Category: Press Releases

NATIONAL PARENTS ORGANIZATION | PRESS RELEASE

October 2, 2018

Divorce remains the most common type of domestic relations case in state courts, and while the number of new filings stabilized in recent years, a lack of resources and funding can often lead to delays in receiving a ruling.

Due to dwindling resources and turnover among family court judges, hearings can often be pushed backed and create an environment of uncertainty for the thousands of children caught in the middle. National Parents Organization (NPO) believes family court outcomes should be as prompt as possible to assist children in maintaining the important relationships with both the mother and father following a divorce or separation.

“There are too many instances where parents are denied access to a child or are losing jobs and homes due to a backlog of court cases,” said Petra Maxwell, Executive Director of NPO. “We do not have the proper resources allocated in our family court system to handle this very important part of our domestic relations judicial process. This is a widespread problem that creates unnecessary issues for families in need of a prompt resolution in order to properly address the well-being of their children.”

According to the Court Statistics Project, one divorce is filed per 200 people in the United States every year. Domestic relations cases, especially those involving child support and custody, are often returned to the court’s docket for additional action.

However, thousands of cases are being handled in a system with a shortage of judges and support staff, inadequate opportunities for emergency hearings and inefficient processes that result in cases being bounced around. A recent news report out of Pennsylvania highlighted a woman being forced to incur losses of thousands of dollars on a new home because the family court could not make a ruling on parental custody in an adequate amount of time.

A recent study in California identified a need to address the backlog of files, with the courts enlisting and training volunteer attorneys and mediators to help in the process.

Current research shows an uncontested divorce can be completed in nine months, but that time frame grows to almost 18 months when any matters are disputed. Thirteen states, including Kentucky and Virginia in the past year, have enacted shared parenting laws, which seek to provide an assumption of equal time with both parents whenever possible.

“When both parents are willing participants in their children’s lives, the courts should do whatever possible to help facilitate those outcomes,” Maxwell said. “Shared parenting as a starting point in default parenting plans maintains judicial discretion but creates an opportunity for children to maintain a relationship with mom and dad and hopefully ease the strain on contested proceedings that further burden the system’s resources.”

ABOUT NATIONAL PARENTS ORGANIZATION
National Parents Organization, a charitable and educational 501 (c)(3) organization, seeks better lives for children through family law reform that establishes equal rights and responsibilities for fathers and mothers after divorce or separation. The organization is focused on promoting shared parenting and preserving a child’s strong bonds with both parents, which is critically important to their emotional, mental, and physical health. National Parents Organization released the Shared Parenting Report Card, the first study to rank the states on child custody laws, and in 2017, National Parents Organization hosted the International Conference on Shared Parenting, bringing in research scholars from 18 countries to share their results on shared parenting. Visit the National Parents Organization website at www.nationalparentsorganization.org

NATIONAL PARENTS ORGANIZATION | PRESS RELEASE

September 28, 2018

During Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, the National Parents Organization strongly favors policies and programs that protect youth from the effects a parental separation or divorce and are, therefore, at greater risk of suicide attempts.

The Lancet, a weekly peer-reviewed journal, found in a 2003 study that children in single-parent households are more than twice as likely to be at risk of suicide attempts. According to federal statistics, children raised by single parents and without regular and consistent contact with the other loving, fit parent, accounts for 63 percent of teen suicides.

“Research shows that a parental separation or divorce can lead to complex emotions for young children,” said Petra Maxwell, Executive Director for National Parents Organization. “By giving children the opportunity to continue positive, loving relationships with both parents, and allowing children to talk about their feelings can be very important for dealing with the aftereffects. NPO supports legislation that awards shared and equal, or near equal, custody by both fit parents in order to ensure a positive and nurturing environment for children.”

These risks extend throughout a family affected by divorce.

The University of California-Riverside conducted a study examining marital status and suicide and found that the risk of suicide among divorced men was more than double that of married men, and divorced men are as much as eight times more likely to attempt or commit suicide than divorced women, overall.

Research from sociology professors at the University of California suggests that many suicides of divorced men result from the separation between father and child. This same relationship severance can create a difficult strain on children.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there was a 24 percent increase in suicides in the United States in the 15 years between 1999 and 2014, and suicide remains the second-leading cause of death for youth in the age range of 12 to 18.

The CDC reports that each day there is an average of 3,041 suicide attempts from high-school aged children, and 8.6 percent of youth in a 2015 Youth Risk Behaviors survey reported at least one suicide attempt in the 12-month period preceding the outreach.

As the divorce rate in America has grown to about 50 percent in recent decades, suicide rates among youth has also grown.

“Our society needs to do all that it can to protect the best interest, health and wellbeing of our children, including those whose parents are unfortunately divorced or separated,” Maxwell said. “Considering millions of children are impacted by divorce each year and our family courts place them in single parent homes in nearly 80 percent of cases, our children deserve to have the system re-evaluated especially given the alarming suicide statistics regarding those raised in single-parent/sole-custody households.”

ABOUT NATIONAL PARENTS ORGANIZATION
National Parents Organization, a charitable and educational 501 (c)(3) organization, seeks better lives for children through family law reform that establishes equal rights and responsibilities for fathers and mothers after divorce or separation. The organization is focused on promoting shared parenting and preserving a child’s strong bonds with both parents, which is critically important to their emotional, mental, and physical health. National Parents Organization released the Shared Parenting Report Card, the first study to rank the states on child custody laws, and in 2017, National Parents Organization hosted the International Conference on Shared Parenting, bringing in research scholars from 18 countries to share their results on shared parenting. Visit the National Parents Organization website at www.nationalparentsorganization.org

NATIONAL PARENTS ORGANIZATION | PRESS RELEASE

July 30, 2018

A recent study showed that Arizona family law professionals have a positive view of the state’s shared parenting law overall and its impact on children’s best interest — even among those generally found to be the harshest critics of such laws.

Published in the Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, the April 2018 study presents the results of an evaluation conducted of Arizona Revised Statutes 25-403.02 (2013), which directed courts to “maximize” a child’s time with both parents in custody decisions. This study included a statewide survey of the four family law professions (court staff, judges, mental health providers and attorneys) to assess perceptions four years after passage of the legislation.

