Indiana

To insure more responsible parenting and to promote the healthy adjustment and growth of a child each parent should recognize and address a child?s basic needs:

1. To know that the parents? decision to live apart is not the child?s fault.

2. To develop and maintain an independent relationship with each parent and to have the continuing care and guidance from each parent.

3. To be free from having to side with either parent and to be free from conflict between the parents.

4. To have a relaxed, secure relationship with each parent without being placed in a position to manipulate one parent against the other.

5. To enjoy regular and consistent time with each parent.

6. To be financially supported by each parent, regardless of how much time each parent spends with the child.

7. To be physically safe and adequately supervised when in the care of each parent and to have a stable, consistent and responsible child care arrangement when not supervised by a parent.

8. To develop and maintain meaningful relationships with other significant adults (grandparents, stepparents and other relatives) as long as these relationships do not interfere with or replace the child?s primary relationship with the parents.