Parental Rights Amendment Celebrates 76 Cosponsors, Sets Sights on 100

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May 21, 2014 PRA Celebrates 76 Cosponsors, Sets Sights on 100 In the last week Representatives Ted Yoho (R-FL) and Mike Pompeo (R-KS) have become the 75th and 76th cosponsors, respectively, of HJRes. 50, the Parental Rights Amendment. They join lead sponsor Mark Meadows (R-NC) and other recent sponsors Dan Benishek (R-MI) and Lou Barletta (R-PA) in upholding the traditional liberty of parents to direct the upbringing, education, and care of their children as a constitutional right. This marks the third straight Congress in which the Amendment has reached this level of support. “Parents know what’s best for their children, and I’m pleased to support their right to raise their families as they see fit,” Rep. Pompeo explained in a statement. “Washington shouldn’t meddle with America’s families.” Congressman Mark Meadows agrees. “I’m pleased to see that so many of my colleagues recognize the importance of protecting parental rights from the whims of federal courts and international organizations,” Rep. Meadows said. “Government is constantly encroaching more and more into the private lives of Americans. This Amendment will ensure that government only be involved in child-rearing in the rare cases where the family has failed.” “On behalf of all American parents and their children we are grateful for the diligent leadership and faithful support of these congressmen for the Parental Rights Amendment,” ParentalRights.org President Michael Farris says. “This level of support not only from lawmakers but from their constituents demonstrates the tremendous importance Americans place on the liberty of parents in directing the upbringing of their children. This liberty is the most important safeguard by which to ensure freedom for future generations.” Excitement for reaching this milestone, however, is tempered by the realization that more cosponsors are needed as the measure moves towards a likely committee hearing in the coming months. To push it along, Rep. Meadows and ParentalRights.org have set a goal to bring the total to 100 cosponsors in the next two weeks. Action Item Please call your congressman and urge him or her to cosponsor HJRes 50, the Parental Rights Amendment, especially if he or she is listed below. This list contains those who have already cosponsored the Parental Rights Amendment in a prior Congress, but who have not yet signed on to HJRes. 50. These former cosponsors include: Representatives Bachus (AL-6), Blackburn (TN-7), Mo Brooks (AL-5), Cassidy (LA-6), Fleming (LA-4), Gosar (AZ-4), Kelly (PA-3), Latta (OH-5), Candice Miller (MI-10), Tim Murphy (PA-18), Nunnelee (MS-1), Olson (TX-22), Palazzo (MS-4), McMorris-Rodgers (WA-5), Ross (FL-15), Royce (CA-39), Schweikert (AZ-6), Sessions (TX-32), Shimkus (IL-15), Aderholt (AL-4), Boustany (LA-3), Kevin Brady (TX-8), Burgess (TX-26), Campbell (CA-45), Conaway (TX-11), Crenshaw (FL-4), Gohmert (TX-1), Sam Graves (MO-6), Hall (TX-4), Doc Hastings (WA-4), Hensarling (TX-5), Issa (CA-49), Sam Johnson (TX-3), Kingston (GA-1), LoBiondo (NJ-2), Lucas (OK-3), Luetkmeyer (MO-3), Kevin McCarthy (CA-23), McCaul (TX-10), McHenry (NV-10), McIntyre (NC-7), MeKeon (CA-25), Gary Miller (CA-31), Paulsen (MN-3), Petri (WI-6), Poe (TX-2), Posey (FL-8), Tim Price (GA-6), Roe (TN-1), Rooney (FL-17), Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27), Scalise (LA-1), Shuster (PA-9), Simpson (ID-2), Terry (NE-2), Glenn Thompson (PA-5), Turner (OH-10), Whitfield (KY-1), and Walden (OR-2). You can ask for you congressman’s office by name through the Capitol Switchboard – 202-224-3121 – or find more information by clicking on your state at parentalrights.org/states. When you call, let them know that you support the traditional high standard of parental rights, and that you are asking your congressman to do the same by contacting Mark Meadows’ office to cosponsor HJRes. 50. Tell them you would appreciate them making this a priority by signing on before their next recess on May 31. Then, pass this email along to family and friends who may join you in calling to protect this crucial liberty. Thank you so much for standing for parental rights and helping us to get this vital resolution into committee this summer! Sincerely, Michael Ramey Director of Communications & Research

