Voice of the Child of Divorce

Published on Apr 20, 2014

"Dear Mom & Dad" was written by Monica Epperson, founder of The Child of Divorce. Monica experienced five divorces during her childhood and started The Child of Divorce to provide resources to children who are experiencing hurtful ramifications due to divorce.****

More resources available at http://thechildofdivorce.org/.

IF YOUR FAMILY IS EXPERIENCING AN EMERGENCY, PLEASE CONTACT AN ORGANIZATION TO ASSIST YOU DURING TIMES OF IMMEDIATE NEED.

CRISIS INTERVENTION & SUICIDE

Suicide and Crisis Center
Provides confidential telephone counseling and information.
www.sccenter.org
214-828-1000 (24 hr)

Spanish – National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
1-888-628-9454

ABUSE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE & RAPE

Turning Point
Provides telephone crisis intervention, counseling and support to victims of sexual assault, their families and friends
www.theturningpoint.org
800-886-RAPE (24 hr)

Parental Rights Amendment is Being Reintroduced: Share the News!!!

Exciting Days Ahead

[Sent 5/24/17]

The school year may be winding down, but things are just about to take off here at ParentalRights.org. The biggest item on the near horizon is the introduction of the Parental Rights Amendment (PRA) in both houses of Congress, which I expect to see very soon. But that’s not all that’s taking place during that time.

Movement in Maine - Main Supporters, Please Contact Lawmakers
For starters, our effort to pass parental rights legislation in Maine will face its final hurdles over the next several weeks. Supporters in the Pine Cone State are asked to contact your lawmakers and urge them to support Rep. Ellie Espling’s LD472. (If you haven’t already seen it, look for an update in the next couple of days with details and a link to find your Maine lawmakers – but if you already know how to contact them and what to say, there’s no need to wait; you can contact them today.)

Working to Change Child Welfare Laws
Next, the bipartisan coalition we’ve been telling you about will be meeting with Congressional staffers next week to spell out needed changes to child welfare laws. Together with our friends across the political spectrum, we plan to show that existing laws encourage states to intrude in homes unnecessarily. Then, we’ll enlist champions to amend those laws to keep families together instead.

Drumroll…Reintroduction of the Parental Rights Amendment in Both Houses
As I mentioned at the top, though, the biggest event of the summer will be the reintroduction of the Parental Rights Amendment in both houses of Congress.

With new leadership, a new administration, and big projects like tax reform underway, Washington is somewhat challenging right now, which means even common causes like parental rights move slowly. But we have strong supporters on Capitol Hill who understand that you want to protect your children. We are coordinating with them now to bring the Parental Rights Amendment back to Congress and ultimately make it a reality.

Once we have all the exact dates and details ironed out, we will need your help to get as many initial cosponsors on board as possible. So watch for that coming call blitz.

In the meantime, hang on tight. We’re in for an exciting ride in the weeks ahead!

Sincerely,


Michael Ramey
Director of Communications & Research

• News Archives
  • Parents of 50 Million to Lose Parental Rights
  • State of Parental Rights in America 2017
• Families in the News
• Parental Rights Unprotected
• Racial Discrimination & Parental Rights
• Disability Rights for Parents

The Logo of the Parental Rights Organization Says it ALL:

"Protecting Children by Empowering Parents"

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Learn "How To Win In Court" ... without a lawyer
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May you find Strength in Your Higher Power,
GranPa Chuck

Researcher, Editor, Publisher, Collector

 

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NY: Is Your Home Your Castle ----or Not?

Home School Legal Defense Association is appealing a judge’s erroneous ruling in favor of a police officer who forcibly entered a member family’s home.

Earlier this spring, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York determined that Lt. Joseph Buccilli could not have known he was doing wrong because the law in question is not specific enough. We have appealed in order to show not only that the officer clearly violated the Fourth Amendment, but that he did so in a way that adds to a troubling law enforcement trend.

The case began late in 2012 when HSLDA sued on behalf of Timothy, LuAnn and Joseph (Joe) Batt. On April 17, 2012, Buccilli forced his way into the Batt home without a warrant, ostensibly to investigate a tip alleging concerns about the care of LuAnn’s elderly father.

Dodging the Constitution?

At issue in this case are so-called welfare checks, which we believe are being used by some officials to circumvent constitutional protection for private citizens to be safe and secure in their homes.

Thanks in part to advocacy by HSLDA, most social services investigators no longer contend that they are exempt from Fourth Amendment restrictions. Instead, it seems more and more caseworkers are asking police to conduct “welfare checks,” apparently under the belief that the U.S. Constitution does not require warrants for state officials who are just checking on someone’s safety.

And in fact, the Western District judge did determine that the officer in the Batt case does enjoy qualified immunity, without ruling on whether he violated the Constitution.

Appealing to the Law

We contend that the judge is wrong and that the Batts’ rights were violated.

Numerous opinions in federal courts all the way up to the Supreme Court specifically declare that warrantless welfare checks in the home are subject to traditional Fourth Amendment analysis. Unless there is a clearly defined emergency, a state official simply cannot enter a home without a court order.

We intend to make this case when we file our opening brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

The outcome is important not just for the family’s sake, but because of the principles involved. As HSLDA has held since the time of our founding in 1983, the Fourth Amendment right of individuals to be protected in their own homes is not only a fundamental civil liberty; it complements the right of parents to direct the education of their children from the sanctuary of home.

As Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Cooley stated in 1868:

“The maxim that ‘every man’s house is his castle’ is made a part of our constitutional law in the clauses prohibiting unreasonable searches and seizures, and has always been looked upon as of high value to the citizen.”

For more information, visit our Batt case page.

DARREN JONES Litigation attorney

 

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Learn "How To Win In Court" ... without a lawyer
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May you find Strength in Your Higher Power,
GranPa Chuck

Researcher, Editor, Publisher, Collector