Parental Rights Foundation; A Bridge Across the Aisle for Families

Last week, I attended the American Legislative Exchange Council’s (ALEC) annual States and Nation Conference in Fort Worth, Texas, to present a model policy on Family Separations.

ALEC is a cooperative of conservative state lawmakers and private entities like the Parental Rights Foundation, who meet to discuss and shape model policies for state legislation. Based on its conservative focus, it is unashamedly Republican.

Our model policy on Family Separations, on the other hand, was drafted by a bipartisan coalition, including members from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the American Bar Association (ABA), working closely with members from PRF and the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF).

The aim and strength of this Coalition to End Hidden Foster Care is to remove partisan barriers and put forth policies both sides can agree on. And my trip to ALEC proves that we are reaching that goal.

As I said, several left-leaning lawyers were an integral part of drafting this model bill. There are lawyers whose organizations would never be allowed to join ALEC—and who would never want to. In terms of partisan politics, ALEC would be their enemy.

But on the issue of parental rights and family defense, we are all on the same page.

As a member of both the Coalition to End Hidden Foster Care and ALEC, and as someone welcome on the political right, I had the privilege of serving as the “bridge across the aisle,” taking our model from one group to the other.

In practical terms, that looked like talking to lawmakers about our model last week, then presenting it before a “task force” (committee) on Health & Human Services, where it was put to a vote.

I didn’t hide the fact that the proposal was bipartisan. In fact, I find that one of the highlights of our model: it has already been vetted by both sides, with all the potential “red flags” taken out.

At the end of the day, our model received unanimous support, both from the public sector (elected legislators from various states) and the private sector (other nonprofits and for-profit corporations who are also members of ALEC). It is still listed on ALEC’s website as a “draft” model, but that will change in the next week or so as their IT team makes the updates from the conference.

 

So, what does our model say?

Our model covers instances where the state’s (or local) child welfare agency is involved with a family and suggests a Voluntary Placement Agreement. Such agreements are increasingly popular since the passage of the Family First Prevention Services Act in 2018 as a means to prevent foster care. But in many states, they are ripe for coercion and abuse since they do not involve any kind of court oversight or data tracking (leading to the unofficial title, “Hidden Foster Care”).

This kind of prevention certainly has its benefits: Instead of being removed to foster care with strangers, the children are moved to the home of a relative or close friend chosen by the parents. This means less trauma and disruption for the child. And the parents don’t have to go to court to defend themselves, either.

But, again, there is the potential for problems, such as pitting parents against the very kin they chose to provide the childcare, and the fact that there is no judge involved to make sure things are done properly.

That’s where our model comes in. It includes a section to make sure the parent’s rights are being protected—rights to have the details in writing, to know the aims and time limits of the separation, to rescind their agreement to the arrangement at any time, to have a lawyer advise them, and so on. This section makes sure the arrangement is truly voluntary, not coerced, and that it is designed to serve the family’s needs rather than the agency’s convenience.

It also includes a section to protect the rights of the affected children, such as a right to know what’s happening, to have a say (depending on their age) in the details, and to keep disruptions of their life to a minimum. (This means a family member in their same school district or close to their same church community would be a better choice than a family member two counties away.)

And there’s even a section to protect the rights of the caregivers, including the right to say “no” in the immediate timeframe, but to still be considered as a potential placement later on if the circumstances change.

Texas passed a similar law in 2023; the lawmakers who passed it and are members of ALEC were notably supportive of our model. They understand from their own experience the need for these reforms to protect families at their most vulnerable time.

I am proud to present this model for the coming legislative session and will work with lawmakers in any state who want to bring it to the floor. And I am especially proud to be the bridge across the aisle to make sure this important work gets done.

Thank you for standing with us and empowering us to build bridges to protect families by securing parental rights!

Posted in Reports, Updates and tagged legislation, parental rights, updates

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My testimony to four Florida Judges about the abuses I suffered in Miami-Dade Family Court

 

If Martin Luther King Jr. were alive today he would be upset and say "What's up with this?"

What MLK Taught Me About

How to Be a Dad

“We don’t take black money.”

Those were the cruel words my father-in-law, Dr. Little, heard when he was a young man at a public golf course in 1959.

“Good,” he responded. “Because money is green.”

