Heads up, Illinois! (long)

[Kitty C.]

Just received this from CNBP in regards to IL reforms:

Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2004 6:15 PM
Subject: [IPFC] Hearing on Proposed Supreme Court Rules Involving Child
Custody Laws


> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
>
>
>
> Hearing on Proposed Supreme Court Rules Involving Child Custody Laws;
> Groups to Ask for Sweeping Reforms
>
> Advocates Push for Shared Parenting as Alternative to Government
> Involvement in Families
>
> Chicago, IL (PRWEB) September 8, 2004 --  The Rules Committee of the
> Illinois Supreme Court announced today that it will hear comments at
> a public hearing on Friday, September 10th at 10:00 A.M. on several
> proposals including a set of rules for judges and lawyers emphasizing
> the importance of child custody proceedings. The rules pertaining to
> child custody are proposed by the Special Supreme Court Committee on
> Child Custody Issues which has been studying the need for changes
> since it was established by the Supreme Court on January 30, 2002.
> Community and family advocacy groups say that Illinois lags far
> behind other states in making changes to child custody laws, and will
> be asking for reforms aimed at encouraging shared parenting in the
> lives of children raised in single parent households.
>
> "Beyond the continuing cycle of government spending and involvement
> in the family, findings show that a renewed emphasis on parental
> involvement is needed, and our communities are ready for such a
> change," according to Michael Burns, Executive Director of the public
> interest group Dialog on Sustainable Community, based in Chicago,
> Illinois.
>
> "Parents are parents whether they are rich or poor, married,
> unmarried, single, or divorced. We need to affirm and protect their
> standing in the community and stop treating them as second-class
> citizens," says Burns. "Our high rate of divorce, juvenile
> incarceration, drug use and teen pregnancy should be enough to tell
> anyone that our public policy toward children and parents is an
> abominable failure that is worthy of review."
>
> Studies have shown that children raised without the active
> involvement of both parents experience greater rates of delinquency,
> suicide, poor academic performance, lower standards of living,
> incarceration, and other negative outcomes. Even after differences in
> income, children who were born out of wedlock and either remained in
> a single-parent family or whose mother subsequently married had
> significantly poorer math and reading scores and lower levels of
> academic performance than children from continuously married
> households, according to Elizabeth C. Cooksey, author
> of "Consequences of Young Mothers' Marital Histories for Children's
> Cognitive Development," published in the Journal of Marriage and the
> Family.
>
> Studies also acknowledge an increase in gang involvement by children
> who originate from single parenting households. In recent years, the
> Chicago Crime Commission has acknowledged an active gang membership
> of greater than 30,000 in the city of Chicago. "These numbers confirm
> the long held belief that government, though well-intentioned, does
> not have the sole capacity to manage such pervasive issues-issues
> that have been traditionally handled with the active involvement of
> both parents," says Burns. "Though it is a stark example, it tells us
> that our policies toward unmarried parents and children do not work
> for everyone. Providing a better scenario for greater parental
> involvement would serve as a likely deterrent, so that our children
> do not have to go looking for a sense of family or belonging in the
> wrong places."
>
>
> Unhealthy Trend in Single Parenting; Parents Remain Under-represented
>
> Studies by the Census Bureau and other government agencies show that
> more than 40% of U.S. children will spend a significant part of their
> pre-adult life without the active involvement of one parent. "Parents
> are generally under-represented in our society and placed under
> greater pressure when they are devalued as a group," according to
> Michael McCormick, Executive Director of American Coalition for
> Fathers and Children, based in Washington, DC.
>
> "We live in a time when more and more children are growing up in
> single-parent homes. Whether the cause of this phenomenon is from the
> high rate of divorce, the result of unmarried childbearing or other
> influences, the outcome for our society hasn't been what it should
> be," says McCormick. "Parents are looking for affirmation and support
> in developing their most significant responsibility, and this is why
> we must do more to strengthen and nurture their position in our
> communities."
>
> For children raised in the absence of one parent, entrance into
> higher education is a common dilemma for social, academic, and
> financial reasons, according to recent studies. Academics from many
> sectors have indicated that the caliber of student coming into
> accredited 4-year college programs has been in a steady decline for
> more than forty years. Studies show that children with involved,
