Publisher's Synopsis
When the Child Support Act was fist introduced in 1993, the government claimed that it had been designed to put the needs of children first. However, until now no research has been undertaken into children's experiences under the Act or their opinions on the principles underpinning it.;This is a small-scale study into children's views on family relationships, financial arrangements and parental obligations within the context of the Child Support Act. Based on interviews with children aged 10 to 17 living in lone mother households, the report documents the children's opinions on the underlying principles of the Act with regard to financial and other responsibilities.;It also provides an overview of the ethics and methodology of interviewing children on sensitive issues, a question that currently confronts many researchers and practitioners. Detailing how the research was carried out, it shows the use of vignettes to engage children's interest and explore their feelings in a non-threatening way. The report shows that children have a clear and incisive voice which policy-makers would do well to consider when formulating policies that claim to be in children's best interests.;The authors also wrote "Losing support: Children and the Child Support Act."