He left his cash on the counter, turned around, and walked out the door to go play a round of golf.

Later, he and his friends were escorted away by police for playing on a “whites only” course. Rather than exploding into a violent rage, as many others would have done, Dr. Little stayed calm and held his head high during his arrest.

That highly publicized event and his example of a dignified man were instrumental in the future of the golf course, which would be integrated a few years later.

On MLK Day, I find myself reflecting on my father-in-law’s story. I am also reminded that Dr. King’s famous “I have a dream” speech was about being a father. It was about envisioning the future he wanted for his children, and then working to make that dream a reality.

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character,” he said.

It is ageless, genderless and most of all, the most painful form of psychological abuse...

Introduction to Parental Alienation from Stan Korosi

Parental Alienation does hurt siblings. It destroys the family, and creates victims in the children left behind who grieve the loss of their siblings. Parental Alienation inflicts real emotional and psychological abuse on siblings who are caught in the crossfire, or intentionally made a victim.

Parental Alienation-What is it? How Does it Happen? How Does it Affect Children? from Stan Korosi

Child Support is about spending time with your children

...NOT giving dollars to a 3rd party government agency so that they may receive at least matching dollars from the federal government and I will argue that to my grave. Our children need, want, desire and deserve nothing less than the equally active participation of both of their fit and willing parents sharing their love, support, security, knowledge and so much more with their children than any amount of dollars could ever provide.

Enslaving fathers to a lifetime of servitude to the state so that they may garner these federal dollars through the Social Security Act’s Title IV-d program will go down in our history books as the greatest travesty against the family unit since Adolf Hitler himself ordered the murder of over one million Jewish children and another 4.5 million adults based merely on their ethnicity. The United States government has ruined more families, abused more children and cost more lives than Adolf Hitler could have ever even imagined possible. All of this based upon the governments plan to switch the failed and bankrupt welfare program to the blame of fathers and fatherhood.

More to come on this subject matter but in the mean time here is my article as compiled for Fathers4Justice…

The Minnesota State Supreme Court ruled in a 4-3 decision on Wednesday, February 12, 2014 that Child Support is in fact not about one parent giving another parent money through a third party State agency.

The State of Minnesota arrested 64 year old Larry Nelson of Rochester, Minnesota 3 years ago on felony charges of failing to, “care and support” for his 2 children who are now adults. The State of Minnesota claimed that Mr. Nelson had not paid some $83,470.00 of what they considered to be 11 years of so-called “child support.” However, in a 4-3 decision it was ruled that the state had not proven their case and that Mr. Nelson had in fact “cared and supported” his children. Many of those following the case agree, the state had not proven it’s case and the word “support” does not necessarily correlate with a financial obligation. Olmstead County prosecuting attorney Mark Ostrem concurred, “The term “care and support” are too ambiguous and could create issues for other prosecuting attorneys in Minnesota.”

We at Fathers4Justice have stated for years, The act of supporting one’s children is not just about money! There are many more important factors to be considered when it comes to the term child support, factors which most states, in their lust for federal funding, completely ignore at each and every opportunity. 

We believe that any and all parties who are truly concerned with the, “Best Interest of Our Children” will agree, child support encompasses a much broader scope than just financial aid. Child support, more importantly consists of giving our children what they really need and want and that is our love, guidance, time, attention, protection, emotional and educational support and so much more. Yes, our children may need financial aid as well, especially so if a parent is absent or refuses to participate in the true meaning of supporting their children. However, we believe it is time for this country to review the meaning of child support and in doing so make certain that our children’s true needs are met. 

Those needs have been studied by the greatest minds in the greatest universities in the greatest nations in the world and the answer is always the same, 

“In order for our children to grow up to become healthy, productive citizens within our society, it is best that they have the nurturing and guidance of both of their fit and willing parents.”

The State of Minnesota is very concerned and rightfully so! Changes to state laws to better define what in many cases is nothing more than extortion are already in the works. Justice David Lillehaug wrote in his dissent that, “The ruling handcuffs the states ability to prosecute others in Minnesota” Justice Lillehaug further stated, “Swift legislation is necessary to correct this matter, If not, Minnesota could become the only state without viable criminal sanctions for failure to pay child support.”