> loving parents are significantly more likely to do well in school,
> have healthy self-esteem, exhibit empathy and pro-social behavior,
> and avoid high-risk behaviors such as drug use, truancy, and criminal
> activity compared to children who have uninvolved parents.
>
> "The role that parents play in developing and cultivating their
> children, preparing them to accept their purpose as citizens in
> today's society, is probably the most important job anyone can ever
> undertake," says McCormick. "We need to assure that children have the
> opportunity to benefit from the unique contributions each parent
> makes to their development, regardless of the parent's present
> marital status."
>
>
> States Make Strides to Resolve Single Parenting; Link to Societal
> Issues
>
> According to a report issued by the Federal Interagency Forum on
> Child and Family Statistics entitled "America's Children: Key
> National Indicators of Well-Being," the rate of child abuse in single-
> parent families is nearly twice the rate of child abuse in two-parent
> households. Studies have shown that children fare better in
> communities that embrace the concept of shared parenting, where
> unmarried parents are able to spend more time with their children.
>
> "Because the health and well-being of children depend so much on how
> we value and  protect them, providing an opportunity for shared
> parenting is in their best interests," according to David L. Levy,
> Director of Children's Rights Council in Washington, D.C.  "While
> there has been a great deal of progress made in recent years, there
> is still much to be done. Our public policy doesn't create enough
> emphasis on the active involvement of both parents," says Levy.
>
> Oklahoma, Texas, Washington, DC, and most recently Iowa are among
> states that have updated their laws to reflect the changing needs of
> communities, with California, New York, Massachusetts, Illinois,
> Pennsylvania, and Tennessee considering similar changes.
>
> "Parents have been asking for these reforms for years. The difficulty
> we face is that this type of legislation often bogs down in lawyer-
> dominated judiciary committees," says McCormick. "In some states
> where there is a continual stream of parenting bills being
> introduced, you'll also notice poor compliance with child support and
> visitation laws. It indicates that parents are unhappy with these
> arrangements and want more equity. Unfortunately, our children and
> the communities where they reside are the ones who suffer the most.
> As an additional hurdle, there is judicial frustration of legislative
> intent when the judiciary does not respond accordingly to such hard
> won reforms. This creates an even larger burden, especially when
> parents become disaffected by the system or are treated as "visitors"
> in the lives of their own children and are prodded to walk away."
>
>
> Sustainability Indicators Put Health of Communities into Question
>
> Experts in the field of sustainable development note the carrying
> capacity of a community to absorb such problems can vary, depending
> on array of indictators such as human and social capital.
>
> "While each community should be afforded certain fundamental building
> blocks, it is clear that our current policies do not provide a
> sustainable environment for all," according to Burns. "In order for
> each community to thrive, we need to start with a public policy that
> helps us meet the needs of the present generation, without
> compromising the ability of future generations to do the same."
>
> "By fixing the issues associated with separated parents and children,
> we can foresee long-term gains in just about every category that
> determines the potential success of a community. It is both prudent
> and cost-effective to our bottomline to create an incentive for
> parents to stay close," says Burns. "Providing a better scenario for
> shared parenting enhances the potential for human and social capital
> to thrive in our communities, and that's what we need if were going
> to create safe, happy environments that protect the standing of
> parents and children."
>
> "Our goal in coming together to support this nationwide initiative is
> to develop efforts that lead to public policy acceptance of a simple
> premise: "Children Need Both Parents."
>
>
>                          #      #       #
>
>
> For more information, contact:
>
> Michael Burns
> Executive Director
> Dialog on Sustainable Community
> http://www.sustainable-community.org
> [email protected]
>
> Michael McCormick
> Executive Director
> American Coalition for Fathers and Children
> 1718 M. St. NW #187
> Washington, DC 20036
> [email protected]
>
> David L. Levy
> President
> Children's Rights Council
> 6200 Editors Park Drive, Suite 103
> Hyattsville, MD 20782
> 301.559.3120
> [email protected]
>
> Joseph Tybor
> Press Secretary for the Supreme Court of Illinois
> 222 N. LaSalle, 13th floor
> Chicago, IL 60601
> (312) 793-2323
>

[MYSONSDAD]

Wonderful! I am contacting Michael right now. He has a petition that I posted this week.

Thanks Kitty!!!!!!!!!

