Child Psychologist Robert R. Butterworth Ph.D. Creates Reunification Plan for Elian Gonzalez.News/Entertainment Editors LOS ANGELES--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--March 30, 2000 With the announcement that Fidel Castro Noun 1. Fidel Castro - Cuban socialist leader who overthrew a dictator in 1959 and established a Marxist socialist state in Cuba (born in 1927) Castro, Fidel Castro Ruz will allow Elian Gonzalez's father to come to the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. to be reunited "Reunited" was a #1 hit in the United States in 1979 by the Washington, D.C.-based group Peaches & Herb. Preceded by "Heart of Glass" by Blondie Billboard Hot 100 number one single May 5 1979 Succeeded by "Hot Stuff" by Donna Summer with his son, a psychologist with child custody The care, control, and maintenance of a child, which a court may award to one of the parents following a Divorce or separation proceeding. Under most circumstances, state laws provide that biological parents make all decisions that are involved in rearing their experience has created a reunification re·u·ni·fy tr.v. re·u·ni·fied, re·u·ni·fy·ing, re·u·ni·fies To cause (a group, party, state, or sect) to become unified again after being divided. plan that will allow Elian to make the transition from his Miami family to his Cuban father with as little psychological trauma Psychological trauma is a type of damage to the psyche that occurs as a result of a traumatic event. When that trauma leads to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, damage can be measured in physical changes inside the brain and to brain chemistry, which affect the person's as possible. Child psychologist child psychologist Psychology A mental health professional with a PhD in psychology who administer tests, evaluates and treats children's emotional disorders, but can't prescribe medications Robert R. Butterworth Ph.D. says his plan of reunification looks at Elian's well-being as the prime goal. "I may be politically unsophisticated to think that the parties involved would follow a blueprint such as mine, but if the best interest of the child is their prime concern this is their opportunity to prove it." Butterworth's Reunification Plan:
-- Lazaro Gonzalez, Elian's great uncle makes a public statement
that he will allow Elian and his father to live together in
Florida at a separate location for the remaining time that it
takes for Elian's legal proceeding to play out.
-- Elian is moved out of the Little Havana section of Miami and
moved to a secret location. This child is now "off limits" to
the media. This will allow the hundreds of sympathizers to
disperse, diffusing the heightened emotional and political
climate surrounding this case.
-- Elian's father makes a commitment to remain in Miami for 30
days to help facilitate the transition between families. The
INS would also have to agree to this extended day residency
period.
-- A joint arrangement is made for Elian to spend part of every
day of this 30-day period with his cousin, Marisleysis
Gonzalez. It is crucial than Elian is not forced to be torn
away from his cousin with whom he has formed a maternal bond
after the death of his mother.
-- Elian's father, at some point in this process, be allowed to
ask for political asylum with the provision that if he
refuses, he and the child be allowed to leave the United
States.
-- A child psychologist who is neutral to both parties be allowed
to monitor the above arrangement.
Butterworth has been following this case since its inception. His most recent interviews included CNBC's Geraldo (on Tuesday). He will be on MSNBC MSNBC Microsoft/National Broadcasting Company this afternoon (4:30 ET), talking about this case. |
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