The consensus showed that the law led to an increase in parenting time for fathers, with “good dads” now virtually assured of receiving equal parenting rights. At the same time, there was shown to be no noticeable increase in legal conflict leading up to custodial decisions.

“These findings are extremely encouraging and reinforce the idea that shared parenting benefits children,” said Petra Maxwell, Executive Director of the National Parents Organization. “The bill in Arizona specifically did not include presumption language related to parenting time, and courts have been directed only to maximize opportunities for both parents. Judges have been free to interpret the meaning of ‘maximize.’ Shared parenting has become the apparent starting point, and the positive perception of the law clearly indicates that courts continue to use judicial latitude when determining the best interests of a child.”

The authors of the study received responses from 209 family law professionals in Arizona. This number represented 11 percent of the state’s attorneys, 40 percent of judges, 50 percent of mental health practitioners, and 82 percent of county conciliation court staff, which includes mediators, attorneys, conciliators, counselors and evaluators employed by the court.

Survey questions were formatted using a 1- to 5-point Likert scale with a neutral midpoint (3) and 5 being the most positive. Ratings were averaged across the four professions to obtain a comprehensive perspective that gave equal weight to each profession.

The results showed a moderate increase in parenting time with fathers, averaging out to a 4.04 response. Additionally, the overall perception of the law was positive, with an average response of 3.53, and the perception of its effect on the child’s best interests had a positive rating of 3.40.

Conciliation staff and judges showed the most favorability, while attorneys and mental health professionals showed a nearly equal split between positive and negative.

“Shared parenting continues to be the best outcome for children,” Maxwell said. “Special interest groups continue to push the incorrect idea that these laws take away a court’s ability to exercise judgment, and the results of this survey dispel that myth. Opposition to these laws generally comes from groups who profit the most off of our broken family court system, but this study demonstrates that the judiciary will continue to have the discretion to award child support orders that protect the interests of children at all costs. Other states would be wise to take into account these results when looking at passing their own legislation.”

BACKGROUND

In January 2013, Arizona became the first state to order that, “Consistent with the child’s best interests … the court shall adopt a parenting plan that maximizes [both parents’] respective parenting time” (Arizona Revised Statutes 25-403.02). According to one of the authors of the study, it was critical to educate attorneys, judges and mediators for several years prior to January 2013 on the benefits of this law and that it would not limit judicial discretion.

The governor’s signed statement released to the media said, “The ultimate goal is to limit one-sided custody decisions and to encourage as much shared parent–child time as possible for the positive development of the child.”

ABOUT NATIONAL PARENTS ORGANIZATION
National Parents Organization, a charitable and educational 501 (c)(3) organization, seeks better lives for children through family law reform that establishes equal rights and responsibilities for fathers and mothers after divorce or separation. The organization is focused on promoting shared parenting and preserving a child’s strong bonds with both parents, which is critically important to their emotional, mental, and physical health. National Parents Organization released the Shared Parenting Report Card, the first study to rank the states on child custody laws, and in 2017, National Parents Organization hosted the International Conference on Shared Parenting, bringing in research scholars from 18 countries to share their results on shared parenting. Visit the National Parents Organization website at www.nationalparentsorganization.org

NATIONAL PARENTS ORGANIZATION | PRESS RELEASE

July 13, 2018

BOSTON — National Parents Organization commends the Massachusetts House of Representatives for passing an important child custody bill that not only encourages shared parenting in instances of divorce but also stands to improve the health and well-0being of thousands of children throughout the state.

Eighteen distinguished stakeholders former Gov. Deval Patrick appointed to the Massachusetts Working Group on Child-Centered Family Law, including NPO’s Dr. Ned Holstein and Richard Fucillo, helped draft House Bill 3090, which now goes before the Senate. This legislation specifically takes into account the children’s best interest — a phrase specifically used seven times in the text of the bill — and encourages outcomes of shared parental responsibility when possible while completely preserving judicial discretion.

“We encourage the Senate to look past the special interests that benefit from our broken family court system and focus instead on what children most want and need — as much time as possible with both parents, especially in instances of divorce or separation,” said Holstein, Founder and Chair of National Parents Organization. “This scenario represents a classic case of what an overwhelming majority of Massachusetts residents want and what is best for our children versus the desires of special interest groups who are fighting to protect the status quo.”

Massachusetts Residents Favor Shared Parenting

A Massachusetts non-binding ballot initiative demonstrated that 86 percent of residents voted in favor of shared parenting in instances of divorce. Meanwhile, our family courts continue to deprive children of that outcome by making one parent primary custodian in a child’s life and the other a visitor in an overwhelming majority of cases.

Research Favors Shared Parenting

At the same time, a growing amount of research shows that children benefit most from having equal time with both parents while special interest groups continue to rally against parental equality in the family courts. Examples of this research include:

·      The Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health published a 150,000-person study that concluded shared parenting after divorce or separation is in the best interest of children’s health.

·      The Journal of the American Psychological Association published a paper endorsed by 110 eminent authorities around the world that concluded, “… shared parenting should be the norm for parenting plans for children of all ages, including very young children.”

·      The Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) published the recommendations of 32 family law experts, who concluded that “Children’s best interests are furthered by parenting plans that provide for continuing and shared parenting relationships that are safe, secure, and developmentally responsive…”

Shared Parenting Receives Unanimous Senate Support in AZ, KY, MO, SD, UT

Shared parenting legislation has recently received unanimous support through Senate votes in Arizona, Kentucky, Missouri, South Dakota and Utah, as well as overwhelming support from Senate bodies in numerous other states.

“Massachusetts has been leading this conversation for years, and we are hopeful that our Senate will follow its talk with action by voting to pass this important legislation,” Holstein added. “The bottom line is that the health of our children hangs in the balance with the effects of our family courts placing them in harms way.”