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New Rise Magazine

New from Rise       May 2014 Resource Healing Together A resource guide to parent-child therapy in New York City. Most parents whose children enter foster care are required to take parenting classes. Usually, that has meant going to a weekly class. However, another kind of parenting program is parent-child therapy, where a therapist supports the parent in understanding and responding to the child's emotional needs. This special resource guide from Rise includes stories by real parents who have gone to parent-child therapy as well as a list of organizations that provide this service. >> Read more    'It Helps You Create That Special Bond' Two mothers explain how parent-child therapy helped them. Kira Santana and Sara Werner are two mothers who have gone to parent-child therapy at the Albert Einstein Early Childhood Center's Infant-Parent Project. Here they describe their experiences: >> Read more   Starting Strong Parent-child therapy helps parents and children build a lasting bond. Wendie Klapper, director of the Parent-Infant Center at Mt. Sinai-St. Luke's, explains how therapy can help parents and very young children build a stronger relationship. Strengthening that bond early on, she says, can benefit children throughout their lives. >> Read more

Rise | 80 E. 110th St. #1E | New York | NY | 10029

NCALP Weekly News Summary

May 19, 2014

If you are unable to access the links on this page click here. Follow us: Foster Care OHIO: “Bipartisan bill would extend Ohio’s foster care program” By: Tiffany L. Parks A pair of lawmakers from Akron and Napoleon has partnered to introduce a bill into the legislature that would extend foster care to youth through their 21st birthday. House Bill 423 would require the director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to submit an amendment to the state’s plan for child welfare services to make federal Title IV-E payments for foster care available to persons up to age 21. The bill is sponsored by Reps. Zack Milkovich a Democrat and Lynn Wachtmann, a Republican. To be eligible for program benefits a foster child must be completing secondary education or an equivalent credential, be enrolled in an institution that provides post –secondary or vocational education, participate in a program or activity designed to promote or remove barriers to employment; work at least 80 hours per month or be incapable of doing any of the previous activities because of a medical condition. There is strong evidence that allowing foster youth to remain in care until age 21 increases their likelihood of pursuing post-secondary education, adding that evidence shows allowing youth to stay in foster care until age 21 is associated with increased earnings, delayed pregnancy and reduced criminal activity among women. The Akron Legal News, May 12, 2014 For Full Article Click Here Foster Care WASHINGTON: “A new battle brewing over Braam” By: John Stang Seattle’s Columbia Legal Services filed a detailed motion in Whatcom County Superior Court on behalf of the state’s foster children. It asked the court to enforce the 2004 Braam settlement. Braam v.Washington is the 1998 lawsuit that accused the state Department of Social and Health Services of not meeting its constitutional duties to provide proper foster care. Jessica Braam one of the 13 plaintiffs had lived in 15 foster homes between the ages of 2 and 12, which was one impetus for the original suit. As part of the 2004 settlement, both sides agreed to set up a panel of child welfare experts that would oversee reform of the state’s foster care operations. The panel supervises efforts by DSHS to implement a list of 21 improvements. 