Gaining Access to One's Children: An Evaluation of a Visitation Program for Noncustodial Parents

Children born out of wedlock often suffer due to infrequent and limited interaction with the noncustodial parent. To address this issue, progams have been developed at the federal and state level that attempt to improve the access of noncustodial parents (primarily fathers) to their natural children. This article describes an access and visitation program and presents findings from a 6-month demonstration in two counties in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia. The program assists noncustodial parents in establishing an access agreement with the custodial parent and in pursuing the establishment of their legal parental rights. In total, the demonstration involved over 100 noncustodial parents. This report documents the process of establishing and maintaining visitation agreements, and identifies the principle barriers to establishing visitation. The data on the program came from case files and administrative records and reflect status at 3–6 months after case opening and at case closure.

Disorders of Visitation in Child Custody Cases

No post-divorce or separation problem is more perplexing, aggravating, or has a greater potential for explosive outcome than when a child is reluctant or refuses to visit the noncustodial parent. This article offers a classification of these disorders of visitation, listing five distinct groups. To assist in the evaluation of such cases a format is suggested which includes the three essential areas to be explored. The use of a systematic approach to the understanding of these cases permits a more meaningful and useful recommendation to be made to the court or the family.