Children’s Health and Well Being Improved with Shared Parenting

According to federal statistics from sources including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Census Bureau, children raised by single parents account for:
      

• 63 percent of teen suicides
• 70 percent of juveniles in state-operated institutions
• 71 percent of high school drop-outs
• 75 percent of children in chemical abuse centers
• 85 percent of those in prison
• 85 percent of children who exhibit behavioral disorders
• 90 percent of homeless and runaway children

At the same time, in a recent study — titled Joint Versus Sole Physical Custody: Children’s Outcomes Independent of Parent–Child Relationships, Income, and Conflict in 60 Studies — Linda Nielsen evaluated outcomes in a volume of research studies that found, for example:

·     

• One of the greatest advantages of joint physical custody are improved family relationships and better physical and mental health
• Specifically, Nielsen’s research found that children in shared parenting arrangements had closer, communicative relationships with both parents and grandparents
• As a result, Nielsen continued that “children who have close relationships with their grandparents after their parents separate are better adjusted emotionally and behaviorally than those who do not”
• Additionally, a number of the studies found that children with shared parenting arrangements were “physically healthier and had fewer psychosomatic, stress-related problems (insomnia, intestinal problems, headaches, etc.)
• In a large number of studies, children with shared parenting also had fewer issues relating to depression, life satisfaction, anxiety and self-esteem
• Research also shows that children in shared parenting environments are better adjusted and have fewer behavioral issues dealing with drinking, smoking, using drugs, being aggressive, bullying, committing delinquent acts, etc.

ABOUT NATIONAL PARENTS ORGANIZATION
National Parents Organization, a charitable and educational 501 (c)(3) organization, seeks better lives for children through family law reform that establishes equal rights and responsibilities for fathers and mothers after divorce or separation. The organization is focused on promoting shared parenting and preserving a child’s strong bonds with both parents, which is critically important to their emotional, mental, and physical health. National Parents Organization released the Shared Parenting Report Card, the first study to rank the states on child custody laws, and in 2017, National Parents Organization hosted the International Conference on Shared Parenting, bringing in research scholars from 18 countries to share their results on shared parenting. Visit the National Parents Organization website at www.nationalparentsorganization.org

NATIONAL PARENTS ORGANIZATION | PRESS RELEASE

May 21, 2018

RICHMOND, VA. – National Parents Organization is excited to announce another historic event: As of midnight, May 18, 2018, Virginia’s House Bill 1351 became law (effective date July 1, 2018).

This opens the door to a more robust shared parenting law in the future.

Delegate Glenn Davis, R-House District 84, sponsored the bill (HB 1351) and stated, “I am proud to have led the first successful passing of any kind of shared parenting bill in the history of the Commonwealth. This bill represented all Virginian families and children and was supported by both political parties, as well as The Family Foundation and the Family Law Coalition.”

This law is the first step in a longer journey and both the House and Senate unanimously passed it, which is a testament to its bipartisan nature. Importantly, this law leaves in place existing provisions that account for histories of domestic violence or other abuse.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled for the families of Virginia. We want to thank our legislators, especially Delegate Glenn Davis whose collaborative leadership is unmatched, and Governor Northam for acting unanimously on the overwhelming research that shows children do best when the time they spend with each of their loving parents is maximized,” said Christian Paasch, Chair of National Parents Organization of Virginia. “I am proud to now be able to say that the Commonwealth has started to align its child custody laws with decades of child development research. We still have work to do and we look forward to continuing this important work with our legislators, but we are heartened by the passing of HB 1351.”

As The Washington Post reported, more than 20 states have recently considered legislation supportive of shared parenting – a flexible, collaborative, and safe child custody arrangement that seeks to maximize a child’s time with each parent. Virginia’s passage of HB 1351 comes on the heels of Kentucky signing a much stronger, rebuttable presumption of shared parenting into law last month.

Virginia’s new law requires the court to formally consider joint/shared custody on par with sole custody. While some might argue that Virginia’s statutes already allow for such a consideration, the truth is that approximately 85% of the time, sole or primary custody is still awarded. Unfortunately, children in sole custody arrangements are exposed to a multitude of risks, such as teen suicide, school dropouts, and behavioral disorders. Approximately 60 studies from numerous states and countries, and spanning several decades, have shown that on every metric of well-being, children do better in shared parenting situations than in sole custody situations (see “Recent Research” below).

A trend toward shared parenting has gained steam in recent years. It has been the usual arrangement for several years in Sweden, Belgium, and Australia, and research there has shown much better outcomes for children. A handful of states have had similar laws for several years, and each year, a few more states follow suit and join the modern world in doing what is best for children: shared parenting. A soon-to-be-published study on Arizona’s law found that judges, attorneys, conciliation court staff, and mental health professionals evaluated its shared custody law positively overall, and positively in terms of its effects on children.

“Because of this new law in Virginia, the Commonwealth has taken an important first step to improve children’s educational achievements, decrease their use of drugs, give them a greater sense of security, and improve their overall health and adjustment. We look forward to seeing Virginia continue down the path toward true shared parenting, which is good for mothers, good for fathers, and best for children and families.” Paasch said. “Please join us in celebrating this landmark action!” 

RECENT RESEARCH: SHARED PARENTING VERSUS SINGLE PARENTING

Shared Parenting Data

• In January 2018, The Journal of Child Custody published an update on child development research surrounding what’s best for kids when parents divorce or separate. In the update, Linda Nielsen, a Wake Forest University professor of adolescent and educational psychology, analyzed 60 studies spanning multiple decades and numerous countries. She concluded that shared parenting is better for children than single parenting on almost every measure of wellbeing. 

• In September 2017, Acta Paediatrica, a peer-reviewed medical journal in the field of pediatrics, published a paper by Swedish researcher Malin Bergstrom of the Karolinska Institute titled “Preschool children living in joint physical custody arrangements show less psychological symptoms than those living mostly or only with one parent” – it concluded the mental health of children ages three to five with shared parenting is better on average than the mental health of those in the care of a single parent.

• The Journal of the American Psychological Association published a paper titled “Social Science and Parenting Plans for Young Children: A Consensus Report” in 2014, and the conclusions were endorsed by 110 eminent authorities around the world. Authored by Dr. Richard Warshak at the University of Texas, the paper concluded, “… shared parenting should be the norm for parenting plans for children of all ages, including very young children.

• In 2016, Dr. Warshak wrote, “Two years after its publication, the conclusions and recommendations of the Warshak consensus report remain supported by science.” He also wrote, “The paper has been translated into at least eighteen languages and has informed legislative deliberations throughout the U.S. and parliamentary deliberations in several countries including the United Kingdom, Canada, Israel, Finland, Romania, Croatia, and Sweden. Two years after its publication, the consensus report continues to be one of the most downloaded papers from the journal’s website.” He added, “The list of endorsers and their stature and accomplishments reflect the field’s general acceptance of the consensus report’s findings as rooted in settled science from more than four decades of research directly relevant to this topic, including seminal studies by many of the endorsers.”

