On NBC Nightly News With Lester Holt (on Wed. March 16th) and Info here on Kayden's Law

Hello to All in the Arena of Parenting and Caring about the safety of children"

Let's make it common knowledge in rural America as well as the cities that  
Angels Are On the Side of Safety... Angelina Jolie is speaking up about angel Kayden who died as a child but is looming large in the laws now, making her lovely Mom Kathy Sherlock proud I'm sure of the love that never dies and her spirit that was always bigger than life. Hugs to Kathy and to all of Kayden's wonderful family and friends who have helped America take a giant step forward for safety for all children. May Kayden truly rest in pe

Look up NSPC, National Safe Parents Coalition and in ConnecticutProtectiveMoms.org to learn more about many important issues, including one that Angelina Jolie will speak to Lester Holt about on the NBC Nightly News on 3/16/22. Here is the summary of Kayden's Law (based on the loss of Kayden Mancuso of PA whose biological father ended her life and then took his own, knowing her mother was seeking to protect her but apparently wanting to defeat her and show everyone he had a final say and control over how his daughter's life went and to impact everyone else's in a negative way as well.)

VAWA Kayden’s Law (Begins on page 2294) The Keeping Children Safe From Family Violence Act or "Kayden’s Law" in VAWA, incentivizes states to ensure that their child custody laws adequately protect at-risk children by:

1. Restricting expert testimony to only those who are appropriately qualified to provide it. Evidence from court-appointed or outside professionals regarding alleged abuse may be admitted only when the professional possesses demonstrated expertise and experience in working with victims of domestic violence or child abuse, including child sexual abuse.

2. Limiting the use of reunification camps and therapies which cannot be proven to be safe and effective. No “reunification treatment” may be ordered by the court without scientifically valid and generally accepted proof of the safety, effectiveness and therapeutic value of the particular treatment.

3. Providing evidence-based ongoing training to judges and court personnel on family violence subject matter, including: (i) child sexual abuse; (ii) physical abuse; (iii) emotional abuse; (iv) coercive control; (v) implicit and explicit bias; (vi) trauma; (vii) long and short-term impacts of domestic violence and child abuse on children; and (viii) victim and perpetrator behaviors.

These advocates who have succeeded in getting this law passed with the VAWA. They have worked for decades to figure out 'what's wrong with this picture' if a person (usually a Mom caring safely for her kids best she can...) is put through 'the spin cycle' when seeking help and protection legally to keep herself and her kids in a safe lane and custody or caregiving relationship.

That is Very Separate from the ability to provide for the children. Sometimes there is a lot of money in a family, or from one parent, but the whole point of this Federal Law is to Prioritize the Safety and Connection between the safe protective parent and the children, including from coercive measures of emotional, psychological and other forms of abuse (even not obvious physical or other violations although intimidation, creating contentious situations, and being the stronger, demanding one can 'put others in their place and keep them there' even if they don't realize that's happening..

.It can seem better to join in the stance of an aggressor rather than try to figure things out or become bonded with a victim....and the courts fail to protect victims, both adult and child, in predictable ways, leading to separations and often harm and danger.

So that's what Kayden's Law seeks to make clear in all 50 states (yet each one will have to iron out details and people need to be trained not only in the courts but in all fields connected to families...medical, educational, social work and family court, protective services and much more.) That's a tall order and may take years, but at least there are more people looking into the matter in serious ways.

 The Battered Mothers Custody Conference (the next one, the 15th Annual, will be on zoom as well as in person at the end of April...) is one that has helped drive the reform over their 14 years of annual meetings and steadfast advocacy with some in the field for decades when the system was denying the problem, judges and others had little or no training, and Father's Rights groups had millions in funding to help reunify any kind of father with children.

So hope this is helpful and can be shared with others who may be ready to help more people become aware of these difficult topics and the systems that are aiming to improve things. Ideally I would hope more young people would have voluntary coaching and support for any relationship one is in, any parenting or caregiving roles and much more... With online advocacy that may be possible but it's not always easy to access affordably and regularly with life being busy... Thanks for braving learning a bit more as you can and helping more parts of society understand what many have suffered through over the decades... Best to all and enjoy this springtime weather!