Exciting Updates on Family Court Awareness Month
We can spend hours, days, months and years arguing about why the family court system is broken and many are spinning their wheels doing this. I am guilty as well.
Family Court Awareness Month is my way to scrub the issue down to a foundational level so we can start having tough conversations. This movement has gained traction because no one can deny that we have a problem if we put all of our opinions aside and focus on the fact that almost 800 children are no longer with us -- many due to family court failures. Many were murdered by separating or divorcing parents or other caregivers (source: Center for Judicial Excellence).
Houston, we have a problem...and we all need to be talking about it.
In these conversations, we can weave in education on narcissism and the fact that alienation (junk science) accusations are the abuser's go-to allegation. We have a huge opportunity to educate the general public on the reality that domestic violence doesn’t stop when you leave the abusive relationship, it transfers to a new avenue of abuse: post-separation abuse and the family court system.
I am so excited to share my update from our cross-country tour:
THE MEDIA IS LISTENING - We were featured this week on the podcast, “What’s Up with Wendy (Nov 24 episode)” and with New York’s News 12 where I sat down to talk with Emmy-nominated reporter, Blaise Gomez.
BILLBOARDS EVERYWHERE! We have an earth-angel who coordinated billboards to go up in major cities all over the United States – Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Raleigh, Amarillo, Memphis, Nashville and Albuquerque to name a few! Have you seen one? We’d love to see photos of a billboard in YOUR city!
RECOGNITION IS HAPPENING – we have been recognized by a Congresswoman, and received certificates of recognition from a Senator and an Assemblyperson.
A PROCLAMATION! The City of Chino Hills, California issued a proclamation declaring November as Family Court Awareness Month – thank you to Renay for making this happen!
ADVOCATES CONNECTING: There is power in numbers, yes there is! Family Court Awareness Month is in its infancy, but we have made so many amazing connections at each stop of our tour:
Los Angeles, California (November 1): Event speakers included: Tina Swithin, Creator of Family Court Awareness Month, Ana Esteves (Piqui’s mom), Jacqueline Franchetti (Kyra’s mom and Kyra Franchetti Foundation), Senator Susan Rubio, Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio and Sandra Ross (California Protective Parents Association) who has been instrumental in helping me to plan this entire tour. A statement was read on behalf of Congresswoman Judy Chu.
Little Rock, Arkansas (November 6): Event speakers included: Tina Swithin, Creator of Family Court Awareness Month, Brandy Dailey, BA, CGF, SLEI, MPA, Community Response Facilitator, Arkansas Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Alisa Mitchell, LPC. and a subsequent Zoom session with a family court judge (Twentieth Judicial Fifth Division Judge HG Foster) and DV advocates.
Charleston, South Carolina (November 10): Event speakers included: Tina Swithin, Creator of Family Court Awareness Month, and Christian Rainey, Men Against Domestic Violence (MAD USA)
Raleigh, North Carolina (November 11): Event speakers included: Tina Swithin, Creator of Family Court Awareness Month, Kathy Sherlock (Kayden’s and Kayden’s Korner Foundation), Tiffany Lesnik, Lesnik Family Law, and Suzanne Chester, The Child’s Advocate.
Nashville, Tennessee (November 13): Event speakers included: Tina Swithin, Creator of Family Court Awareness Month, Connie Reguli, Attorney at Law and Activist, Tianna Onyebuagu, Anthony’s House and Certified Grief Counselor, Ann Maguire, Founder Wings for Justice and Karen, memorial for 14 Tennessee murdered (failed) children
Amarillo, Texas (November 16): Event speakers included: Tina Swithin, Creator of Family Court Awareness Month, Ashley Wade, M.A., LPC, Registered Play Therapist, Jennifer Hale, Concerned Community Professional, Dottie, Medical Examiner’s Removal Technician, and Shawna Ives- memorial for 75 murdered (failed) Texas Children
Albuquerque, New Mexico (November 17): Event speakers included: Tina Swithin, Creator of Family Court Awareness Month, Michelle Tafoya LPCC, Domestic Violence Resource Center (DVRC), Honorable Debra Ramirez, Nicole Rogers, Representative of The University of New Mexico Hospital, Pamela Herndon, Lawyer and Advocate, and Jessica Fierro, DVRC Director of Victim Advocacy Department. Also in attendance was: Brett Denison of the Albuquerque Police Department, Crystal Rubio of the Bernalillo County DA's office, and Bev McMillian of Family Advocacy Center Manager at United Way of Central New Mexico.
Before I wrap up, I must share a story out of Texas - because you just can't make this stuff up: I did not personally plan the stop in Amarillo, Texas; I arrived on our scheduled day and met the volunteers and speakers. We delivered a powerful presentation and then...a man who had been standing in the audience filming and making me uncomfortable approached me and served me with a subpoena to APPEAR in Texas for a custody trial on November 30th. The kicker: I don't know either party but the male litigant apparently believes I am in cahoots with his ex-wife. OH, and he wants me to turn over information about the Amarillo billboards because (wait for it....) he thinks they are about him!
My response: Yes, sir - they ARE about you. In fact, every billboard on Family Court Awareness Month is about you! We are raising awareness on post-separation abuse - on perpetrators who try to isolate, bully and silence their victims so thank you for setting your mask down and becoming the poster-child for our awareness campaign.
All of that silliness aside, I will say that that Family Court Awareness Month campaign has given me more hope than anything that I’ve done in my entire decade of family court advocacy and, November is not over - let's keep the momentum going.
What are you doing to raise awareness that November is Family Court Awareness Month?
