The Centre for Separated Families
PRESS RELEASE
18.12.2008 – Embargo 00:01 18 December 2008
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Relationship Summit must offer real change
The Centre for Separated Families is delighted that today's Relationship Summit will highlight the need for better services for separating families but fears that the Government may shy away from
a radical shift in policy.
Karen Woodall, Director of the Centre for Separated Families said:
'It's fantastic that Ed Balls has called this summit, but there is a danger that it may be a lost opportunity. We need to see more than a continuation of the same old models with a few bolt-on
services for fathers.'
The Centre also fears that charities working with family separation, themselves, may not be ready to embrace the kinds of fundamental change that would bring about a real difference in the
experiences of children and parents going through divorce and separation.
Ms Woodall said:
'As long as there is the stereotype of the "lone parent", around whom all support is based, we will continue to fail children. It's only by understanding the real dynamics of family separation
that we can truly begin to make a difference for children.'
She went on:
'When we began working with both mothers and fathers, a decade ago, we were told that it wasn't either possible or even desirable. But the evidence has shown that it makes a real difference for
children. It's about understanding the different experiences of mothers and fathers and building holistic services to support both to continue discharging their parenting responsibilities.'
The Centre for Separated Families believes that the Department for Work and Pensions' new Child Maintenance Options service offers a glimpse of how wider support services could operate.
Ms Woodall said:
'Child Maintenance Options is providing the kind of impartial, non-judgemental, empathic support that helps parents to move away from rights based thinking and towards finding a more co-operative
way forward. It's not about "lone parents" or "absent fathers", it's about working with parents to look at the positive choices that they can make for their children. That's what brings about
lasting change.'
The Centre for Separated Families' Putting Children First: best practice in support to separated families conference in October brought together Stephen Geraghty, the Commissioner for Child
Maintenance, and Cafcass Chief Executive, Anthony Douglas.
A recommendations document that came out of the conference called for gender-proofed services that would support post separation arrangements. It also proposed a national hub to link up existing
services and research into what support might help parents resolve difficulties before they reach the point of separation.
Ends.
Further information: 07771 854 792
Notes to the editor:
The Centre for Separated Families is a national charity working with and on behalf of families experiencing divorce and separation. It was established in 1973.
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 co-operative
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 delivering consultancy, training and material for 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.
The Centre for Separated Families website: http://www.separatedfamilies.org.uk/
Best Practice website: http://www.puttingchildrenfirst.info/