Supporting Children when Parents Separate

Mervyn Murch CBE is an emeritus professor at Cardiff University's School of Law and Politics. His 45 year research career has focused on the inter-disciplinary work of the family justice system and has contributed to policy and practice developments and to law reform in divorce, adoption and child protection. He was appointed a CBE in 2007 for services to the family justice system.

"This book contains the wisdom of a professional lifetime spent integrating mental health and judicial concerns from a leading architect of the family justice system." Christopher Clulow, PhD. Senior Fellow, the Tavistock Institute of Medical Psychology "Distilling a lifetime's work and reflection, this is an essential read for anyone concerned about the needs of children on family breakdown." Gillian Douglas, Executive Dean, King's College London "At a time when the mental health of our young people is of national concern... This is an essential text that should inform policy and practice both in family law and education." James Wetz, Author of 'Urban Village Schools'

• Part I: Illuminating the field of policySome key background dataSetting out the stallNumbers, scale and trendsSummarised research reviews upon which to promote social and emotional wellbeing in children of separated parentsHearing the voice of the child: messages from research that expose gaps between theory, principle and realityPart II: Primary preventionChildren dealing with the crisis of parental separation: towards new supportive practice and policyChildren in crisis speak outThe crisis model of preventive mental health and its potential application for support services for children coping with parental separationThe pros and cons of the preventive mental health approachProviding short-term primary preventative crisis intervention for children in schoolsPart III: Secondary preventionFamily justice policy under the Coalition government (2010–15): how will a new regime meet the needs of children with separating and divorcing parents?The repeal of S41 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 and related reforms: is the state turning a blind eye to the needs of children in divorce proceedings?Demolition and reconstruction in the family justice regime: what can be salvaged for children whose parents separate and divorce?Changing the culture of family justice: barriers to be overcomePart IV: Embedding the crisis intervention approachThe future policy and practice challengeBarriers obstructing a preventive mental health approachPolicy and practice proposals to support children and young people coping with interparental conflict and separationScanning the horizon