Cool Stuff for Young People
Words
This is a list of words grown-ups will use when they talk about you and your family. Sometimes grown-ups forget that children may not have heard some of these words before and may not understand what they mean, so we hope that this list helps you:
Direct Contact
Contact is the word grown-ups use to describe the time a child spends with the parent he/she does not normally live with.
"Direct" means that you are in the same room with your mum or your dad. At Pro-Contact your caseworker stays with you all the time
if you see the parent you don't live with.
Indirect Contact
Sometimes the parent you don’t normally live with can send you letters or cards or photographs, and you can write back or send things in return. This is what we call indirect contact. Indirect means you are not in the same place and so you will not meet each other.
Family Court
The family court is in charge of making decisions about children and their parents. Lots of families go to the family court to get help making difficult decisions about their family. A family court may have decided you should come to Pro-Contact.
Judge
A judge is the person who makes the decisions in the family court. A judge is a wise person who knows a lot about what children need. They use laws to make decisions. Everyone has to obey laws even if they do not agree with them. A judge can decide that your family should come to Pro-Contact to help sort out when you can see your mum or dad.
Report
A report is like a long letter. Sometimes caseworkers will write a report about your time at Pro-Contact and this will be sent to the judge to help them work out what is best for you. The report can include your views and feelings about what should happen but it is up to the judge to decide what is best for you. Your caseworkers will tell you if they are writing a report about you.
Court Order
A court order is like a short letter that tells parents what the judge has decided and what will happen next. Everyone has to do what the judge says even if they do not agree.
If you need to know anything else about Pro-Contact or what is happening to you and your family the people who work at Pro-Contact will help you.
Useful links to other websites
Kids Health
A Kid’s Guide to Divorce
Teens - Dealing with Divorce
Childline www.childline.org.uk
General help for children.
Telephone 0800 1111.
It's not your fault www.itsnotyourfault.org
Website giving practical information for children, young people and parents going through family break up.
Telephone 0207 704 7000.
Kidscape
Helpline for parents and people concerned about bullying to prevent bullying and child abuse.
Parents antibullying helpline 0845 1205 204.
Children should ring Childline on 0800 1111.
National Youth Advocacy Service www.nyas.net
Information, advice, advocacy and legal representation to children and young people aged 0-25 through a network of over 150 advocates. Could facilitate mediation between young people and parents on contact.
Young peoples helpline 0800 61 61 01.
Supportline www.supportline.org.uk
Confidential emotional support for children, young adults and adults.
Helpline 01708 765 200.
Voice www.voiceyp.org
Works and campaigns for children and young people in the care system.
Telephone 0808 800 5792.