• The Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health published a 150,000-person study titled “Fifty moves a year: Is there an association between joint physical custody and psychosomatic problems in children?” in May 2015 that concluded shared parenting after divorce or separation is in the best interest of children’s health because the arrangement lowers their stress levels.

• The Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) published the recommendations of 32 family law experts in 2014, and the group concluded, “Children’s best interests are furthered by parenting plans that provide for continuing and shared parenting relationships that are safe, secure, and developmentally responsive and that also avoid a template calling for a specific division of time imposed on all families.”

• In December, 2016, The American Psychological Association published research by William V. Fabricius of Arizona State University in the journal Psychology, Public Policy and Law entitled, “Should Infants and Toddlers Have Frequent Overnight Parenting Time With Fathers? The Policy Debate and New Data.” Prof Fabricius’ findings provide “… strong support for policies to encourage frequent overnight parenting time [up to and including 50/50 overnights –Ed] for infants and toddlers [even younger than one year –Ed], because the benefits [for children-Ed] associated with overnights also held for parents who initially agreed about overnights as well as for those who disagreed and had the overnight parenting plan imposed over 1 parent’s objections.” Fabricius shared details on his findings during the International Conference on Shared Parenting 2017, a May 29-30, 2017 event in Boston, Massachusetts hosted by National Parents Organization and the International Council on Shared Parenting.

Single Parenting Data
According to federal statistics from sources including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Census Bureau, children raised by single parents account for:

• 63% of teen suicides;
• 70% of juveniles in state-operated institutions;
• 71% of high school drop-outs;
• 75% of children in chemical abuse centers;
• 85% of those in prison;
• 85% of children who exhibit behavioral disorders; and
• 90% of homeless and runaway children.

ABOUT NATIONAL PARENTS ORGANIZATION
National Parents Organization, a charitable and educational 501 (c)(3) organization, seeks better lives for children through family law reform that establishes equal rights and responsibilities for fathers and mothers after divorce or separation. The organization is focused on promoting shared parenting and preserving a child’s strong bonds with both parents, which is critically important to their emotional, mental, and physical health. National Parents Organization released the Shared Parenting Report Card, the first study to rank the states on child custody laws, and in 2017, National Parents Organization hosted the International Conference on Shared Parenting, bringing in research scholars from 18 countries to share their results on shared parenting. Visit the National Parents Organization website at www.nationalparentsorganization.org

NATIONAL PARENTS ORGANIZATION | PRESS RELEASE
May 11, 2018

National Parents Organization is thrilled to announce that Petra Maxwell, JD, is its new executive director.

“I am looking forward to taking on the challenge of ensuring that our legal system is more responsive to the true needs of children and parents after divorce. Unfortunately, many states still have antiquated laws about child custody and child support that have the effect of unfairly punishing the non-custodial parent. In the end, the people that are hurt the most are the children because they need both parents in their lives,” Maxwell said. “I am excited by the mission of National Parents Organization and its potential to impact hundreds of thousands of people through its mission.”

Ned Holstein, MD, the founder and board chair of National Parents Organization, said: “I speak for everyone involved with National Parents Organization and family court reform in saying we are elated to welcome Petra. With her experience and dedication to our mission, I’m confident National Parents Organization will rocket to new heights under her leadership.”

After graduating from Harvard Law School, Maxwell spent the early days of her career as a Policy Associate for the Mayor of Chicago. From there, she founded and led a 24-hour, volunteer-based grass roots nonprofit, First Defense Legal Aid, benefitting Chicago residents in need of free legal defense services after arrest. There, she drafted and secured passage for Illinois legislation to protect the legal rights of juveniles in custody, winning several awards for her work.

After moving to New York City in 1997, Maxwell continued to lead and provided legal counsel to youth development and social service nonprofit organizations. Her work on behalf of such organizations led to her appointment by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to work on key initiatives to improve the State’s partnership with its nonprofit organizations. Among her achievements were the creation of the NY State-wide Prequalification System for nonprofits, and the reshaping of contract procedures for the New York State Council on the Arts in order to improve efficiency of services and payments to grantees dependent on State support.

Maxwell’s personal experiences played a role in her decision to join National Parents Organization.

“I am a divorced mother of a teenager. But our son was very young when my ex-husband and I were first divorced. Because my son’s father was focused on his career, and because there was a legal presumption in NY that I, as the mother of a toddler, would be the custodial parent, I had my son for roughly 75% of the time. My son is truly my greatest joy in life, but my career took a nosedive during the early period after our divorce. It was very, very hard for me personally and financially. A few years later, my ex and I renegotiated our parenting plan on our own and settled on a 50-50 shared plan. My son was much happier, and it was the first time I felt some relief and was able to get my feet back on the ground professionally so I could earn enough to support my child.

After this period in my life, I became a Certified Family Mediator to help other parents going through divorce and to advocate for shared parenting. In NY, there is still a presumption that one parent will be the custodial parent. Until the law changes – and I hope NPO can influence that change – crafting a settlement agreement through mediation is often the best alternative.

National Parents Organization’s work begins with the premise that children need access to both parents in order to lead happy and healthy lives. Even if parents have separated or divorced, ample research shows that continued and consistent access to loving, fit parents has a measurable, positive impact on a child’s self-esteem, mental health, overall wellbeing and long-term success.   To carry out its mission, National Parents Organization advocates for shared parenting by reforming state legislation in order to presume equal custody between two fit parents after a divorce or separation. As the Washington Post recently reported, the organization has propelled legislation supportive of shared parenting – where children spend as close to equal time as possible with both parents – forward throughout the nation.

RECENT RESEARCH: SHARED PARENTING VERSUS SINGLE PARENTING
Shared Parenting Data

• In January 2018, The Journal of Child Custody published an update on child development research surrounding what’s best for kids when parents divorce or separate. In the update, Linda Nielsen, a Wake Forest University professor of adolescent and educational psychology, analyzed 60 studies spanning multiple decades and numerous countries. She concluded that shared parenting is better for children than single parenting on almost every measure of wellbeing. 

