% of non-divorced households reported behavior problems with children.
20% of children in stepfamilies have behavior problems compared to 10% of children in non-divorced families.

19. Child Custody Sole custody Accounts for 85% of all U.S. divorce cases
Women traditionally have been responsible for child rearing
Many men do not feel competent

20. Child Custody Joint custody Accounts for 10% of cases.
Joint legal custody
Children live primarily with one parent
Both parents share in decisions regarding the children.
Joint physical custody
Requires parents to work out practical logistics
…as well as feelings about each other.

21. Child Custody Split custody Splits the children between the parents
Usually girls live with mother, boys with father

22. The effects of remarriage on children
Income is raised.
Another adult is there to help.
Behavior problems
Blending two families presents a new set of challenges

23. Blended family issues Loyalty is a problem
May feel guilty for bonding with a step parent
Children often act out, won’t even try to like a step parent.
Family must incorporate new parent’s style and rules.

24. The stabilization period
The stepparent moves toward the role of “intimate outsider”, which is somewhere between parent and trusted friend.
Stepparent role includes
Warmth toward and support of the stepchildren.
Little disciplining of the stepchildren.
Support for the biological parent.
Stepfathers in general tend to be less involved than biological fathers.

25. Stepmother and stepfather differences
Being a stepmother can be harder than being a stepfather.
In typical remarriage chains today, children live with mother and stepfather.
Typical stepmother must establish relationship during visits.
Stepfathers compete with non-custodial fathers who may not see children very often.
Often fill a vacuum left by departed biological father.
May hold to a lower standard than stepmothers.
Easier for children to accept two father figures than two mother figures.

26. How can teachers help? Maintain a structured environment
Encourage expression of feelings
Open up areas for discussion…
Help children release pent-up feelings
Encourage acceptance
Demonstrate respect for family uniqueness
Be aware of group reactions

27. Working with Parents Reassure parents Keep requests light
Be aware of legal agreements
Know available community resources

28. Working with Parents of Children with Special Needs
Individualized Educational Plans
Develop relationships based on mutual respect
Try to understand the increased stress in the lives of parents
Be hopefully realistic
Know available community resources

29. Working with Families when Abuse Occurs
Indicators of abuse
Physical
Sexual
Emotional
Neglect
Reporting abuse
Create an atmosphere of trust and healing
Refer families to support groups

30. Working with Adoptive Families
Include adoption in the curriculum
Talking to families
Talking to children
Offer resources