Resource Publications, Inc. 160 E. Virginia St. Suite #290 San Jose, CA 95112-5876 ph: 408-286-8505 fx: 408-287-8748

For Immediate Release Contact: Monique Derenia 408-286-8505 monique@rpinet.com

SAN JOSE, Calif., January 29, 2002 — Divorcing families have a better chance of having a positive outcome for children and parents if they use mediation without judges and lawyers, rather than costly child custody court battles, claims Child Custody: Achieving a Parenting Partnership, a book to be released in the spring by Resource Publications, Inc.

With more than half of all marriages likely to end in divorce, a process to guide divorcing families toward positive results is necessary, the authors write. This process should be governed by rules set forth in a contract to be signed by the divorcing couple in agreement to become “parenting partners.”

The book says parenting partners should “work together cooperatively and supportively in a businesslike manner to share the responsibilities and benefits of involved parenting.”

“We have developed a process that guides divorcing families toward divorcing in a manner that does not leave the family shattered and the family members so wounded that they never recover,” the Dimicks write.

Also, by having a written contract, divorced couples will have “clear-cut rules to live by as they continue to explore and negotiate better ways to meet changes ahead,” the authors write. This contract governs two major areas of concern: financial planning and parent sharing, they add.

Child Custody takes divorced couples through the divorce and parenting partner processes step by step, using questionnaires, descriptions of various scenarios, and lists. It discusses such typically sensitive and controversial issues as what to do with the marital home, how to divide marital assets, debt payment, child support, discipline, school involvement, and how to handle celebrations and family traditions.  Also, it contains stories and examples based on real situations that divorced couples have gone through and provides a list of recommended readings.

This step-by-step approach “integrates the newest research with our own 20 years of clinical practice working with divorcing and divorced families,” the authors say.

Drs. Janice and Kenneth Dimick are marriage and family therapists, specializing in divorce and custody issues.  Janice received her doctor of education degree from Ball State University.  Kenneth Received his doctor of education degree from the University of Arizona and is also professor emeritus in the Department of Counseling Psychology at Ball State University.  They have been married for 41 years and have two children and a granddaughter.

CHILD CUSTODY
Achieving A Parenting Partnership
Janice M. Dimick, EdD, and Kenneth M. Dimick, EdD
152 pages, 5 ½" x 8 ½"
ISBN: 0-89390-548-8, $21.95
March 2002

To order CHILD CUSTODY, call Resource Publications, Inc. at 888-273-7782. For interviews, speaking engagements, and writing assignments call (408) 286-8505 or send email to monique@rpinet.com.

Resource Publications, Inc. strives to help people reach their fullest potential on both personal and professional levels, primarily by providing leadership resources for use by leaders in counseling and education. Current  resources in these areas  include Classroom Warm-Ups: Activities that Improve the Climate for Learning and Discussion, Dealing with Life’s Dilemmas: Exploring Values through English and Drama, Acting It Out: 74 Short Plays for Starting Discussions With Teenagers, and many other books and resources. Visit the RPI website at www.rpinet.com for more information.