Almost half of the children in the U.S. are deprived of the lifelong benefits of two FICTION FACT who share the throughout the first 18 years of their children’s lives. Most children are satisfied with the amount The vast majority of kids want – or wanted - 42 Who are children living with? SHARED of time they spend (or spent) with their more time living with their dads after their 1-7 © fathers after their parents’ . parents divorced. PARENTING 55% mother & father - 4% unmarried Children who live with both parents at least As long as the mother has enough money, 21% single mother - half divorced & 33% of the time are equal or better on children don’t pay a price for having too half never married measures of psychological, academic, little or no with their father. 8-19 14% mom & stepdad FACTS & FICTION behavioral and social well being.

Preschoolers shouldn’t be separated from 5% neither is harmful for infants or either parent for more than a few days & can 2% mom & her boyfriend young children because they should not be separated overnight from their mother. spend nights in both homes.20-21 2% single dad Research Brochure by

1% dad & stepmom © Dr. When parents share parenting, children are Dads who share parenting are more likely to 5% dad & his girlfriend worse off financially because their dad pays pay support & spend more for things . 22, 23 much less . such as college. Professor of Education Wake Forest University Children’s Living Arrangements:2009. Children benefit more from living with their Dads contribute as much to children’s well www.wfu.edu/~nielsen Census Bureau. mothers because mothers have more impact being as moms do, even if their styles of [email protected] 24, 14 on their well being than father do. parenting differ.

Most divorced dads want more time living Research brochure by Dr. Nielsen © August, 2011 Most divorced fathers are not interested in having their children live with them more or 25- 29 together with their children. spending more time together.

Children benefit from shared residential Most divorced or never married parents are too hostile to share parenting or to benefit custody even when their parents have ongoing verbal conflicts & are not on from programs on co-parenting. particularly friendly terms. 9,10,12,14,20

American Coalition for Fathers & Children Shared residential custody fails for most Shared residential custody has been stable & American Coalition for Fathers & Children , thus creating unnecessary successful for most parents. 10,16,30 ACFC.ORG instability for children. Michael McCormick, Exec. Dir. ACFC. ORG Michael McCormick, Exec. Dir 1-800-978-3237 The general public is opposed to shared In recent public opinion polls men & 1-800-978-3237 [email protected] residential custody – a sentiment that is women are overwhelmingly in favor of [email protected] accurately reflected in our custody laws. shared residential custody. 31, 32

13 24 Endnotes Scott, Booth & King Post divorce Lamb, M. The Father’s role in child father-adolescent closeness. Journal of development, 2010. 1 Nielsen, L. Review of shared parenting and , 2007. research. In press 25 14 Bokker, Farley & Denny. Well being Nielsen, L. Fathers & Daughters: among recently divorced fathers. Journal 2Ahrons, C. We’re Still Family: What Contemporary Research & Theory, of Divorce & Remarriage, 2005 grownup children say about divorce, 2004. Routledge, 2012 (in press) 26 3 15 Fagan & Hawkins. Educational Fabricus W. Listening to children of Lee, M. Childrens’ adjustment in dual & Interventions with Fathers, 2003. divorce. Family Relations, 2003. sole residence. Family Issues, 2002.

4 16 27 Emery, R. The truth about children & Melli & Brown, Exploring the shared Hallman & Deinhart. Fathers’ experiences after divorce. Fathering, 2007. divorce. 2004. time family. Law, policy & family, 2008

5 17 28 Finley & Schwartz Father involvement Prazen et al. Joint physical custody & Stone, G. Divorced fathers well being. & young adult outcomes. Family Court friendships. Sociological Inquiry, 2011. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 2007. Review, 2007 18 29 6 Smyth, B. Five year summary of shared Frieman, R. Understanding noncustodial Harvey & Fine Children of Divorce: care in Australia. Family Studies, 2009. parents. Divorce & Remarriage, 2007. Stories of Loss and Growth. 2004. 19 Spruijt & Duindam, Joint physical 30 George, T. Residential time reports. 7Amato & Dorius, Fathers, children & custody & children’s well being. Divorce Washington State Courts, 2008. divorce in Lamb’s Father’s role in child & Remarriage, 2010 development, 2010 31 Braver, S. Lay judgments on custody. 20 Pruett et al. Collaborative divorce 8Aquilino, W. Noncustodial father child Psychology, public policy & law. 2011. project. Family Court Review, 2005. relationships. Marriage & Family, 2010. 32 21 Fatherhood Coalition, Shared parenting 9Breivik & Olweus, Adolescents’ Warshak, R. Overnight contact between election results, 2004. adjustment in four family structures. parents & young children. Family Court Divorce & Remarriage, 2006. Review, 2000.

22 10 Buchanan & Maccoby, Adolescents after Fabricus & Braver. Divorced parents divorce, 1996 financial support of college expenses, Family Court Review, 2003 11 Fabricius et al. Parenting time & 23 children’s outcomes in Lamb’s book, 2010. Braver, S. Divorced Dads: Shattering

12 the Myths, 1998 Juby et al. Sharing roles, sharing custody. Marriage & Family, 2005.