DOCUMENT RESUME ED 444 708 PS 028 781 AUTHOR Levy, David L., Ed. TITLE Speak Out for Children, 1999-2000. INSTITUTION Children's Rights Council, Inc., Washington, DC. ISSN ISSN-1042-3559 PUB DATE 2000-00-00 NOTE 86p.; For 1998 newsletters, see ED 433 149. AVAILABLE FROM Children's Rights Council, Inc., 300 "I" Street, N.E., Suite 401, Washington, DC 20002; Tel: 202-547-6227. PUB TYPE Collected Works Serials (022) JOURNAL CIT Speak Out for children; v14 n1-3 Spr 1999-Win 2000 EDRS PRICE MF01/PC04 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Child Custody; Childhood Interests; *Children; *Childrens Rights; *Court Litigation; Divorce; Fathers; *Federal Legislation; Newsletters; Parent Child Relationship; Parent Education; *Parent Rights; Parents; Public Policy IDENTIFIERS Marital Separation; Noncustodial Parents; Unmarried Parents ABSTRACT This document comprises the three issues of Volume 14 of the "Speak Out for Children" newsletter, published to strengthen families through education and to assist children of unwed parents, separation, and divorce. The Spring 1999 issue contains articles on National Child's Day, joint custody presumptions, changes in children's life and activities from 1981 to 1997, proposed anti-joint custody legislation, and father absence and criminal activity. The Summer-Fall 1999 issue includes articles on the West Virginia shared parenting law, state rankings on the best places to raise children, and children's access to their noncustodial parents. The Winter 1999-2000 issue contains articles on the Fathers Count Act passed by the House of Representatives, the Oklahoma Parentage Act, and the relation between divorce rates and joint custody. Regular features of the newsletter include book reviews, notice of funding opportunities and conferences, news from individual chapters of the organization, descriptions of relevant court cases, and descriptions of pending federal legislation. (KB) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. Speak Out for Children, 1999-2000 Volume 14 Numbers 1-3 Spring 1999-Winter 2000 Children's Rights Council, Inc. PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS Office of Educational Research and Improvement BEEN GRANTED BY EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) Points of view or opinions stated in this 1 document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. 2 ISSN 1042-3559 Vol. 14-No.1 Spring 1999 Assisting Children of Strengthening Families Attend CRC's 12th Conference Unwed Parents, Through Education Sept. 22-26, 1999 (See pages 8-10) Separation and Divorce And Advocacy otyrFOR 1,440 The Quarterly Newsletter of the Children's Rights Council. Inc. 300 "I" Street N.E., Suite 401, Washington, D.C. 20002-4389Phone (202)547-6227 IN THIS ISSUE: U.S. Expected to Observe Child'sDay in June Letter to Editor 3 A resolution to create a new national holiday,support creation of the holiday. A National Child's Day, has been introduced in June is perfect for News Flashes 4 the U.S. Senate by Senator Bob Graham (D-FL).picnics, parades, and The resolution is expected to he passed andcommunity and neigh- Changes in Children's signed by President Clinton by the time you re-borhood activities for Time 4 ceive this newsletter. children, he noted. Don't Let Congress 5 Although previous Congressional reso- "It is appropriate to lutions that sought to establish children'sthink of children in this Petition 6 day designed the first Sunday in Octoberfamily context," said for the occasion, CRC urged Sen. GrahamCRC Board Chairman The CRC View 7 to place Children's Day on the firstSun-John Bauserman, Jr. Conference Info 8-10 day in June. More than 100 Some churches around the country alreadycountriesobserve Books Videos, observe Children's Day the first Sunday in June,Children's Day. TheGraham asks U.S. for the First Time Audios, Buttons 11-14 and in early June, Children's Day is "nestled be-U.S. is one of the fewto Celebrate Chilean's Day between tween Mother's Day and Father's Day," asSen.countries that has no Mother's Day and Father's Day Two Parents ti Better Graham said in a letter urging other senators tosuch national holiday. Continued on page 3 Than One 15 Family Facts 16 Joint Custody Presumptions Increasingin States Father Absence Linked According to a 1997 American Bar Asso-mont, and Washington. to Children's Criminal ciation publication, 19 states plus the District (CRC considers California to have a presumption Activity 17 of Columbia have some form of presumptionfor joint custody by practicethat is, because of the for joint custody, either legal, physical, or legalhistory of giving joint custody in a substantial num- ridajuid the Country 18 and physical. ber of cases). News 19 In 11 of those states plus D.C., it is a clear "We are pleasantly surprised to find this rapid ,/Insideipter presumption for joint custody, in 8 states it is agrowth of the idea that the best parent for children