14 of the 21 improvements have been met. Two of the measures will be difficult to meet because of how they are measured. These two are the number of youth who have run away from their foster homes and the length of time they are at large. Crosscut.com, May 11, 2014 For Full Article Click Here Adoption by same sex couples ALABAMA: “Married Couple Challenge Alabama’s Sanctity Laws” By: Chris Randolph Alabama used its unconstitutional “Sanctity Laws” to deny legally married women the right to adopt one of the women’s biological child. The women have been a couple for 14 years and were married in California in 2008. Their son, was born to one of the partners in 2005. The other partner filed a petition to adopt the child pursuant to Alabama law, which states “that any person may adopt his or her spouse’s child according to the provisions of this chapter.” The probate judge denied the petition claiming that the petitioner is not her partner’s spouse in Alabama. At issue is the constitutionality of Alabama’s Sanctity Laws, stemming from Amendment 774, the Sanctity of Marriage Amendment in the state constitution, which defines marriage “as a unique relationship between a man and a woman.” The same sex couple claims that Alabama’s Sanctity laws are arbitrary and capricious and create a second class group of citizens in violation of the 14th Amendment. The couple seeks an injunction requiring Alabama to recognize their marriage, and they want the adoption granted. Courthouse News Service, May 9, 2014 For Full Article Click Here Legislation FLORIDA: “Juvenile Justice, Foster Care Issues Gain in 2014 Session” The 2014 legislative session saw major gains for juvenile justice issues in Florida, while also seeking to bolster the independence of foster children. Lawmakers passed a rewrite of HB 7055 of laws governing the Department of Juvenile Justice, emphasizing prevention, increasing the agency’s accountability and creating a criminal penalty for the abuse or neglect of teens in its facilities. Lawmakers passed a juvenile-sentencing proposal HB 7035 that if signed by the governor will bring the state into compliance with two major US Supreme Court rulings. And the Legislature passed a measure HB 7141 aimed at Florida’s high rate of human trafficking activity, providing a wide array of services for sexually exploited children. Teens in foster care convinced lawmakers to help them learn to drive, just a year after the Legislature passed two other groundbreaking foster-care bills. The Legislature failed to agree on a plan for dividing the costs of juvenile-detention facilities between the state and counties. CBS Miami, May 12, 2014 For Full Article Click Here The preceding are summaries of adoption/child welfare law news articles prepared by The National Center for Adoption Law & Policy. These summaries are provided for your information only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Center. We strive to print news that reflects the diversity of our readership and a variety of viewpoints and approaches to child welfare issues. While we may not agree with a position taken, we believe in the critical importance to our constituents of impartial reporting.