• In September 2017, Acta Paediatrica, a peer-reviewed medical journal in the field of pediatrics, published a paper by Swedish researcher Malin Bergstrom of the Karolinska Institute titled “Preschool children living in joint physical custody arrangements show less psychological symptoms than those living mostly or only with one parent” – it concluded the mental health of children ages three to five with shared parenting is better on average than the mental health of those in the care of a single parent.

• The Journal of the American Psychological Association published a paper titled “Social Science and Parenting Plans for Young Children: A Consensus Report” in 2014, and the conclusions were endorsed by 110 eminent authorities around the world. Authored by Dr. Richard Warshak at the University of Texas, the paper concluded, “… shared parenting should be the norm for parenting plans for children of all ages, including very young children.

• In 2016, Dr. Warshak wrote, “Two years after its publication, the conclusions and recommendations of the Warshak consensus report remain supported by science.” He also wrote, “The paper has been translated into at least eighteen languages and has informed legislative deliberations throughout the U.S. and parliamentary deliberations in several countries including the United Kingdom, Canada, Israel, Finland, Romania, Croatia, and Sweden. Two years after its publication, the consensus report continues to be one of the most downloaded papers from the journal’s website.” He added, “The list of endorsers and their stature and accomplishments reflect the field’s general acceptance of the consensus report’s findings as rooted in settled science from more than four decades of research directly relevant to this topic, including seminal studies by many of the endorsers.”

• The Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health published a 150,000-person study titled “Fifty moves a year: Is there an association between joint physical custody and psychosomatic problems in children?” in May 2015 that concluded shared parenting after divorce or separation is in the best interest of children’s health because the arrangement lowers their stress levels.

• The Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) published the recommendations of 32 family law experts in 2014, and the group concluded, “Children’s best interests are furthered by parenting plans that provide for continuing and shared parenting relationships that are safe, secure, and developmentally responsive and that also avoid a template calling for a specific division of time imposed on all families.”

• In December, 2016, The American Psychological Association published research by William V. Fabricius of Arizona State University in the journal Psychology, Public Policy and Law entitled, “Should Infants and Toddlers Have Frequent Overnight Parenting Time With Fathers? The Policy Debate and New Data.” Prof Fabricius’ findings provide “… strong support for policies to encourage frequent overnight parenting time [up to and including 50/50 overnights –Ed] for infants and toddlers [even younger than one year –Ed], because the benefits [for children-Ed] associated with overnights also held for parents who initially agreed about overnights as well as for those who disagreed and had the overnight parenting plan imposed over 1 parent’s objections.” Fabricius shared details on his findings during the International Conference on Shared Parenting 2017, a May 29-30, 2017 event in Boston, Massachusetts hosted by National Parents Organization and the International Council on Shared Parenting.

Single Parenting Data
According to federal statistics from sources including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Census Bureau, children raised by single parents account for:

• 63% of teen suicides;
• 70% of juveniles in state-operated institutions;
• 71% of high school drop-outs;
• 75% of children in chemical abuse centers;
• 85% of those in prison;
• 85% of children who exhibit behavioral disorders; and
• 90% of homeless and runaway children.

ABOUT NATIONAL PARENTS ORGANIZATION
National Parents Organization, a charitable and educational 501 (c)(3) organization, seeks better lives for children through family law reform that establishes equal rights and responsibilities for fathers and mothers after divorce or separation. The organization is focused on promoting shared parenting and preserving a child’s strong bonds with both parents, which is critically important to their emotional, mental, and physical health. National Parents Organization released the Shared Parenting Report Card, the first study to rank the states on child custody laws, and in 2017, National Parents Organization hosted the International Conference on Shared Parenting, bringing in research scholars from 18 countries to share their results on shared parenting. Visit the National Parents Organization website at www.nationalparentsorganization.org

NATIONAL PARENTS ORGANIZATION | PRESS RELEASE

July 14, 2018

Frankfort, Kentucky — National Parents Organization of Kentucky is pleased to partner with Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin to release Bevin’s statement on the state’s new shared parenting law.

In a written statement, Bevin said of the new law: “HB 528 promotes shared parenting as a starting point following divorce cases. The aim is to reduce unnecessary custody battles while also factoring in clearly defined exceptions.  This common sense legislation is another example of how Kentucky is leading the way in the protection and care of our young people.”

Bevin signed the new law April 26, and the law took effect July 14. 

The new law is from HB528, a bill stating equal parenting time is best for children. The law change is historic locally and nationally, as with the change, Kentucky leads the nation in protecting children’s best interests when parents divorce or separate.

“What an exciting time for the children of Kentucky! We know from an abundance of research as well as our own experiences that children desperately want and need both parents, and our state laws will finally align with this reality. We can now say with confidence that Kentucky is a family friendly state. Thank you, Governor Bevin, for supporting the best interests of children,” said Matt Hancock of National Parents Organization of Kentucky.

While a handful of states have laws supporting shared parenting and about 25 states have considered similar reform in the past year, Kentucky’s new law goes the furthest by establishing a “presumption, rebuttable by a preponderance of evidence, that joint custody and equally shared parenting time is in the best interest of the child.” This means only fit parents will receive shared parenting. For instance, parents with a domestic violence finding will not qualify for equal parenting time. 

Jason Petrie and Kevin Bratcher were the primary sponsors with nine additional cosponsors. The legislation passed 81-2 in the Kentucky House, and it passed 38-0 in the Kentucky Senate.

While Kentucky now leads the nation in shared parenting, just a few years ago it was one of the worst states in this area. In 2014, Kentucky received a D- on National Parents Organization’s Shared Parenting Report Card, which graded each state on its shared parenting laws. A year ago, Kentucky took the first step toward shared parenting by passing a law that created a presumption of shared parenting in temporary custody orders.

“Looking back, it’s been a hard, long road to climb. But it’s all worth it because it’s best for kids,” said National Parents Organization of Kentucky’s Jason Griffith.

