Category: NPO in the media

January 5, 2015

On Dec. 19, MassLive.com, the site for The Republican, which serves as the newspaper for Springfield, Massachusetts, as well as western Massachusetts, published the op-ed “Study shows obstacles stand in the way of children’s best interests” by National Parents Organization Founder and Board Chair Ned Holstein, MD, MS.

“If we break out of our preoccupations with old debates, we can grasp new opportunities to help children,” Holstein wrote in the op-ed. “We now know that expanding shared parenting is a powerful tool that will improve children’s lives at no cost to the taxpayer. We need child advocates to pressure their legislators and courts to make the needed changes to custody law.”

State-by-State Analysis Highlights Parental Inequality Across the Nation

January 5, 2015

On Dec. 18, Edge Boston published the story “Study: Shared Parenting After Separation Benefits Children” on National Parents Organization’s Shared Parenting Report Card.

“Ned Holstein, M.D., M.S, Founder and Chair of the Board of Boston-based National Parents Organization, announced that multiple studies show obstacles stand in the way of children’s best interests,” the article said.

State-by-State Analysis Highlights Parental Inequality Across the Nation

January 5, 2015

On Dec. 18, DadsDivorce Live, a show from divorce attorneys Cordell & Cordell, featured National Parents Organization Founder and Board Chair Ned Holstein, MD, MS, as a guest. During the show, Holstein discussed the Shared Parenting Report Card findings, why states have failed to promote shared parenting and what needs to be done to improve states’ child custody statutes.

State-by-State Analysis Highlights Parental Inequality Across the Nation

December 16, 2014

On Dec. 16, Eminence, Kentucky, newspaper Henry County Local published the story “Shared custody is good for kids” on National Parents Organization’s Shared Parenting Report Card. The report quoted National Parents Organization Founder and Board Chair Ned Holstein, M.D., M.S.

The article read: “Despite what you might believe, shared parenting is not the norm in instances of divorce and separation. In fact, family courts award sole custody, usually to the mother, in over 80 percent of child custody cases,” said Ned Holstein, M.D., M.S., Founder and Chair, National Parents Organization. “Our report highlights that many states are not only discouraging shared parenting, but they are also depriving children of what they benefit from most — ample time with both of their parents — while also enabling a system that fosters parental inequality.”

State-by-State Analysis Highlights Parental Inequality Across the Nation

December 16, 2014

On Dec. 4, The Acorn in Agoura Hills, Cali., published the story “Dad walks 400 miles for vital cause” and highlighted National Parents Organization’s Shared Parenting Report Card.

The article featured the story of Patrick Glynn, a man who walked from Boston to Washington, D.C. to raise awareness of parental alienation.

“According to the National Parents Organization’s report, which rates each state’s shared parenting legislation, most earned a C or a D grade. California earned a D and New York an F,” the article stated.

State-by-State Analysis Highlights Parental Inequality Across the Nation

December 16, 2014

White Plains, NY, Community Media’s talk show “People To Be Heard” featured a discussion with National Parents Organization representatives on its Nov. 12 episode.

National Parents Organization National Board Member Betsy Barton and National Parents Organization of New York Chair Chris Howard appeared as guests on the show and spoke on the report card as well as the need for shared parenting after separation and divorce and efforts to reform child custody laws and court practices in New York and nationwide.

State-by-State Analysis Highlights Parental Inequality Across the Nation

December 8, 2014

On Dec. 7, 2014, the Virginian-Pilot published the op-ed “The best interests of the child” by National Parents Organization of Virginia Chair Christian Paasch. In the opinion piece, Paasch points to National Parents Organization’s Shared Parenting Report Card on the need for shared parenting.

“Let’s go back to June Cleaver for a moment and put ourselves in her shoes. Because as ridiculous as that might seem, that is exactly the kind of mindset in which the vast majority of our family courts currently operate. Today, most family courts routinely award sole custody following divorce or separation as the default. That’s despite research that clearly shows shared parenting – where both parents, who are proven to be competent, are fully engaged in their children’s lives – is best for children,” Paasch wrote in the op-ed.

State-by-State Analysis Highlights Parental Inequality Across the Nation

December 8, 2014

On Dec. 5, 2014, the Columbus Dispatch in Ohio published the op-ed “Shared parenting needs to be the goal” from Don Hubin, Ph.D., Chair of the Ohio Executive Committee and a member of the National Board of National Parents Organization. Hubin was one of the principal authors of National Parents Organization’s Shared Parenting Report Card, and his op-ed focuses on the report while calling for child custody reform.

“Is diminishing the role of one parent the unfortunate price we pay to promote the best interest of children? Some have thought so, but the evidence is against them. And the evidence is now overwhelming,” Hubin wrote in the op-ed. “Over the past three decades, there has been a growing consensus among social scientists that in the vast majority of cases, when parents separate, children are best off when their parents are equally involved.”

State-by-State Analysis Highlights Parental Inequality Across the Nation

December 5, 2014

On Nov. 27, The Herald News in Massachusetts published the op-ed “Time to reform family court practices” by National Parents Organization’s National Executive Director Rita Fuerst Adams, M.B.A. The opinion piece called for child custody changes in light of the poor state grades revealed by National Parents Organization’s Shared Parenting Report Card.

“The child custody status quo in our nation’s family courtrooms not only prevents children from developing loving bonds with both their parents after divorce or separation, it also dramatically impacts their health and well being. We should no longer stand by while our family courts have such a negative impact on millions of children across our nation,” Adams wrote in the op-ed.

Her piece continued, “Just as we encourage our children to earn grades that reflect their best efforts, our nation must make its best effort to improve the performance of its family court system and curb the negative impacts its actions are having on our children each and every day.”

State-by-State Analysis Highlights Parental Inequality Across the Nation

December 5, 2014

On Nov. 25, Vermont’s Brattleboro Reformer published an editorial supportive of shared parenting following the release of National Parents Organization’s Shared Parenting Report Card.

The editorial urged state leaders to react to the state’s D report card grade by making changes that embrace shared parenting.

“Many states have recognized the pain and suffering these custody laws were causing and are taking steps to modify their laws to force judges to presume that both parties are fit parents,” the newspaper’s opinion piece said.

The editorial continued, “Last year in Vermont H. 412 was introduced which seeks to amend the guidelines for determining custody and visitation to insure no child wrongfully has one of their parents ripped out of their lives. Unfortunately, the House Judiciary Committee put this on shelf. Hopefully in this legislative session those on the respective judiciary committees will reconsider the bill so that children of divorced parents have the equal time with each parent that they need.”

State-by-State Analysis Highlights Parental Inequality Across the Nation