The Commission's mission has been to encourage the creation of environments in which decisions can best be made about the well-being of children to ensure that they receive emotional and financial support from both parents. Although many single parents provide the nurturing and support that help their children succeed in life, the evidence is clear that most children do best when they receive emotional and financial support from both parents. The Commission examined the demographic and economic factors contributing to the increase in divorce and out-of- wedlock births, the ways in which custody and visitation determinations are currently made, and the problems often presented by the ways the determinations are made. After analysis, the Commission decided to focus on two forums -- courts and communities -- and the assistance they can give in helping parents meet their ongoing responsibilities to their children. The Commission looked for ways to reduce the adversarial nature of court proceedings that affect parental decisionmaking, parenting time, and residential arrangements of children whose parents are separating, divorcing, or unmarried. In addition, the Commission looked for ways to build support for parents in their communities to help them better fulfill their responsibilities to their families before, during, in the absence of, and after marriage. The Commission believes that its 23 recommendations, if implemented, will help ensure that all children receive the love, care, and support they need and deserve from both their parents. Appended record of voting for the report; biographies of the commissioners; Commission staff and acknowledgments; commissioners' statements; Commission meetings, hearings, and witnesses; sample parenting plans; mandatory mediation programs (State profiles); and community-based organizations