ABOUT NATIONAL PARENTS ORGANIZATION
National Parents Organization, a charitable and educational 501 (c)(3) organization, seeks better lives for children through family law reform that establishes equal rights and responsibilities for fathers and mothers after divorce or separation. The organization is focused on promoting shared parenting and preserving a child’s strong bonds with both parents, which is critically important to their emotional, mental, and physical health. National Parents Organization released the Shared Parenting Report Card, the first study to rank the states on child custody laws, and in 2017, National Parents Organization hosted the International Conference on Shared Parenting, bringing in research scholars from 18 countries to share their results on shared parenting. Visit the National Parents Organization website at www.nationalparentsorganization.org

NATIONAL PARENTS ORGANIZATION | PRESS RELEASE
April 26, 2018

FRANKFORT, KENTUCKY — Thanks to Kentucky legislators and Gov. Bevin, Kentucky now leads the nation in protecting children’s best interests when parents divorce or separate. The historic moment arrived on Thursday, April 26, when Gov. Matt Bevin signed HB528, a bill stating equal parenting time is best for children.

“April 26 goes down in history as the day Kentucky became the first true shared parenting state in the United States. Kentucky, more than any other state, can now say it does everything it can to give children two loving parents after divorce – just as our children deserve,” said Matt Hale, Chair of National Parents Organization in Kentucky, who led the reform effort for five years. “Research overwhelmingly shows children want and need both parents after separation. Our state lawmakers responded by aligning state laws with the research. This represents a common sense yet unprecedented move. Our lawmakers and primary sponsors Jason Petrie and Kevin Bratcher should be commended.”

While a handful of states have laws supportive of shared parenting and about 25 states have considered similar reform in the past year, Kentucky’s new law goes the furthest by establishing a “presumption, rebuttable by a preponderance of evidence, that joint custody and equally shared parenting time is in the best interest of the child.” This means only fit parents will receive shared parenting. For instance, parents with a domestic violence finding will not qualify for equal parenting time.

The law passed the Kentucky House and Senate before Gov. Bevin signed it – the law takes effect in June.

While Kentucky now leads the nation in shared parenting, just a few years ago it was one of the worst states in this area. In 2014, Kentucky received a D- on National Parents Organization’s Shared Parenting Report Card, which graded each state on its shared parenting laws. Last year, Hale led the effort for the unanimously approved HB 492, which created a presumption of shared parenting in temporary custody orders.

“The primary custody that we continue to see nationwide deprives children the consistent love and care of both parents. I am very proud to say I’m from Kentucky, the state serving as the shining example of how to fix the family court system and best serve families,” Hale said.

RECENT RESEARCH: SHARED PARENTING VERSUS SINGLE PARENTING

Shared Parenting Data

• In January 2018, The Journal of Child Custody published an update on child development research surrounding what’s best for kids when parents divorce or separate. In the update, Linda Nielsen, a Wake Forest University professor of adolescent and educational psychology, analyzed 60 studies spanning multiple decades and numerous countries. She concluded that shared parenting is better for children than single parenting on almost every measure of wellbeing. 

• In September 2017, Acta Paediatrica, a peer-reviewed medical journal in the field of pediatrics, published a paper by Swedish researcher Malin Bergstrom of the Karolinska Institute titled “Preschool children living in joint physical custody arrangements show less psychological symptoms than those living mostly or only with one parent” – it concluded the mental health of children ages three to five with shared parenting is better on average than the mental health of those in the care of a single parent.

• The Journal of the American Psychological Association published a paper titled “Social Science and Parenting Plans for Young Children: A Consensus Report” in 2014, and the conclusions were endorsed by 110 eminent authorities around the world. Authored by Dr. Richard Warshak at the University of Texas, the paper concluded, “… shared parenting should be the norm for parenting plans for children of all ages, including very young children.

• In 2016, Dr. Warshak wrote, “Two years after its publication, the conclusions and recommendations of the Warshak consensus report remain supported by science.” He also wrote, “The paper has been translated into at least eighteen languages and has informed legislative deliberations throughout the U.S. and parliamentary deliberations in several countries including the United Kingdom, Canada, Israel, Finland, Romania, Croatia, and Sweden. Two years after its publication, the consensus report continues to be one of the most downloaded papers from the journal’s website.” He added, “The list of endorsers and their stature and accomplishments reflect the field’s general acceptance of the consensus report’s findings as rooted in settled science from more than four decades of research directly relevant to this topic, including seminal studies by many of the endorsers.”

• The Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health published a 150,000-person study titled “Fifty moves a year: Is there an association between joint physical custody and psychosomatic problems in children?” in May 2015 that concluded shared parenting after divorce or separation is in the best interest of children’s health because the arrangement lowers their stress levels.

• The Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) published the recommendations of 32 family law experts in 2014, and the group concluded, “Children’s best interests are furthered by parenting plans that provide for continuing and shared parenting relationships that are safe, secure, and developmentally responsive and that also avoid a template calling for a specific division of time imposed on all families.”

• In December, 2016, The American Psychological Association published research by William V. Fabricius of Arizona State University in the journal Psychology, Public Policy and Law entitled, “Should Infants and Toddlers Have Frequent Overnight Parenting Time With Fathers? The Policy Debate and New Data.” Prof Fabricius’ findings provide “… strong support for policies to encourage frequent overnight parenting time [up to and including 50/50 overnights –Ed] for infants and toddlers [even younger than one year –Ed], because the benefits [for children-Ed] associated with overnights also held for parents who initially agreed about overnights as well as for those who disagreed and had the overnight parenting plan imposed over 1 parent’s objections.” Fabricius shared details on his findings during the International Conference on Shared Parenting 2017, a May 29-30, 2017 event in Boston, Massachusetts hosted by National Parents Organization and the International Council on Shared Parenting.

Single Parenting Data
According to federal statistics from sources including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Census Bureau, children raised by single parents account for:

• 63% of teen suicides;
• 70% of juveniles in state-operated institutions;
• 71% of high school drop-outs;
• 75% of children in chemical abuse centers;
• 85% of those in prison;
• 85% of children who exhibit behavioral disorders; and
• 90% of homeless and runaway children.

ABOUT NATIONAL PARENTS ORGANIZATION
National Parents Organization, a charitable and educational 501 (c)(3) organization, seeks better lives for children through family law reform that establishes equal rights and responsibilities for fathers and mothers after divorce or separation. The organization is focused on promoting shared parenting and preserving a child’s strong bonds with both parents, which is critically important to their emotional, mental, and physical health. National Parents Organization released the Shared Parenting Report Card, the first study to rank the states on child custody laws, and in 2017, National Parents Organization hosted the International Conference on Shared Parenting, bringing in research scholars from 18 countries to share their results on shared parenting. Visit the National Parents Organization website at www.nationalparentsorganization.org

National Parents Organization | Press Release
April 16, 2018

Amid global concerns surrounding the devastating impact of parental alienation, National Parents Organization encourages lawmakers throughout the U.S. to back family court reform supportive of shared parenting after divorce.

