Leading Women for Shared Parenting

Leading Women for Shared Parenting 1030 15th Street, NW B1 # 5977 Washington, DC 20005 January 30, 2018

To: Kansas Senate Judiciary Committee

Re: SB 257 – Modifies provisions of law relating to child custody orders

Dear Senators;

Leading Women for Shared Parenting (LW4SP) is writing to urge you to vote in favor of SB 257 for the benefit of Kansas children and families.

As part of LW4SP’s focus, we review legislation related to Parenting Plans and Child Custody. The Kansas Senate Judiciary Committee is currently reviewing SB 257, dealing with the Preliminary Orders for Parenting Plans of families experiencing separation or divorce.

The main components of SB 257 include: • Establishing a preference for “Shared Parenting” in preliminary orders, which research shows is best for children, • Maintaining judicial discretion to deal with exceptional cases, falling outside of the normal family, and • Allowing the presumption to be rebutted with a Clear and Convincing evidence standard

Shared parenting bills were considered in 20 statehouses last session with legislation very similar to SB257 passing unanimously through the Kentucky legislature. Shared parenting was also passed in Arizona in 2012 and a follow up study found Judges and therapists feel the new law is working well.

The undersigned Leading Women represent a U.S.-based organization whose international membership supports the modernization of family laws that maximize the relationship between children and both their parents.

Leaders must begin to address Fatherlessness, the top social issue in America, and one linked to every major social pathology in children. All credible research supports the implementation of shared parenting, with 60 peer-reviewed studies, including one reviewing 150,000 children, concluding that children fare best when time with both parents is maximized. Shared Parenting has been proven to improve children’s relationship with both their Father and Mother and in 2014 110 experts on child psychology, child development, child attachment, domestic violence and parental conflict reached a groundbreaking consensus: children’s “best interests” are served the closer the time share allocation comes to equal.

The women of LW4SP come from all walks of life, hold diverse political perspectives and represent the viewpoint of countless women. The LW4SP membership includes elected officials, lawyers, psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed social workers, researchers, authors, pediatricians, parental alienation experts, columnists, advocates and a world-renowned team of domestic violence counselors.

In research, polling and voting, well over 70% of citizens – men and women alike - consistently support shared parenting provisions in family law statutes. Your decision to vote in favor of a bill reflecting broad public support accords well with principled leadership and responsiveness to citizens. It also indicates your dedication to improving psychological, social and civic outcomes for children.

Please accept this letter as our written testimony in favor of SB257 on behalf of our Kansas membership.

(Organizations indicated for identification purposes only)

Dr. Denise Hines Lori Barkus, Esq Domestic Violence Expert Family Law Attorney Professor of Psychology Founding Partner Clark University Barkus Law P.A. http://www.clarku.edu/faculty/facultybio.cfm?id=6 http://www.barkuslaw.com/ 87

Erin Pizzey Georgialee Lang, BA, JD Domestic Violence Expert Family Law Attorney, Arbitrator & Mediator Author – Founder – Domestic Violence Shelter LawDiva Blogger, Huffington Post Writer Movement http://www.georgialeelang.com/ www.erinpizzey.com

Dr. Emily Douglas Karen Conti, Esq. Domestic Violence Expert Partner Associate Professor of Social Work Beermann, Pritikin, Mirabelli, Swerdlove, LLP Bridgewater State University http://www.beermannlaw.com/ http://webhost.bridgew.edu/edouglas/

Dr. Nicola Graham-Kevan Dawn Marcus Stept, Esq. Domestic Violence Expert Attorney, Kids Voice Reader in Psychology at University of Central Former Family Law Attorney & Mediator Lancashire Professor of Clinical Psychology at http://kidsvoice.org/Default.html Mittuniversitetet. http://www.uclan.ac.uk/staff_profiles/dr_nicola_gr aham_kevan.php Selena Lackey, Esq. Dr. Elizabeth Celi Family Law Attorney Domestic Violence Expert Proprietor, NC Fathers Have Rights Psychologist & Author http://ncfathershaverights.com/ Award Winning Speaker & Media Consultant http://www.drceli.com.au/ Jean Lupariello, Esq. Delegate Jill P. Carter, Esq. (D) Family Law Attorney Maryland General Assembly http://www.jmlupariello.com/ http://lw4sp.org/jill-carter Philippa Dolan Representative Peggy S. Scott (R) Family Law Attorney Minnesota House of Representatives http://www.collyerbristow.com/ District 35B http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/mem bers.asp?id=15314

