IMPASSES OF DIVORCE

Creating an environment in which children can develop with trust and confidence is a key issue for social policymakers, family practitioners, and parents. Although allied by this concern, too often the three groups behave as if their interests are opposed; children can then become casualties. The process of separation and divorce creates particular opportunities and special hazards in this respect, which have enormous implications for the future well-being of individuals and communities. This report describes a model for conceptualizing, in the context of divorce, how it is that potential allies can sometimes become implacable foes, and considers some ways forward.