The concerns are amplified this month, considering April 25 marks the annual Parental Alienation Awareness Day. Parental alienation is defined by one parent essentially erasing the other parent from the child’s life by turning the child against that parent.

“It is difficult for anyone to turn a child against a fit and loving parent who plays an active role in a child’s life. Shared parenting can prevent attempts to alienate a child from a fit parent. However, far too often, the family courts order sole custody to one parent after a bitter, winner-take-all custody battle instead of insuring children have both loving, fit parents in their lives,” said Ned Holstein, MD, Founder and Board Chair of National Parents Organization. “Often, a non-custodial parent has so little time with the child, the winning parent is empowered to knowingly or unknowingly marginalize the child from a fit and loving parent, creating heartbreak for child and parent. The marginalization alienates children and the parents.”

Events planned for April 25 throughout the nation aim to bring awareness to this crisis. As just one example, in Pennsylvania, impacted family members are invited to prepare a 3-minute testimony and bring empty shoes representing alienated children. 

Efforts to address parental alienation with laws supportive of shared parenting are gaining momentum. The Washington Post reports 25 states have considered legislation within the past year that encourages shared parenting so children spend as close to equal time as possible with each parent. A number of states have supported shared parenting for years. In recent years, Kentucky, Utah, South Dakota, Missouri and Minnesota have enacted the reform. And this action is not unique to the United States. Authorities in other areas of the world are proactively working to fight parental alienation. In the U.K., the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) revealed a new, groundbreaking policy: Parents who actively alienate another parent face losing some to all time with their children.

“We’ve long known that shared parenting gives children what they most want and need following separation or divorce – two loving parents actively involved in their lives. And now we also know that if a judge orders the more harmonious two-parent model, the pain of alienating children and parents can often be avoided,” Dr. Holstein said. “My hope is that we can make shared parenting the norm, so we can unite more children and parents and erase parental alienation.”

RECENT RESEARCH: SHARED PARENTING VERSUS SINGLE PARENTING
Shared Parenting Data

• In January 2018, The Journal of Child Custody published an update on child development research surrounding what’s best for kids when parents divorce or separate. In the update, Linda Nielsen, a Wake Forest University professor of adolescent and educational psychology, analyzed 60 studies spanning multiple decades and numerous countries. She concluded that shared parenting is better for children than single parenting on almost every measure of wellbeing. 

• In September 2017, Acta Paediatrica, a peer-reviewed medical journal in the field of pediatrics, published a paper by Swedish researcher Malin Bergstrom of the Karolinska Institute titled “Preschool children living in joint physical custody arrangements show less psychological symptoms than those living mostly or only with one parent” – it concluded the mental health of children ages three to five with shared parenting is better on average than the mental health of those in the care of a single parent.

• The Journal of the American Psychological Association published a paper titled “Social Science and Parenting Plans for Young Children: A Consensus Report” in 2014, and the conclusions were endorsed by 110 eminent authorities around the world. Authored by Dr. Richard Warshak at the University of Texas, the paper concluded, “… shared parenting should be the norm for parenting plans for children of all ages, including very young children.

• In 2016, Dr. Warshak wrote, “Two years after its publication, the conclusions and recommendations of the Warshak consensus report remain supported by science.” He also wrote, “The paper has been translated into at least eighteen languages and has informed legislative deliberations throughout the U.S. and parliamentary deliberations in several countries including the United Kingdom, Canada, Israel, Finland, Romania, Croatia, and Sweden. Two years after its publication, the consensus report continues to be one of the most downloaded papers from the journal’s website.” He added, “The list of endorsers and their stature and accomplishments reflect the field’s general acceptance of the consensus report’s findings as rooted in settled science from more than four decades of research directly relevant to this topic, including seminal studies by many of the endorsers.”

• The Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health published a 150,000-person study titled “Fifty moves a year: Is there an association between joint physical custody and psychosomatic problems in children?” in May 2015 that concluded shared parenting after divorce or separation is in the best interest of children’s health because the arrangement lowers their stress levels.

• The Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) published the recommendations of 32 family law experts in 2014, and the group concluded, “Children’s best interests are furthered by parenting plans that provide for continuing and shared parenting relationships that are safe, secure, and developmentally responsive and that also avoid a template calling for a specific division of time imposed on all families.”

• In December, 2016, The American Psychological Association published research by William V. Fabricius of Arizona State University in the journal Psychology, Public Policy and Law entitled, “Should Infants and Toddlers Have Frequent Overnight Parenting Time With Fathers? The Policy Debate and New Data.” Prof Fabricius’ findings provide “… strong support for policies to encourage frequent overnight parenting time [up to and including 50/50 overnights –Ed] for infants and toddlers [even younger than one year –Ed], because the benefits [for children-Ed] associated with overnights also held for parents who initially agreed about overnights as well as for those who disagreed and had the overnight parenting plan imposed over 1 parent’s objections.” Fabricius shared details on his findings during the International Conference on Shared Parenting 2017, a May 29-30, 2017 event in Boston, Massachusetts hosted by National Parents Organization and the International Council on Shared Parenting.

Single Parenting Data
According to federal statistics from sources including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Census Bureau, children raised by single parents account for:

• 63% of teen suicides;
• 70% of juveniles in state-operated institutions;
• 71% of high school drop-outs;
• 75% of children in chemical abuse centers;
• 85% of those in prison;
• 85% of children who exhibit behavioral disorders; and
• 90% of homeless and runaway children.

ABOUT NATIONAL PARENTS ORGANIZATION
National Parents Organization, a charitable and educational 501 (c)(3) organization, seeks better lives for children through family law reform that establishes equal rights and responsibilities for fathers and mothers after divorce or separation. The organization is focused on promoting shared parenting and preserving a child’s strong bonds with both parents, which is critically important to their emotional, mental, and physical health. National Parents Organization released the Shared Parenting Report Card, the first study to rank the states on child custody laws, and in 2017, National Parents Organization hosted the International Conference on Shared Parenting, bringing in research scholars from 18 countries to share their results on shared parenting. Visit the National Parents Organization website at www.nationalparentsorganization.org

NATIONAL PARENTS ORGANIZATION | PRESS RELEASE
April 8, 2018

Boston, MA – National Parents Organization urges citizens and legislators nationwide to recognize Equal Pay Dayon Tuesday, April 10, by supporting shared parenting legislation across the country.

