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Information for Separating / Divorcing Parents
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Suggested Reading List

These books are available on the internet, in major book stores or in local libraries.

101 Ways to be a Long-Distance Super Dad or Mom, George Newman, Blossom Valley Press, 1996.
A book of ideas and suggestions for parents who live away from their children.

Co-Parenting Survival Guide: Letting Go of Conflict After a Difficult Divorce, Elizabeth Thayer & Jeffrey Zimmerman, New Harbinger Publications, 2001.

Custody Chaos, Personal Peace: Sharing Custody with an Ex who Drives You Crazy by Jeffrey Wittman.
A common-sense guide to reclaiming your life and relating to a difficult co-parent while raising children from separate homes.

Divorce Book for Parents: Helping your Children Cope with Divorce and its Aftermath, Vicki Lansky, Book Peddlers, 2000.
Using humor and common sense, this book offers sound advice to parents on helping children cope with divorce and its aftermath.

Joint Custody with a Jerk: Raising a Child with an Uncooperative Ex, Julie Ross & Judy Corcoran, St. Martin’s Press, 1996.
This book offers communication techniques that help deal with a difficult co-parent by describing common problems and examining ways to effectively deal with these sticky situations.

Mom’s House, Dad’s House: Making Two Homes for Your Child by Isolina Ricci, Simon & Schuster 2nd ed., 1997.
This book contains a roadmap for developing a cooperative parenting arrangement for your child.

Making Divorce Easier on Your Child: 50 Effective Ways to Help Children Adjust, Dr. Nicholas Long, Dr. Rex Forehand, McGraw-Hill (2002).


Parenting Plan Books

Kids First Parenting Plan: A Child-care Planning Guide for Separating & Divorcing Parents by Chet Muklewicz & Doreen Graziano.
This guide will help separating and divorcing parents make child-centered decisions as they develop a plan on how they will raise their children together after they have parted.

Child Custody - Building Parenting Agreements That Work, Mimi E. Lyster, Nolo Press, 5th ed (2005).


On-Line Resources

www.mobar.org
Family Law pamphlets, Parenting Plan Guidelines & Forms.

www.courts.mo.gov
Case information on Case.net, Parenting Plan Guidelines & Forms, Form 14.

www.teamlex.com/areas
Form 14 Child Support Calculation Worksheet.

www.fatherhood.org
Articles on fathering, answers to Frequently Asked Questions.

www.marchmediation.org
Mediation resources, Form 14 link.

www.uptoparents.org
Free tool for parent planning.

www.divorcesupport.com
State laws, parenting advice, explanation of divorce procedure, download forms.

www.daads.com
Advice for distance parenting.

www.missourifamilies.org
Age specific effects of divorce, divorce & domestic violence, parenting advice.

www.divorcecentral.com
State laws, answers to Frequently Asked Questions regarding parenting and legal matters.

www.dss.mo.gov/cse/
Child Support Agency.

http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutesearch
MO law.

http://www.dhss.mo.gov
MO Dept. of Health and Senior Services - Vital Records.

http://www.outreach.missouri.edu/parentlink
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about parenting.


Important Phone Numbers

Basic Needs
United Way .........................................................211 or 816-472-4289

Clay County Services
Information ..........................................................816-407-3600
Circuit Clerk (Child Support) ...............................816-407-3905
Circuit Clerk (Civil) ..............................................816-407-3850
Children's Division ................................................816-781-8900
Family Support Center .........................................816-736-8350
Health Center .......................................................816-781-1600
Mediation Programs .............................................(816) 736-8400
On-site Exchange and Visitation Services ..............(816) 736-8400

Child Well-being
Clay County Birth Certificate ................................816-781-1600
(MOSCA) Child Sexual Abuse Treatment Info .....816-931-4527
MC+ Children’s Health Insurance .........................1-888-275-5908
Medicaid Information ............................................1-800-392-2161
MO Child Abuse/Neglect Hotline ..........................1-800-392-3738
MO Vital Records ................................................573-751-6400
National Child Abuse Hotline.................................1-800-422-4453
National Center for Missing/Exploited Children ......1-800-843-5678
National Runaway Hotline .....................................1-800-621-4000

Domestic Violence Services
Metro Shelter Hotline (Rose Brooks Center) ........816-861-6100
Clay Co. Safe Haven Shelter ................................816-452-8535

Family Counseling Services & Support Groups
Anger Management for Teens ..............................(816) 736-8400
Catholic Charities ................................................816-333-2040, x107
Pleasant Valley Baptist Church .............................816-781-5959
Synergy Services, Inc. ..........................................816-587-4100
The Family Conservancy ......................................816-436-0486
Tri-County Mental Health Services .......................816-468-0400

Legal Help
Lawyers Referral Service .....................................816-221-9472
Legal Aid of Western Missouri .............................816-474-1413
Missouri Bar Association ......................................573-635-4128

Parenting
BraveHearts Program for Dads .............................816-468-6336, x228
National Center for Fathering ................................1-800-593-DADS
Parent Link ...........................................................1-800-552-8522
Parenting with Love & Limits Program ..................(816) 736-8400

School Information
Excelsior Springs ..................................................816-630-9200
Kearney ...............................................................816-628-4116
Liberty .................................................................816-736-5300
Lawson ................................................................816-580-7277
Missouri City ........................................................816-750-4391
North Kansas City ...............................................816-413-5000
Smithville ..............................................................816-532-0406

Substance Abuse Services
AA Hotline ...........................................................816-471-7229
Al-Anon (adults) ..................................................816-373-8566
Al-Ateen, Al-tot ...................................................816-373-8566
Narcotics Anonymous ..........................................816-531-2250