 Parents play one of the most important roles in the lives of their
children. This vital relationship should positively impact a child's
physical, mental, and emotional well-being for their entire life.
The
child-parent relationship influences a person's future happiness,
ability to interface in society and to become a productive citizen.
"The hallmark of [the parental] relationship is the readily
observable fact that this special adult is not interchangeable with others."
Dr. Jack Shonkoff
Board-certified pediatrician
Harvard Graduate School of Education
Across the country, there are instances of judges denying the
vital
role of parents in the lives of their children by placing government
into a "parental" role in a child's life. This is a
dangerous
precedent resulting in child-parent relationships being severed
by
removals that cause unnecessary pain to both children and their
parents.
A thirteen-year-old boy in Washington State was removed from
his
parents after complaining to school counselors that his parents
took
him to church too often. His school counselors had encouraged
him to
call Child Protective Services with his complaint, which led
to his
subsequent removal and placement in foster care. It was only
after the
parents agreed to a judge's requirement of less-frequent church
attendance that they were able to recover their son.
The right of parents to maintain a strong involvement in their children's lives
has been continually upheld by Supreme Court doctrine. It is deeply valued by
millions of American families.
I oppose any legislation that will interfere in the child-parent
relationship through unreasonable government intrusion. |