Nearly 30% of mothers are single mothers. The current sole custody model assigns mothers nearly 90 percent of the parenting time after separation or divorce, which limits their time to pursue career goals.

“When children have as close to equal time as possible with each parent, moms and dads also have equal time for their careers,” said Ned Holstein, MD, Founder and Board Chair of National Parents Organization. “And since almost 30 percent of mothers are saddled with nearly full-time single parenting, the pay gap cannot be closed without shared parenting.”

“Our family courts need to stop placing sole responsibility for child rearing on the mother and encourage their career achievements by allowing dad to assume equal responsibility for raising children,” Dr. Holstein said. “Shared parenting is most important for the children, who want and need equal time with mom and dad following divorce. But shared parenting also has benefits for the parents, including promoting equal opportunity to accomplish professional goals.”

While shared parenting – a flexible arrangement where children spend as close to equal time as possible with each parent – is unusual, efforts to turn it from the exception to the norm within family courts are growing. The Washington Post reports that, within the past year, more than 20 states have considered the reform in the past year. Several states have recently implemented reform, and numerous others – including Virginia, Missouri, Michigan and Alabama – are currently considering shared parenting legislation.

Additionally, shared parenting has received high-profile endorsements, including support from the Catholic Church as well as the 2015 International Conference on Shared Parenting and the Council of Europe.

“Shared parenting gets rid of the outdated model of one homemaker and one breadwinner and allows both parents the time to pursue a successful work-life balance,” Dr. Holstein said. “The evidence showing shared parenting is in the best interest of children when parents divorce or separate is overwhelming. With this in mind, backing family law reform that seeks to move shared parenting from rare to common in courtrooms is a terrific way to support the best possible environment for children. This Equal Pay Day, let’s work together to help give children of single parents what they most want and need – love, time and support from both parents.”

RECENT RESEARCH: SHARED PARENTING VERSUS SINGLE PARENTING
Shared Parenting Data

• In January 2018, The Journal of Child Custody published an update on child development research surrounding what’s best for kids when parents divorce or separate. In the update, Linda Nielsen, a Wake Forest University professor of adolescent and educational psychology, analyzed 60 studies spanning multiple decades and numerous countries. She concluded that shared parenting is better for children than single parenting on almost every measure of wellbeing. 

• In September 2017, Acta Paediatrica, a peer-reviewed medical journal in the field of pediatrics, published a paper by Swedish researcher Malin Bergstrom of the Karolinska Institute titled “Preschool children living in joint physical custody arrangements show less psychological symptoms than those living mostly or only with one parent” – it concluded the mental health of children ages three to five with shared parenting is better on average than the mental health of those in the care of a single parent.

• The Journal of the American Psychological Association published a paper titled “Social Science and Parenting Plans for Young Children: A Consensus Report” in 2014, and the conclusions were endorsed by 110 eminent authorities around the world. Authored by Dr. Richard Warshak at the University of Texas, the paper concluded, “… shared parenting should be the norm for parenting plans for children of all ages, including very young children.

• In 2016, Dr. Warshak wrote, “Two years after its publication, the conclusions and recommendations of the Warshak consensus report remain supported by science.” He also wrote, “The paper has been translated into at least eighteen languages and has informed legislative deliberations throughout the U.S. and parliamentary deliberations in several countries including the United Kingdom, Canada, Israel, Finland, Romania, Croatia, and Sweden. Two years after its publication, the consensus report continues to be one of the most downloaded papers from the journal’s website.” He added, “The list of endorsers and their stature and accomplishments reflect the field’s general acceptance of the consensus report’s findings as rooted in settled science from more than four decades of research directly relevant to this topic, including seminal studies by many of the endorsers.”

• The Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health published a 150,000-person study titled “Fifty moves a year: Is there an association between joint physical custody and psychosomatic problems in children?” in May 2015 that concluded shared parenting after divorce or separation is in the best interest of children’s health because the arrangement lowers their stress levels.

• The Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) published the recommendations of 32 family law experts in 2014, and the group concluded, “Children’s best interests are furthered by parenting plans that provide for continuing and shared parenting relationships that are safe, secure, and developmentally responsive and that also avoid a template calling for a specific division of time imposed on all families.”

• In December, 2016, The American Psychological Association published research by William V. Fabricius of Arizona State University in the journal Psychology, Public Policy and Law entitled, “Should Infants and Toddlers Have Frequent Overnight Parenting Time With Fathers? The Policy Debate and New Data.” Prof Fabricius’ findings provide “… strong support for policies to encourage frequent overnight parenting time [up to and including 50/50 overnights –Ed] for infants and toddlers [even younger than one year –Ed], because the benefits [for children-Ed] associated with overnights also held for parents who initially agreed about overnights as well as for those who disagreed and had the overnight parenting plan imposed over 1 parent’s objections.” Fabricius shared details on his findings during the International Conference on Shared Parenting 2017, a May 29-30, 2017 event in Boston, Massachusetts hosted by National Parents Organization and the International Council on Shared Parenting.

Single Parenting Data
According to federal statistics from sources including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Census Bureau, children raised by single parents account for:

• 63% of teen suicides;
• 70% of juveniles in state-operated institutions;
• 71% of high school drop-outs;
• 75% of children in chemical abuse centers;
• 85% of those in prison;
• 85% of children who exhibit behavioral disorders; and
• 90% of homeless and runaway children.

ABOUT NATIONAL PARENTS ORGANIZATION
National Parents Organization, a charitable and educational 501 (c)(3) organization, seeks better lives for children through family law reform that establishes equal rights and responsibilities for fathers and mothers after divorce or separation. The organization is focused on promoting shared parenting and preserving a child’s strong bonds with both parents, which is critically important to their emotional, mental, and physical health. National Parents Organization released the Shared Parenting Report Card, the first study to rank the states on child custody laws, and in 2017, National Parents Organization hosted the International Conference on Shared Parenting, bringing in research scholars from 18 countries to share their results on shared parenting. Visit the National Parents Organization website at www.nationalparentsorganization.org.