The Centre for Separated Families
PRESS RELEASE
15.10.2008 – For immediate release
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Children who come from separated families where there is conflict are less likely to want children of their own according to a survey.
The true emotional cost of parental separation emerged in a report which revealed children's' scars linger long after the event and can affect their school performance.
It also emerged that kids who see their parents breakup are more likely not to want children of their own in the future.
Researchers also found children whose mum and dad split are more likely to struggle to find true happiness in their own lives.
Karen Woodall, Director for The Centre for Separated Families, which commissioned the ‘Happiness, hopes and wellbeing’ study of 1,000 children under the age of 15 said:
'We recognise that there are many situations where one parent is left alone to provide everything that children need, however, we also recognise that the children who do best after family
separation are those that have a strong and positive input from both parents.
‘Both parents need to identify their children’s needs and work out the best way to contribute to providing for them’
The study was carried out to coincide with the Best Practice in Supporting Separated
Families Conference which is being held in London with contributions from the new Child Maintenance Commissioner Stephen Geraghty, Anthony Douglas, CEO of Cafcass and the Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith
MP.
It asked children from separated and settled households to gauge their personal happiness on a scale of one to ten.
Those from families where mum and dad now live apart scored significantly lower than those from settled homes.
And only three quarters said their relationships with their parents were good while 93 per cent of children whose parents were still together said the same thing.
It also emerged that one in four kids from a separated family don't consider themselves to be happy compared to only one in ten from a stable home.
Ms Woodall continued:
’The absence of conflict is key to children’s wellbeing and we know that parents need help to resolve difficult issues and build new cooperative relationships.’
The Best Practice in Support to Separated Families Conference brings together experts to find new ways to support separated families to bring about better outcomes for children.
Seminars will consider all the important issues, child maintenance, parenting arrangements and how to help children to enjoy relationships with both of their parents.
Stephen Geraghty, the Commissioner for Child Maintenance said:
‘The Commission has been tasked with offering information and support on the different child maintenance options available to parents. This conference will allow us to talk about the work of the
Commission and listen to key stakeholders working in the field of family separation.’
Anthony Douglas, Chief Executive of Cafcass said:
‘Services like therapeutic mediation, child counselling, family group conferencing and parenting information classes, can help parents and children to move on together - rather than parents
moving on and children left emotionally stranded.’
The Centre for Separated Families helps parents to build cooperative relationships so that they can help their children to adjust to the change.
Ms Woodall concluded:
‘It is a sad fact that children are affected in many different ways when their parents decide to separate. We want to make things easier for children and easier for parents too.’
‘We know that children wish their parents would stay together and we also know that for many parents that just isn't possible. But by helping parents to understand how their children feel
we can help them to stop fighting and start talking again which is crucial if children are going to adapt well.’
The study also revealed that 14 per cent of kids wanted their parents to live together even if they didn’t get on that well.
ENDS
The Centre for Separated Families is a national charity working with and on behalf of families experiencing divorce and separation.
The Centre offers information, support and advice to mothers and fathers, whatever their parenting status, and has a range of innovative education programmes to support cooperative
parenting.
The Centre for Separated Families works with Government and other agencies to help deliver best practice in services delivered to separated families.
The Centre for Separated Families has worked closely with the Department for Work and Pensions on its new Child Maintenance Options service.
The Centre has a research programme and aims to inform and influence public policy through this and its direct work with families.
Karen Woodall is the co-author of Putting Children First: a handbook for separated parents, published by Piatkus.
Further information: Nick Woodall 07771 854 792
Child Maintenance Commission contact: [email protected]
Cafcass contact:
[email protected]
Conference website: http://www.puttingchildrenfirst.info/