[Kitty C.]

Just received this from CNBP in regards to IL reforms:

Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2004 6:15 PM
Subject: [IPFC] Hearing on Proposed Supreme Court Rules Involving Child
Custody Laws


> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
>
>
>
> Hearing on Proposed Supreme Court Rules Involving Child Custody Laws;
> Groups to Ask for Sweeping Reforms
>
> Advocates Push for Shared Parenting as Alternative to Government
> Involvement in Families
>
> Chicago, IL (PRWEB) September 8, 2004 --  The Rules Committee of the
> Illinois Supreme Court announced today that it will hear comments at
> a public hearing on Friday, September 10th at 10:00 A.M. on several
> proposals including a set of rules for judges and lawyers emphasizing
> the importance of child custody proceedings. The rules pertaining to
> child custody are proposed by the Special Supreme Court Committee on
> Child Custody Issues which has been studying the need for changes
> since it was established by the Supreme Court on January 30, 2002.
> Community and family advocacy groups say that Illinois lags far
> behind other states in making changes to child custody laws, and will
> be asking for reforms aimed at encouraging shared parenting in the
> lives of children raised in single parent households.
>
> "Beyond the continuing cycle of government spending and involvement
> in the family, findings show that a renewed emphasis on parental
> involvement is needed, and our communities are ready for such a
> change," according to Michael Burns, Executive Director of the public
> interest group Dialog on Sustainable Community, based in Chicago,
> Illinois.
>
> "Parents are parents whether they are rich or poor, married,
> unmarried, single, or divorced. We need to affirm and protect their
> standing in the community and stop treating them as second-class
> citizens," says Burns. "Our high rate of divorce, juvenile
> incarceration, drug use and teen pregnancy should be enough to tell
> anyone that our public policy toward children and parents is an
> abominable failure that is worthy of review."
>
> Studies have shown that children raised without the active
> involvement of both parents experience greater rates of delinquency,
> suicide, poor academic performance, lower standards of living,
> incarceration, and other negative outcomes. Even after differences in
> income, children who were born out of wedlock and either remained in
> a single-parent family or whose mother subsequently married had
> significantly poorer math and reading scores and lower levels of
> academic performance than children from continuously married
> households, according to Elizabeth C. Cooksey, author
> of "Consequences of Young Mothers' Marital Histories for Children's
> Cognitive Development," published in the Journal of Marriage and the
> Family.
>
> Studies also acknowledge an increase in gang involvement by children
> who originate from single parenting households. In recent years, the
> Chicago Crime Commission has acknowledged an active gang membership
> of greater than 30,000 in the city of Chicago. "These numbers confirm
> the long held belief that government, though well-intentioned, does
> not have the sole capacity to manage such pervasive issues-issues
> that have been traditionally handled with the active involvement of
> both parents," says Burns. "Though it is a stark example, it tells us
> that our policies toward unmarried parents and children do not work
> for everyone. Providing a better scenario for greater parental
> involvement would serve as a likely deterrent, so that our children
> do not have to go looking for a sense of family or belonging in the
> wrong places."
>
>
> Unhealthy Trend in Single Parenting; Parents Remain Under-represented
>
> Studies by the Census Bureau and other government agencies show that
> more than 40% of U.S. children will spend a significant part of their
> pre-adult life without the active involvement of one parent. "Parents
> are generally under-represented in our society and placed under
> greater pressure when they are devalued as a group," according to
> Michael McCormick, Executive Director of American Coalition for
> Fathers and Children, based in Washington, DC.
>
> "We live in a time when more and more children are growing up in
> single-parent homes. Whether the cause of this phenomenon is from the
> high rate of divorce, the result of unmarried childbearing or other
> influences, the outcome for our society hasn't been what it should
> be," says McCormick. "Parents are looking for affirmation and support
> in developing their most significant responsibility, and this is why
> we must do more to strengthen and nurture their position in our
> communities."
>
> For children raised in the absence of one parent, entrance into
> higher education is a common dilemma for social, academic, and
> financial reasons, according to recent studies. Academics from many
> sectors have indicated that the caliber of student coming into
> accredited 4-year college programs has been in a steady decline for
> more than forty years. Studies show that children with involved,