is CRC 20 presumption if both parents agree. The clear pre-both parents," said Rick Kuhn, CRC evaluator of re- sumption states are Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Kan-search. melon -Custodial Parents sas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri,Montana, "Yet the situation is changing so fast that appar- tier Health EP a New Hampshire, New Mexico, Texas, and theently even the Bar Association has a hard time keeping 21 pOitrance District of Columbia. In some of those states the up," said Kuhn. "CRC's research has located newly 11 *in Cases 22 terms shared parenting (e.g. Florida) orjointpassed joint custody statutes in four additional states, managing conservatorship (Texas) are used. bringing the total to 23 states and Washington, D.C. In gply for Funds 23 The 8 states where it is a presumption if boththose states, Alabama, Ohio, Oregon and Tennessee, parents agree are California, Connecticut,there is a presumption if both parents agree. Equal Parents' Week24 Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, Ver- Continued on page 3 ;EST COPY AVAILABLE CRC is a member (Number 1513) of "Speak Out for Children "is published by the Children's Rights Council, Inc. Editor: David L. Levy. Contributors to this Issue: Don Bieniewicz, Lynn Ephraim, David Dinn. College student intern Jennifer McCormick, Rutgers University. Layout by Sheila Holzberger and Rob Traister. Children's Charities of The CRC America The Children's Rights Council stituting conciliation and mediation for Material in this newsletter authored (CRC) is a nation-wide, non-profit IRSthe adversarial process, and providingby CRC may be reprinted without per- 501(c) (3) children's rights organizationfor emotional and financial child sup-mission, provided the source ("Reprinted based in Washington, D.C. port. We work to strengthen fragile from the Children's Rights Council news- CRC works to strengthen familiesfamilies of children whose parents areletter 'Speak Out for Children,' Spring through education and advocacy. We fa-unwed. We also favor school-based pro- 1999") is given. For non-GRC material, ob- vor family formation and family pres- grams for children at risk. tain permission from the copyright owner. ervation, but if families break up, or are Formed in 1985 by concerned par-For further information about CRC mem- never formed, we work to assure a childents who have more than 40 years col-bership, publications, cassettes, catalog, the frequent and continuing contact with lective experience in custody reformand services, write: CRC, 300 "I" Street two parents and extended family theand early childhood education, CRCN.E., Suite 401, Washington, D.C. 20002- child would normally have during ahas chapters in 32 states and two na-4389; phone (202) 547-6227; fax (202) marriage. Our motto is "The Best Par-tional affiliate organizations: Mothers5464CRC (4272). ent is Both Parents." Without Custody (MW/OC) and the The CRC home page is http:// For the child's benefit, CRC favorsStepfamily Association of Americawww.vix.coni/crc/ CRC's email address: parenting education before marriage, (SAA). [email protected] Speak Out for Children during marriage, and for parents who Prominent professionals in the fieldsis published four times a year and is sent are unwed or separated. We work to de-of religion, law, social work, psychology, free to members. Library rate: $20.00 a militarize divorce between parents whochild care, education, business, and gov-year. Send letters, comments, and articles are involved in marital disputes, sub-ernment comprise our Advisory Panel. for publication to Editor, CRC. OFFICERS AND BOARD NATIONAL SPOKESPERSONS Karen DeCrow Joan B. Kelly, Ph.D. MEMBERS Darryl Grant. Former President of N.O.W. Executive Director David L. Levy, Esq., President Washington Redskins Jamesville, New York Northern California Mediation John Bauserman, Jr., Esq.. Superbowl XVII and XXII Center Chairman of the Board Champion Elliott H. Diamond Sam Brunetti, CEO Dwight Twilley, Pop Singer/ Co-Founder, CRC Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, M.D. John Bauserman. Sr. Author Reston. Virginia Author. Psychiatrist Ingrid Bough-Bell Scousdale. Arizona Judge Richard V. Wakiron (reed) EVALUATORS OF RESEARCH Phyllis Diller, Comedienne .42e Yarbort nigh John Goidubakti. D.Ed. Los Angeles. California Vicki I. utskv. Author /Columnist D. Richard Kuhn Deepliaven. Minnesota HONORARY PRESIDENT Nancy Heleno Obetz. Margorie Engel, President. David Brenner. entertainer Stepfamily Association of James Levine.The Fatherhood New York, New York ADVISORY PANEL America Project Rabbi Mendel Abrams. NI Min The Family and Work Institute GENERAL COUNSEL Former President, Board of Warren Farrell, Ph.D.. Author New York. New York Michael L. Oddenino Rabbis former Member of the Board of Arcadia. California of Greater Washington. DC Directors, New York City John Money, Ph.D. Professor of N.O.W.