http://www.courts.wa.gov/committee/pdf/parentingplanstudy.pdf

This study analyzes the Washington State Parenting Act in order to "gather information about how parents seeking a dissolution of marriage make arrangements for parenting, and how those arrangements operate after the marriage is dissolved" (p. i). The author interviewed 47 professionals and analyzed almost 400 final parenting plans, and conducted 10 focus groups with parents affected by the Act. The study's three major findings are that the Parenting Act 'works well for most Washington families,' there is widespread support for the Act's policy goals and "the provisions of the Parenting Act are consistent with the findings of scholarly research about post divorce parenting and child well-being" (p. i). The study also found that mediation " is useful for formulating parenting plans and dispute resolution except in cases involving domestic violence" (p. ii). The study analyzes the reactions of parents, providers and experts to the Parenting Act.