NCALP Case Summary

May 19, 2014

If you are unable to access the links on this page click here. Follow us: CONSENT INDIANA: In re M.D. The Court of Appeals of Indiana affirmed the order of the trial court that Father’s consent was not required and approved the petition for adoption. Biological father drove while intoxicated killing a police officer. He was sentenced to thirty-one years in prison. During his incarceration father sent 5 to 6 letters each year to his child and made a couple of nominal support payments over 2 years. Eventually mother married another man and that man filed a petition to adopt. The court noted that the purpose of Indiana’s adoption statute is to protect and promote the welfare of children by providing them with stable family units. Father claims that his incarceration cannot be the sole reason for the court’s finding that he is unfit. The court noted that individuals who pursue criminal activity run the risk of being denied the opportunity to develop positive and meaningful relationships with their children. Here, father was sentenced to thirty –one years in prison for his criminal actions. The child would be close to 19 years old if released at his earliest release date. Father would be unable to provide physical care or financial support for the child within a meaningful time frame. The court affirmed the trial court’s finding of unfitness. Cite: No. 71A03 -1309-JP-363 (Court of Appeals of Indiana, May 9, 2014) 2014 Ind. App. Unpub. LEXIS 633 Link to Full Opinion CONSENT FLORIDA: In the Interest of I.B., a child The Court of Appeals of Florida, Fifth District affirmed the order of the trial court striking the adoption consent form executed by the biological mother. When biological mother signed the first consent form her attorney was not present. Mother also did not understand certain terms used at the consent proceeding and no one explained to her what the consent meant. Mother also felt pressured by her family to agree to the foster parents adopting her child. The court of appeals agreed with the trial court’s conclusion that the mother did not fully understand what she was signing, and the evidence introduced at trial supported that conclusion. The court of appeals also noted that it was not the appellate court’s function to re-weigh the credibility of the witnesses, and although the evidence of duress may have been limited, the mother’s testimony apparently believed by the trial judge was sufficient to establish duress. Cite: No. 5D13-2796 (Court of Appeal of Florida, Fifth District, May 9, 2014), 2014 Fla. App. LEXIS 6898 Link to Full Opinion BEST INTERESTS VIRGINIA: Douglas v. Lynchburg Dep’t of Soc. Servs. The Court of Appeals of Virginia affirmed the trial court’s order terminating Father’s parental rights to his three children, because father was responsible for the conditions leading to his children being placed in foster care. The court’s paramount consideration is the child’s best interests when addressing matters concerning the custody and care of a child. Biological father and mother had a prior history of domestic violence. Biological father also sold drugs from his home. Biological father’s actions following his children’s placement in foster care demonstrated his inability of unwillingness to substantially remedy the conditions that led to the children’s placement in foster care. The court also noted that the children were thriving in foster care, so the court affirmed the trial court ruling. Cite: Record No. 2176-13-3 (Court of Appeals of Virginia, May 6, 2014), 2014 Va. App. LEXIS 167 Link to Full Opinion INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT CALIFORNIA: In re Riley T., The Court of Appeals affirmed the court’s order placing the child in biological mother’s care under the Supervision of the Department of Children and Family Services (Department) and directing her to participate in family maintenance services. Mother contends the court erred in failing to give proper notice in compliance with the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 and in failing to make a proper ICWA inquiry. Biological mother had left the child in the care of biological father. He apparently abused the child and child was left in mother’s care under DCFS’s supervision. Mother had previously denied any Indian heritage but did fill out an ICWA form stating she may have Indian heritage from a great, great, great grandmother. The Department followed up with an ICWA investigation, and the two tribes in question found no evidence that the child was a member of either tribe. The court of appeals noted that the purpose of ICWA is to protect and promote the interest of Indian children. ICWA requires notice to federally recognized tribes when there is reason to know an Indian child is affected by dependency proceedings. The Court described what is required in a notice to the tribe. The court concluded that since Mother had no specific tribal information there was no duty to notify a specific tribe. The court was required to make a finding as to whether ICWA applies to the proceedings, but in light of the fact that notices were sent and the agencies responded, the failure to make a finding in this case is not reversible error. Any error was harmless. Cite: B249550 (Court of Appeal of California, Second Appellate District, May 7, 2014) 2014 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 3223 Link to Full Opinion The preceding are summaries of adoption/child welfare law cases prepared by The National Center for Adoption Law & Policy. These summaries are provided for your convenience and information only and are not intended to be complete statements of the law embodied in the cases, interpretations of the law, or expressions of opinion as to the status of the law.  Some of the cases summarized may not be deemed "final" or "published" under the law of the jurisdiction in which the case was decided; such cases may therefore have limited precedential value.  For specific guidance on an adoption law issue, or for an interpretation of or an opinion about the law, we suggest that you consult a legal professional who is familiar with the laws of your jurisdiction

