“Joint physical custody – diagnosis and recommendations for public policies” report

29 05 2025

How is joint physical custody referred to in Poland, and what solutions might support this model of care? The answers to these questions are included in a report created following research carried out as part of a “New Ideas” project.

This is the result of a study done in 2024 by researchers from the University of Warsaw – dr hab. Małgorzata Sikorska, a professor from the Faculty of Sociology at UW, and Małgorzata Gawrońska, MA from the Doctoral School of Social Sciences at UW.

The aim of the project was to understand how joint physical custody is referred to in Poland – that is, the model of care following the separation of a child’s parents, in which the child spends time alternately with each carer. The authors of the report analysed the dominant social narratives, specific activities, and also the institutional solutions intended to support this model in practice.

The publication focuses on common points in the approaches by various circles, such as experts, parents, as well as and representatives of institutions, to the issue of caring for children after adults’ separation.

The conclusions and recommendations contained in the report may be an inspiration for systemic changes, both in the field of law and in the organisation of support, with a view to better protecting child welfare, supporting both parents in their caregiving roles, and raising public awareness of the realities of children’s lives after the separation of their carers.

The full content of the report is available on the website: pieczanaprzemienna.uw.edu.pl

The research was carried out as part of a project financed under the “New Ideas” project of the “Excellence Initiative – Research University” (IDUB) Programme, and the publication of the report in 2025 was supported by the Digital Competence Centre University of Warsaw under Action I.3.6 of the IDUB Programme.