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Advocacy

Family Court Reform needs your voice! We are louder and stronger together which is why we need to come together in this battle for change.

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How can you help? 

Children deserve to be heard, believed and protected by the family court system. The research shows that the current trend of courts is not believing the child’s or their protective parents’ allegations of abuse, whether it be physical, sexual, or psychological, causing horrific outcomes including custody going in favor of their abuser, and in some cases, the murder of that child.  Over 989 children have been murdered by an abusive parent in the last 10 years. 

 

This is why we need to support initiatives such as Kyra’s Law and Kayden's Law which puts child safety first and advocate for judicial accountability.

 

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How can you speak up?​

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  1. Email and call congress, your state delegate and state senator and ask them to support Kayden’s Law or a similar initiative that puts child safety first.

     

  2. Request an in-person meeting with your legislator.

     

  3. Attend a General Assembly subcommittee or committee hearing and make a statement in support of Kayden’s Law/Family Court Reform Initiatives in your state.

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​​How do I get started?​

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Find Your Representatives!​

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House of Representatives:

https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

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Senate:

https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm

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Use formal titles when addressing letters.

When referring to members of Congress, it is best to use their formal titles.

 

  • State and federal Senators should always be referred to and addressed as “Senator [Last name]”

  • Members of the U.S. House of Representatives may be referred to as “Congresswoman/Congressman [Last name]”, “Ms./Mr. [Last name]”, or “Representative [Last Name]”

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Address your letter properly.

If you’re sending a physical letter (as opposed to an email), address the envelope as follows:

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For US Senators:

The Honorable (Full Name)

(Senate Office Building address)

United States Senate

Washington, DC 20510

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Dear Senator [Last name]:

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For US Representatives:

The Honorable (Full Name)

United States House of Representatives

Washington, DC 20515

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Dear Representative/Congressman/Congresswoman [Last name]:

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Here's a template to help you get started!

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Dear Senator [Last Name],

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I’m writing to advocate for Kayden’s law [specific bill # if applicable] and mandatory coercive control training for Judges and Family court personnel in [State].

 

The Family Courts in [State] have personally failed my family and enabled/allowed/ordered ___and how it’s impacted you and your child(ren). [Insert 3-5 sentences about your experience].

 

Judges and Family Court Personnel are not required to have training in coercive control, domestic violence, or post separation abuse. Yet studies have shown that nearly all cases that end up in our family court systems involve coercive control/domestic abuse from ONE parent. Judges are prioritizing “shared parenting” and parental rights over childrens' rights and safety. Every year, an estimated 58,000 children in the US, are placed into the care of an abusive parent.

 

[State] has an opportunity to lead. Please help to protect children and families from harm.

 

Sincerely,

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Protective Parent

Tips on Writing to your elected officials

Keep it brief.​

Keep it short - about 3 paragraphs and no longer than one page. Emails should be about 500 words.​

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  • Choose one issue or piece of legislation to discuss.

  • If there is already a bill introduced, use the bill number (ex. SB001, HB002). If a bill hasn’t been introduced yet, clearly explain the issue.

  • Choose the three most important pieces of information to share.

  • Be clear about what you want your legislator to do.​

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State who you are and what you want up front.

  • Include your correct name, address, phone number and email address. If you don't include at least your name and address, you will not get a response.

  • Of course, you want to let your legislator know that you are their constituent. But who else are you? Are you a leader in your community? An expert in the field you’re writing to them about? Someone who’s been directly affected by the issue you want to bring to their attention? Make sure you briefly introduce yourself and include relevant information.​

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Be informative and factual.

  • Explain the impact of the legislation or issue on you and other constituents in his/her community or state.

  • Use specific examples or evidence to support your position.

  • If you have one, include a personal story that shows how this issue affects you and your family. A constituent's personal stories can be the very persuasive as your legislator shapes his or her position.​

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Specific Ask.

Ask your elected official to take a concrete action (one to two 2 sentences). You can ask them to vote for or against a specific bill, or ask their colleagues to support or oppose a piece of legislation.

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  • Suggest, don't demand, a course of action.

  • Be courteous and respectful.

  • Never use threats. Simply stated, don't let your passion get in the way of making your point.

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Follow up.

Remember to request a reply and provide your contact information. If you don’t hear back, write a follow-up letter. If your legislator acts favorably to your request (introduced legislation, votes for a bill you support, speaks out on an issue, etc.) send a thank you note.

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Include your correct name, address, phone number and email address. If you don't include at least your name and address, you will not get a response.

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Tips for making your voice heard!

  • Only call YOUR members of congress. Calling outside of your district or state can actually be counterproductive to your cause. Remember, these lawmakers care first and foremost about re-election. If you don’t have the power to vote for them, they have little reason to listen to what your opinions are.

 

  • Be specific, polite, and personal. Always state your full name, city/state, and phone number. Say the name and number of the bill you’re calling about, and concisely state your points. Sharing a personal story about how the policy affects you can also be particularly impactful.

Calling or Writing?

Emails and petitions are incredibly helpful, but they’re not as powerful as a phone call. While emails and letters might get lost in the masses, a phone call has a higher chance of making it to your lawmaker. Even if it’s just an intern taking calls, a large volume of calls about one issue can make it clear just how much constituent support a policy has.

 

Plus, politicians know that calling can seem a bit more daunting, so if a constituent has worked up the courage to pick up the phone, the lawmaker knows the issue must be extremely important to them.

Does calling congress really work?

Flooding a lawmaker’s inbox or phone line can completely stall office activity, and really get the attention of your elected official. Every single call helps your senator know how much of a priority this issue is for their constituents. It’s all about building pressure, and calls are one of the most efficient ways to do so.

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