Background: I'm a strong believer in Shared Parenting (aka Joint Custody)--the legal presumption that upon divorce or separation, as long as both parents are fit, they will equally share custody of their children. Research shows that this is best for kids, in large part because it protects their relationships with both parents.

I discussed the arguments in favor of Shared Parenting and addressed the National Organization for Women's arguments against it in my co-authored column HB 5267 Will Help Michigan’s Children of Divorce (Lansing State Journal, 5/28/06). To learn more about Shared Parenting, click here.

A note from David L. Levy, Esq., Chief Executive Officer of the Children's Rights Council:

A joint custody resolution is now being considered by the U.S. Senate -- S. Con. Res. 59, introduced by Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI). It was introduced in the House last Fall -- H. Con. Res. 241, by Reps. Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) and Neil Abercrombie (D-HI). The resolutions express the sense of Congress that the states pass more joint custody laws.

WE MUST NOW WORK TO GET THESE RESOLUTIONS PASSED.

You can view the Resolutions on the Library of Congress "Thomas" website. Please write to your House Member something like this in your own words:

Dear Congressmember --- (for House member)

Please co-sponsor H. Con. Res. 241, a resolution that asks the states to pass more joint custody laws. Children do better in school, experience less poverty and less involvement in crime and drugs, when they have two parents in their lives, even in divorce or never-married situations. Joint custody (shared parenting) for fit parents would help assure that more moms and dads, as well as grandparents, are more involved in children's lives. Please let me know if you can co-sponsor H. Con. Res. 241.

Sign your name
then Print your name,
Address, phone number, email address.

AND

Dear Senator -- (for each of your two Senators)
Please co-sponsor S. Con. Res. 59, a resolution that asks the states to pass more joint custody laws. I want to point out that children do better in school, and are less involved in drugs and crime, when they have two parents in their lives, even if divorced or never-married. Joint custody (shared parenting) for fit parents would help assure that more mothers and fathers are active in their children's lives, and also assure more contact with their grandparents. Please let me know if you can co-sponsor S. Con. Res. 59.

Sign your name
then Print your name,
Address, phone number, email address.

Tips:
1. Find out how to contact your Congressmembers at the Children's Rights Council's (CRC) website, www.CRCkids.org. Under "Government," look up House and Senate. Phone, e-mail or fax to Congress (snail mail takes forever after 9/11). Fax is best, but not all Congressmembers list their fax numbers. Obtain fax number by phoning your Congressmember at 202/225-3121 during normal business hours. Ask for the name of the staff member working for the Congressmember who would handle the joint custody resolution and write to his/her attention. FOLLOW UP EVERY 10 DAYS TO TWO WEEKS; ONE PHONE CALL, FAX OR E-MAIL WILL NOT DO IT. Always be polite; remember, you are asking your Congressmember to lay down the one thousand other things on his/her plate and to focus on the joint custody resolution. Keep CRC informed of results, at info@crckids.org

Note: These resolutions do not "require" the states to pass stronger joint custody laws; there are merely "requests." But requests in other areas over the years have produced positive results in the states. So please do not underestimate the power of a resolution. Joint custody is now a presumption or preference in 37 states and Washington, D.C. But it is applied unevenly in many of those states, let alone the 13 states that have no preference or presumption. Shared parenting has grown enormously over the past 20 years, but much more remains to be done. Thank you, on behalf of children and families everywhere.

David L. Levy, Esq.
Chief Executive Officer
The Children's Rights Council
8181 Professional Place, Suite 240
Landover, MD 20785
1-800-787-KIDS
dlevy@crckids.org 

This entry was posted on Sunday, February 3rd, 2008 at 3:28 pm and is filed under Shared Parenting. You can trackback from your own site.