Kristina Guerrero Sisneroz, Esq. Senator Sylvia Allen (R) Founding Partner Arizona State Legislature Guerrero & Camplin PC, LLO http://lw4sp.org/sylvia-allen http://www.kgsattorney.com/staff.html

Amy Sherman, Esq Representative Mary Flowers (D) Founding Partner Illinois House of Representatives Sherman & Gilner PC, LLO st Chicago’s 31 District http://www.shermanandgilner.com/ http://lw4sp.org/mary-flowers Shelly Loomus, Esq. Representative Monique Davis (D) Founding Partner Illinois House of Representatives http://www.manageyourconflict.com/r-shelly- th Chicago’s 27 District loomus-jd-msw/ http://lw4sp.org/monique-davis Dr. Hildegund Suenderhauf Representative Linda Chappa-Lavia (D) Former practicing Family Lawyer Illinois House of Representatives Family Law at Lutheran University rd Professor, Illinois’ 83 District http://www.evhn.de/fh_tv_detail.html?adr_id=37 http://lw4sp.org/linda-chapa-lavia

Senator Anne Gobi (D) Dr. Kiley Hamlin Massachusetts House of Representatives Canadian Research Chair Developmental Psychology https://malegislature.gov/People/Profile/amg1 Professor of Psychology – UBC http://psych.ubc.ca/persons/kiley-hamlin/

Representative Colleen Garry (D) Terry Gaspard, MSW, LICSW Massachusetts House of Representatives Author, Licensed Clinical Social Worker Practicing Family Law Attorney Huffington Post Columnist https://malegislature.gov/People/Profile/cmg1 www.movingpastdivorce.com Dr. Tara Palmatier, Psy. D., M. Sc. Representative Elizabeth Poirier (R) Psychologist Massachusetts House of Representatives http://www.shrink4men.com/services/ Assistant Minority Whip https://malegislature.gov/People/Profile/eap1 Una Archer, MBPsS Senator Linda Gray (R) Child Psychologist Arizona State Legislature http://www.parentingafterdivorce.co.uk/ http://www.azleg.gov/MembersPage.asp?Me mber_ID=102&Legislature=49&Session_ID=87

Rep. Debra Pearson (R-Ret.) Cindy Chisvin M. Ed. Arizona State Legislature Family Therapist Founder of The Swan Project http://www.cindychisvintherapy.com/

Representative Lisa Villa (Ret. - D) Dr. Sue Whitcombe Maine House of Representatives Principal Psychologist & Director http://www.maine.gov/legis/house/hsebios/villlr.h http://familypsychologysolutions.org/dr-sue- tm whitcombe/

Representative Roz Peterson (R) Antonia Di Leo, M.s., Ed., LMFT Minnesota State Legislature Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/ Private Practice members.asp?district=56B https://www.betterhelp.com/antonia-di-leo/

Representative Kathy Swan (R) Dr. Dahlia Berkovitz, Ph.D., LMSW, LMFT Missouri State Legislature Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist http://www.house.mo.gov/member.aspx?distr Private Practice ict=147 https://premierprofessionalgroup.com/ppg_003.htm

Marilyn Petitto Devaney Dr. Sandra Arango-Padron, M.D. Massachusetts Governor Council Pediatrician http://www.mass.gov/portal/government- Certified Anger Management Specialist taxes/branches-agencies/executive/govs- American Disabilities Advocate council.html http://lw4sp.org/sandra-arango-padron

Suzanne Venker Dr. Janice Fiamengo Author, Fox News Contributor University of Ottawa Founder, Women For Men http://www.english.uottawa.ca/faculty/fiamengo.ht http://suzannevenker.com/ ml

Leslie Loftis, Esq. Dr. Christine Giancarlo General Counsel, The Hub Dot Professor Senior Contributor, The Federalist Mt. Royal University http://thefederalist.com/author/leslieloftis/ http://lw4sp.org/dr-christine-giancarlo/

Rachel Alexander, Esq. Celia Conrad Columnist, Editor Solicitor Townhall.com, Intellectual Conservative, Author – Fathers Matter Selous Public Policy Foundation, http://www.fathersmatter.com/author.html www.intellectualconservative.com

Barbara Kay Ruth Langford, F. Inst. PA, M.S.S.P. Author, Columnist Manager, Wikivorce National Post Co-Author, Family Law Guide www.barbarakay.ca http://www.wikivorce.com/divorce/