> loving parents are significantly more likely to do well in school,
> have healthy self-esteem, exhibit empathy and pro-social behavior,
> and avoid high-risk behaviors such as drug use, truancy, and criminal
> activity compared to children who have uninvolved parents.
>
> "The role that parents play in developing and cultivating their
> children, preparing them to accept their purpose as citizens in
> today's society, is probably the most important job anyone can ever
> undertake," says McCormick. "We need to assure that children have the
> opportunity to benefit from the unique contributions each parent
> makes to their development, regardless of the parent's present
> marital status."
>
>
> States Make Strides to Resolve Single Parenting; Link to Societal
> Issues
>
> According to a report issued by the Federal Interagency Forum on
> Child and Family Statistics entitled "America's Children: Key
> National Indicators of Well-Being," the rate of child abuse in single-
> parent families is nearly twice the rate of child abuse in two-parent
> households. Studies have shown that children fare better in
> communities that embrace the concept of shared parenting, where
> unmarried parents are able to spend more time with their children.
>
> "Because the health and well-being of children depend so much on how
> we value and  protect them, providing an opportunity for shared
> parenting is in their best interests," according to David L. Levy,
> Director of Children's Rights Council in Washington, D.C.  "While
> there has been a great deal of progress made in recent years, there
> is still much to be done. Our public policy doesn't create enough
> emphasis on the active involvement of both parents," says Levy.
>
> Oklahoma, Texas, Washington, DC, and most recently Iowa are among
> states that have updated their laws to reflect the changing needs of
> communities, with California, New York, Massachusetts, Illinois,
> Pennsylvania, and Tennessee considering similar changes.
>
> "Parents have been asking for these reforms for years. The difficulty
> we face is that this type of legislation often bogs down in lawyer-
> dominated judiciary committees," says McCormick. "In some states
> where there is a continual stream of parenting bills being
> introduced, you'll also notice poor compliance with child support and
> visitation laws. It indicates that parents are unhappy with these
> arrangements and want more equity. Unfortunately, our children and
> the communities where they reside are the ones who suffer the most.
> As an additional hurdle, there is judicial frustration of legislative
> intent when the judiciary does not respond accordingly to such hard
> won reforms. This creates an even larger burden, especially when
> parents become disaffected by the system or are treated as "visitors"
> in the lives of their own children and are prodded to walk away."
>
>
> Sustainability Indicators Put Health of Communities into Question
>
> Experts in the field of sustainable development note the carrying
> capacity of a community to absorb such problems can vary, depending
> on array of indictators such as human and social capital.
>
> "While each community should be afforded certain fundamental building
> blocks, it is clear that our current policies do not provide a
> sustainable environment for all," according to Burns. "In order for
> each community to thrive, we need to start with a public policy that
> helps us meet the needs of the present generation, without
> compromising the ability of future generations to do the same."
>
> "By fixing the issues associated with separated parents and children,
> we can foresee long-term gains in just about every category that
> determines the potential success of a community. It is both prudent
> and cost-effective to our bottomline to create an incentive for
> parents to stay close," says Burns. "Providing a better scenario for
> shared parenting enhances the potential for human and social capital
> to thrive in our communities, and that's what we need if were going
> to create safe, happy environments that protect the standing of
> parents and children."
>
> "Our goal in coming together to support this nationwide initiative is
> to develop efforts that lead to public policy acceptance of a simple
> premise: "Children Need Both Parents."
>
>
>                          #      #       #
>
>
> For more information, contact:
>
> Michael Burns
> Executive Director
> Dialog on Sustainable Community
> http://www.sustainable-community.org
> [email protected]
>
> Michael McCormick
> Executive Director
> American Coalition for Fathers and Children
> 1718 M. St. NW #187
> Washington, DC 20036
> [email protected]
>
> David L. Levy
> President
> Children's Rights Council
> 6200 Editors Park Drive, Suite 103
> Hyattsville, MD 20782
> 301.559.3120
> [email protected]
>
> Joseph Tybor
> Press Secretary for the Supreme Court of Illinois
> 222 N. LaSalle, 13th floor
> Chicago, IL 60601
> (312) 793-2323
>

[MYSONSDAD]

Wonderful! I am contacting Michael right now. He has a petition that I posted this week.

Thanks Kitty!!!!!!!!!