2010 Michigan Equal Parenting Bill Action

The Michigan Equal Parenting Bill has been written but needs more co-sponsors. Please contact your State Rep and Senator and ask them to contact State Representative Brian Calley and State Senator Buzz Thomas.

http://house.michigan.gov/find_a_rep.asp

http://senate.michigan.gov/SenatorInfo/find-your-senator.htm

April 2, 2009

Representative
Michigan House of Representatives
House Office Building
P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, Michigan  48909-7514

Ref :  Testimony on Shared Parenting

Honorable Representative:

Thank you and your colleagues for introducing Shared Parenting legislation
and the topic of parental parity.

As we well know, the Michigan judicial system is guided to decide which
parent is the better parent.  This presumption is that one parent is more
fit than the other.  The statistics in the Michigan courts have asserted
that the Mother is the more fit parent in approximately 90 percent of the
cases.

It may appear sensible that children will fare much better in the care and
custody of the Mother.  However, the mounting statistics over thirty years
continues to confirm that children fare much better in the care and custody
of both parents, even in the event of divorce.  With this preponderance of
evidence, which is enormous, it is common sense that we should modify the
laws which impede parent involvement in children's lives.

There are numerous publications that support shared parenting and you will
find some of the evidence, 'real' statistics, and expert testimony in the
following:

Parenting Our Children, Department of Health and Human Services, 1996

Father Facts, 3rd ed., The National Fatherhood Initiative, Wade F. Horn,
Ph.D, 1999, ph 301-948-0599

Restoring Fathers to Families and Communities, Social Policy Action Network,
Kathleen Sylvester and Kathy Reich, 2000, ph 202-434-4770.

There are many disturbing facts in our social structure that only major
surgery in family and children legislation and long rehabilitation can
repair. 

-   The well documented increase of violence, sexual conduct, and
incarceration of children in single parent households.
-   The high rate of divorce and the devastating affect on the financial
well being of all of those affected.
-   The high rate of children born out of wedlock, 70% in the City of
Detroit
-   The affects two parent working households in divorce

In case of divorce, both parents need to work; one to support the child and
the other to pay child support.  When both parents are working, who takes
care of the child?  The current system does not encourage or support the
non-custodial parent to parent the child while the custodial parent is
working.   We need to encourage parents to work together, adjust their work
schedules, and share in the parenting of the children.  This is a win-win
situation.

Our legislators need to do everything in their power to give our children
all of the support and resources possible.  One fantastic resource that we
continuously exclude is the parents. When you remove the parents from
raising and developing the children, who do you expect to raise children?
This practice is unconscionable.

This Bill has been occasionally labeled a Fathers rights bill.  However,
there are many Mother's that are impeded from having a shared parenting
arrangement with their children.  Therefore, in fact, this is a Mother's
rights bill.

To those who would oppose this common sense bill, you must ask in whose
interest do they serve.  Clearly, it is not children. 

If there is anything Dads of Michigan PAC can do to help and support yours
efforts, please do not hesitate to call me at 248-467-1204.

Sincerely,

James Semerad                   
DC Representative, DADS of Michigan PAC

Comments

[Darrick Scott-Farnsworth]

An update on our co-sponsors in the State House, pertaining to the
"Children Need Both Parents" bill.

1. Primary, Brian Calley(R)-District #087 2. Rick Jones (R)-071 3. David Agema(R)-074 4. Tom McMillin(R)-045 5. Bill Rogers (R)-066 6. Richard LeBlanc (DEM)-018 7. Marty Knollenberg (R)-041 8. Tom Pearce (R)-073 9. Ken Kurtz (R)-058 10. Kevin Green (R)-077 11. Geoff Hansen (R)-100 12. Robert Dean (DEM)-075 13. Mike Huckleberry (DEM)-070 14. Ken Horn (R)-094

[Darrick Scott-Farnsworth]

We have three dems co-sponsoring the Michgan EP bill this year and one of them I shook is hand in his office speaking to him personally about his co-sponsorship prior to him signing the bill! He said he liked State Rep Calley, the sponsor of the bill, and would consider signing the bill and now he did! So this goes to show that a single voice can make a difference so get to it!

[David Scott]

Thank you for this Article. Fathers’ right to be a meaningful part of their children’s lives, have been eroded to the point of non-existence. My research suggests that this is a phenomenon consistent throughout the industrialized nations. Children who are alienated from their fathers are more likely later in life to have emotional/behavioral problems, suffer from depression, drop out of school, fail in their jobs, and suffer from other social problems. I invite you to visit my site devoted to raising awareness on this growing problem: http://fathersprivilege.blogspot.com/

[Darrick Scott-Farnsworth]

Set up your own meet up group, and network, because it provides great support in your progress through the system. We also need you to tell your story to 2 people each day, and your Legislators.

