Parental alienation has been an unacknowledged and poorly understood form of family violence. Research on parental alienation and the behaviors that cause it has evolved out of decades of legal and clinical work documenting this phenomenon, leading to what could be considered a “greening,” or growth, of the field. Today, there is consensus among researchers as to what parental alienating behaviors are and how they affect children and the family system. We review the literature to detail what parental alienation is, how it is different from other parent–child problems such as estrangement and loyalty conflicts, and how it is perpetuated within and across different social systems. We conclude by highlighting research areas that need further investigation to develop and test effective solutions for ameliorating the devastating effects of parental alienation that, we posit, should be considered and understood not only as abusive to the child but also as a form of family violence directed toward both the child and the alienated parent.

When your child has gone missing, you may naturally be feeling lost, confused, or isolated trying to make sense of the situation. In order to help recover your child in the midst of such chaos, it is important to remember that time is the enemy. Recent statistics demonstrate the importance of preplanning and initial response immediately after a child goes missing to ensure successful recovery.The first 48 hours following a child’s disappearance are the most critical to make sure a child gets returned home safely. However, the first 3 hours are the most crucial window of time for an initial response, as well as for gathering all available resources you have on your child. This is even more urgent on reservations, where Tribal and State jurisdiction can change quickly. For this reason, it is important to know how you can be the best prepared should a situation like this arise in your family or community.