Carleen Wild Dorcy (Russell) Pruter Editor, HealthZette Founder & CEO, Conscious Co-Parenting Institute http://www.lifezette.com/about/meet-our- Expert Parental Alienation / High Conflict Divorce editors/ http://www.consciouscoparentinginstitute.com/index.htm

Christine B. Williams Jill Egizii Gatestone Institute – International Policy President of PAAO, USA 9 Time International Award Winning Talk Show Author, Mayor, Illinois Family Law Study Committee Host www.paaousa.org http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org

Ingrid Carlqvist Alison Bushell Founder, Dispatch International Co-Founder, Child & Family Solutions Journalist & Author http://www.childandfamilysolutions.org.uk/ http://www.d-intl.com/

Marta de Tena Karen Wood, LMHC, PC Author, Shared Parenting – Customizing For Proprietor, The Life Counseling Center of Broward Our Kids http://browardcounseling.com/ Journalist, Elle Magazine http://www.elle.fr/pages/La-redaction/Marta- de-Tena

Marianne Manko Karen Kristjanson, MSc, MA TV News Anchor Writer, Integral Coach http://www.wandtv.com/story/22695355/mari Founder, Beyond Limits Coaching anne-manko http://www.beyondlimitscoaching.com

Dianna Thompson Angela Hoffmeyer Men’s E-News Federal Board Member of Väteraufbruch für Kinder Former Executive Director American Coalition Manager of Two Homes of Fathers & Children http://twohomes.org/en_home http://www.mensenews.org/

Diane Weber Bederman Laura Campbell Chaplain, Author & Blogger Founder & CEO, The D Spot, LLC http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/author/diane- Certified Divorce & Life Transition Coach weber-bederman/ http://www.discoverthedspot.com/

Gwendolyn Landolt, Esq. Molly Olson, MBA Columnist on Issues of Marriage, Women, Founder and Executive Director Family, Children Center for Parental Responsibility REAL Women of Canada St. Paul, MN www.realwomenofcanada.ca www.cpr-mn.org

Paulette MacDonald Kris Titus Board of Directors Former Co-President Canadian Association for Equality Canadian Equal Parenting Council www.equalitycanada.com www.canadianepc.org

Betty Cornelius Lise Bilodeau Founder, CANGRANDS Founder ANCQ http://www.cangrands.com/ Advocate & Author http://www.ancq.qc.ca/

Rebekah Bradley Lena Green, LCSW Founder, Strong Stepmom Awareness Campaign Founder, The Akira Center http://www.akiracenter.org/ Shared Parenting Advocate http://ssac2010.wordpress.com/

Mrs. Sheila Peltzer Chawna Jones Founder and President Founder, Missing an Angel Kids Need Two Parents Creator, Love is Louder than Lies www.kn2p.org http://www.missinganangel-love.org/

Mary Lou Ambrogio Shazia Mirza Vice President Program Manager – My Foundation International Free Press Society https://www.facebook.com/MYFOUNDATION.PAKIST AN

Mary Elizabeth Pfiel Diane A. Sears Managing Director of Investments US Coordinator International Men’s Day Large Philadelphia Based Pension Fund Author, In Search of Fatherhood https://sites.google.com/a/imd- global.org/international-mens-day/

Holly Hamilton-Bleakley, Ph.D. Tanya LaBuick University of San Diego Mega Event Strategy, Project Mgmt & http://lw4sp.org/holly-hamiltonbleakley Implementation http://tanyalabuick.com/

Teri Stoddard Veronica Rose Proprietor, Shared Parenting Works Ms. Oregon Plus America 2013 www.sharedparentingworks.org Member, Kids Need Both Parents http://www.kidsneedbothparents.org/

Jill Bjerke Carmen M. Colon Director, Carnegie Regional Library Engineer, Author, Career Enhancement Facilitator, 2011 Advocate of the Year Advocate http://lw4sp.org/jill-bjerke http://carmenmcolon.info/

In Memoriam:

Karen DeCrow Esq. Representative Phyllis Pond (R) Former President of NOW (1974-1977) Indiana General Assembly Inductee, National Women’s Hall of Fame http://www.in.gov/r85/ http://lw4sp.org/karen-decrow

Mrs. Phyllis Schlafly, Esq. Barbara Mills Founder and President Domestic Violence Expert Eagle Forum Founder, Sisters-In-Solidarity www.eagleforum.org Advocate, Lecturer and Lobbyist http://sisters-in-solidarity.com/