The following is a list of groups in Michigan that advocate for children, fathers and equal parenting and hold formal or informal meetings. All information should be confirmed directly with the listed group. Updates to the information should be reported to dandiebolt@yahoo.com.

A Child’s Right
Meetings held monthly
Contact Info - Executive Director Darrick Scott Farsnworth: darricksf@achildsright.net
www.achildsright.org
http://noncustodial.meetup.com/73/

Dads & Moms of Michigan / Lansing Region
Contact - Michael Saxton
Date of first formal meeting to be announced. Location will be Coral Gables in E. Lansing, MI. Guest speakeers and legal roundtables by local Family Law Attorneys.
unfab@sbcglobal.net
(989) 292-9192

Children Need Both Parents, Inc.
Contact - Ron Smith
Meets occasionally after email notification at Gateway to Life Christian Day Care Center
235 28th Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49548
www.cnbpinc.org
616-301-1515
616-301-1616

West Michigan DADS
Contact Bob Van Ee
(616) 532-0757
(616) 450-0928 cell
Bobv01@hotmail.com
Post Office Box 9922
Wyoming , Michigan 49509-9922
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/westMichiganDADS

Contact Bob Van Ee
BobV01@hotmail.com
[c] 616.450.0928

Fathers Supporting Fathers
Michigan Chapter
Contact: Chris Paris
1111 25th st.
Menominee, MI 49858
parisplastering@yahoo.com
www.fatherssupportingfathers.com

Fathers for Equal Rights
Contact Al Lebow
(248) 354-3080
Meets on the third Wednesday of every Month from 7:30 to 9:00 pm
Oak Park Community Center
14300 Oak Park Blvd
Oak Park, Michigan 48237

Capital Area Fathers for Equal Rights
Contact Dave Wightman
(517) 628-3911
fer@cablespeed.com
Meets every Monday evening exclusive of holidays from 7:30 to 9:00 pm
Hobies Deli
930 Trowbridge Rd
East Lansing, MI 48823
Hobies: (517) 351-3800

Fathers For Justice USA
Contact Dan Diebolt, Michigan Coordinator
dan@f4j.us
Meets occasionally after email announcement at Guy Hollerin's restaurant in Ann Arbor.
Guy Hollerin's
Holiday Inn North Campus Ann Arbor
3600 Plymouth Road
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105
Holiday Inn: (734) 769-9800

DADS of Michigan
Randall Scotti
randyscotti@yahoo.com
(248) 837-5552 cell
www.DADSofMichigan.org
Meets on the first Tuesday of each Month 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Meeting Location:
The Birmingham Community House
380 South Bates Street
Birmingham, MI 48009
Located in Downtown Birmingham, call for directions (248) 644-5832.

Dads Helping Dads
Contact Fred Owens
(313) 995-0913
dadshelpdads@yahoo.com
http://home.earthlink.net/~dadshelpdads
Meets on the 3rd Tuesday of the every month from 6:45pm to 8:15pm, in a meeting room at Christus Victor Church, 25535 Ford Rd. (West of Telegraph, East of Beech-Daly), Dearborn Hts., 48127.
Mail Address:
Fred Owens
Dads Helping Dads - Wayne County
3319 Greenfield Rd.
PMB #337
Dearborn, Michigan

Monroe DADS of Michigan
Contact Pat McElligott
(734) 240-0225
mcelligott@ameritech.net
http://www.dadsofmichigan.org
Meets every on Wednesdays starting May 17th from 7:30 - 9 p.m. at
Bobby's Kitchen, 15391 S. Dixie Hwy. (Corner of S. Dixie and Dunbar)

Internet Resources
Fathers Rights Coalition Yahoo Group
groups.yahoo.com/group/FRC

michdads Yahoo group
groups.yahoo.com/group/michdads

DADS of Michigan Homepage
http://www.dadsofmichigan.org

A decade ago a directory used to widelyy circulate listing all the organizations
advocating for children, fathers, joint custody and equal parenting arranged by state. In an effort to rekindle that effort we present a list of groups and internet resources active in Michigan. The following is a list of groups in Michigan that advocate for children, fathers and equal parenting and hold formal or informal meetings. All information should be confirmed directly with the listed group. Updates to the information should be reported to dandiebolt@yahoo.com.

[Darrick Scott-Farnsworth]

Considering a state wide ballot proposal to go around the entrenched political log jam which will not even allow a hearing on HB 5114 let alone vote it out of committee. Please let us know if this sounds like something that you'd be willing to help with.

[Darrick Scott-Farnsworth]

Here is the link to the actual ballot: http://achildsright.typepad.com/achildsright/2010/02/the-michigan-2010-childparent-relationship-protection-bill-.html donate here http://dadsmomspac.org/