CRC works to assure a child the frequent, meaningful and continuing contact with two parents and extended family the child would normally have during a marriage. We work to strengthen families through education, favoring family formation and family preservation. Unlike many other organizations with some of the same concerns, CRC is genderless; we are not a women's group nor a men's group. Rather, we advocate what we believe to be in the best interests of children including the Children's Bill of Rights.

For the child's benefit, CRC:

• advocates a rebuttable presumption of shared parenting in divorce custody orders
• believes in balanced and comprehensive child support: financial, emotional, and physical
• works to transform the typical adversarial divorce process into one of conciliation and mediation
• favors parenting education and school-based programs for children at risk
• believes two parents and the kinship network are the best first line of defense

Parental alienation is the term used to describe behaviors and attitudes exhibited by one parent (either mother or father) who is trying to turn a child against the other parent. This occurs often but not always in the context of post divorce custody disputes and litigation. Some children exposed to parental alienation strategies succumb to the pressure to choose sides and exhibit parental alienation syndrome. Dr. Richard Gardner coined the term PAS and identified 8 behavioral manifestations of it in his 1998 book, The Parental Alienation Syndrome: A Guide for Mental Health and Legal Professionals . He is also the co-editor of The International Handbook of Parental Alienation Syndrome: Conceptual, Clinical And Legal Considerations

Research conduct by Dr. Amy J.L. Baker with adults who had this experience as children, Adult Children of Parental Alienation Syndrome: Breaking the Ties that Bind  as well as with targeted parents: (1) compares parental alienation to cults, (2) describes parental alienation as a form of emotional abuse (3) identifies the most common parental alienation strategies used, and (4) describes 11 different catalysts for alienated children to have the realization that they were manipulated by one parent to reject the other.

Being a targeted parent is frustrating, painful, costly, and extremely stressful. Fortunately for targeted parents there are now resources available for understanding and coping with this problem, support groups (both internet and face-to-face) for connecting with others who are also dealing with it, websites devoted to the issue replete with links and resource materials, as well as legal and mental health professionals who can help:

Dr. Katherine Andre is a clinical psychologist and professional mediator with PAS experience (http://www.questx.com/pas/about.html).

Dr. Mike Bone is a psychologist offering mental health support and guidance in navigating custody disputes cases as well as expert witness services (http://parental-alienation.com).

Dr. Doug Darnall, author of Divorce Casualties, offers counseling, consulting as well as expert witness services (www.parentalalienation.com).

Dr. Jayne Major, is the creator of Breakthrough parenting and director of Stop Parental Alienation of Children (http://www.breakthroughparenting.com/PAS.htm).

Parental Alienation Awareness Organization presents an extensive library of information on the topic (http://www.parental-alienation-awareness.com).

Dr. Amy J. L. Baker is an author and research psychologist whose website offers helpful information as well as links to support groups (www.amyjlbaker.com).

You can now instantly download the article entitled ”Beyond the High Road: Responding to 17 Parental Alienation Strategies without Compromising Your Morals or Harming Your Child”, by Dr. Amy J. L. Baker for only $9.95.