She will hang

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Take Action  |  Contribute   Like     f   Like this on Facebook   A Christian woman, Meriam Ibrahim, has been sentenced to hang. Sudan says she must die because she is a Christian. She is pregnant; and before they execute her, they will punish her with 100 lashes because she married an American Christian. Her other child - a 20-month-old boy, a U.S. citizen - is being forced to suffer in prison with her. The Sudanese judge who sentenced her to death gave her three chances to recant - to abandon her Christian faith. Meriam refused. "I am a Christian, and I will remain a Christian," she said. She won't abandon her faith. We must not abandon her. We're aggressively mobilizing our international teams to save her life. She must be freed; her American son must be freed. Your voice can make the difference, but time is of the essence. Be heard. Sign Our Urgent Petition at the Be Heard Project: Save Meriam. Jay Sekulow ACLJ Chief Counsel Contribute Now Like     f   Like this on Facebook   To ensure that you continue to receive e-mails from the ACLJ, please add jay.sekulow@email.aclj.org to your address book.     Connect to ACLJ Facebook Twitter YouTube Connect to Jay Sekulow Facebook Twitter YouTube Connect to Our Apps Facebook App iPhone App iPad App The ACLJ is an organization dedicated to the defense of constitutional liberties secured by law. American Center for Law and Justice is a d/b/a for Christian Advocates Serving Evangelism, Inc., a tax-exempt, not-for-profit, religious corporation as defined under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, specifically dedicated to the ideal that religious freedom and freedom of speech are inalienable, God-given rights. The Center's purpose is to engage legal, legislative and cultural issues by implementing an effective strategy of advocacy, education and litigation to ensure that those rights are protected under the law. The organization has participated in numerous cases before the Supreme Court, Federal Court of Appeals, Federal District Courts, and various state courts regarding freedom of religion and freedom of speech. Your gift is very much appreciated and fully deductible as a charitable contribution. A copy of our latest financial report may be obtained by writing to us at P.O. Box 90555, Washington, DC 20090-0555. As always, let us know of threats to freedom in your area by calling (757) 226-2489. And tune in to our daily radio program, "Jay Sekulow Live!" Do not send a response message to this e-mail for any reason. Legal requests will not be answered through jsekulow@aclj.org. Legal requests must be submitted at ACLJ.org. HOW CAN I SUPPORT THE AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE? Make a secure online donation. For other ways to support the ACLJ at no additional cost to you, go here. Copyright © 2014, ACLJ | Privacy & Security Policy | Register at ACLJ | Unsubscribe

National Fatherhood Conference

UPCOMING EVENTS 9th Annual National Fatherhood Conference  There is NO reason we should not see you at this event. Free Conference, Child care, Credit Clinic, Education Fair, Legal Clinic, Workshops, Breakfast, Lunch and a Health Fair! Also, State of Fatherhood Address! Register > The MY HERO/MY DAD Essay Contest  TEAR JERKER! This Annual essay contest is compiled of essays from students all over the city and state. Each writing about there father or their hero. How these males changed their lives. Get your children to enter today!  Register > 5th Annual Daddy Daughter Dance  Imagine the Oscars and the Land of Far Far Away combined. A Gala, A Ball an elegant affair for every King and Queen to attend. Ladies from all ages eat, and dance the night away. A Relationship that is Guaranteed to last forever! Register > Saturday June 7. 2014 Day & Night Events PA Convention Ctr. 1201 Arch Street Phila PA, 19102 Daddy University Inc. JUNE IS THE NEW JANUARY! June is going to be the NEW beginning of the year. After these events your life will take a change for the better. Since 2009 we have assisted over 5,000 fathers though our events, classes and programs, and we are just getting started. Hundreds of men will converge on the PA Convention Ctr. this June 7th, make sure you are there! REGISTER Forward this email STAY CONNECTED             Copyright © 2004. All Rights Reserved.

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Liberty Quotes - Milton Friedman, Thomas Jefferson, W. Somerset Maugham

"[U]nemployment is ... a side effect of the cure for inflation."
-- Milton Friedman
(1912-2006) Nobel Prize-winning economist, economic advisor to President Ronald Reagan, "ultimate guru of the free-market system"
Source: "Inflation and Jobs" (Nov. 12, 1979)
http://quotes.liberty-tree.ca/quote_blog/Milton.Friedman.Quote.7960


"Were we directed from Washington
when to sow and when to reap,
we should soon want bread."
-- Thomas Jefferson
(1743-1826), US Founding Father, drafted the Declaration of Independence, 3rd US President
http://quotes.liberty-tree.ca/quote_blog/Thomas.Jefferson.Quote.70E7


"You can't learn too soon that the most useful thing about a principle is that it can always be sacrificed to expediency."
-- W. Somerset Maugham
(1874-1965)
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