Fathers4Justice believes that just the opposite is true. Yes changes must be made, but not to legislation to prosecute parents for the financial gain of the state. Changes must be made to address the true best interest of our children. The toll on our society is too great, incarcerating millions of parents is not the answer to this issue. 

Overcome the influence that your child gets from the alienator on a daily basis.

Steps To Take To Deal With Your Alienated Children

Dealing With Them When During Visitation/After Reunification.

First of all, let us discuss the more common of the two; the scenario of visitation.

Whether visitation is one day of the week or several, the behavior of an alienated child is most likely to be the same. Children are generally resistant and defiant, and will attempt to diffuse the alienated parent, and will make every attempt to diffuse the visitation. From ill behavior, violence, rudeness, underhanded tack ticks, you can expect anything.

Generally, anything and everything can happen and a parent has to be on their guard. This is no time for cupcakes and ice cream. Young children in the family have to be guarded as well if they are from a second marriage. If I am sounding harsh, I mean to be, I am realistic. I have seen this happen.

Of course, as with everything in life, there are acceptations to every rule.

You may have a perfectly adjusted child who has been alienated from you. If that is the case, ignore everything I have said above.

The problem with children who have been under the influence by an alienator is that they suffer with PAS… Parental Alienation Syndrome. Although it is not a recognized syndrome by the DSM (The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition text revision (DSM-IV TR is used by clinicians and psychiatrists to diagnose psychiatric illnesses.).

These children are emotionally behind by ten years by the time they are in their teens. Yes, they behave like 6-8 year olds. They may walk, talk and look like their peers, and are 4.0 students like my four children are, but emotionally, they are stunted.

Who's Running For Judge in 2016?

• Important Election Information

  
  

  http://equalrightsforfathers.tumblr.com/post/149543966831/justice-building-blog-judicial-elections-2016

How to get the most signatures to get judges to be accountable to the people?

By concentrating our resources wisely by going to the precincts with the most number of voters.

Here is a list of the precincts with number of votes: 

It is not just the Family Courts that have issues, it is society.

National Movement For Family Law Reform

• Family Law Reform, Inc. was founded upon the same sound promise: that the dream of a decent life, the freedom to pursue it, and the resulting happiness are not for the few, not for those who have the most money or who have the most aggressive attorney, but for each one of us.
  

  Family Law Reform, Inc. is a group of men and women advocating reform for the archaic alimony and family laws.

• 

Parental Alienation and Lies...Evidence Ignored by Family Court Judges

ParentalAlienationAwareness

ADHD and Parental Alienation? Serious???

Read

167 Red Flags or Examples of Parental Alienation

Father? What Father?

Parental Alienation and Its Effect on Children

By Chaim Steinberger

Part One Preface 

“[A] twelve-year study commissioned by the Family Law Section of the American Bar Association of over 1,000 divorces found that ‘parental alienation,’ the programming of a child against the other parent, occurs regularly, sixty percent (60%) of the time, and sporadically another twenty percent.”

There is no doubt that every child needs “frequent and regular” contact with both parents to develop in a psychologically healthy manner.2 A custodial parent is, therefore, obligated by law to ensure the continued relationship between the child and the non-custodial parent.3 The Appellate Division, Second Department, explained why frequent contact is needed between them: Only [with frequent contact] may a non-custodial parent provide his child with the guidance and counsel youngsters require in their formative years. Only then may he be an available source of comfort and solace in times of his child’s need. Only then may he share in the joy of watching his offspring grow to maturity and adulthood. . . . 

Indeed, so jealously do the courts guard the relationship between a non-custodial parent and his child that any interference with it by the custodial parent has been said to be “an act so inconsistent with the best interests of the children as to, per se, raise a strong probability that the [offending party] is unfit to act as custodial parent.” . . . The decision to bear children, [moreover], entails serious obligations and among them is the duty to protect the child’s relationship with both parents even in the event of a divorce. Hence, a custodial parent may be properly called upon to make certain sacrifices to ensure the right of the child to the benefits of visitation with the noncustodial parent. The search, therefore, is for a reasonable accommodation of the rights and needs of all concerned, with appropriate consideration given to the good faith of the parties in respecting each other’s parental rights.4 

Nevertheless, a twelve-year study commissioned by the Family Law Section of the American Bar Association of over 1,000 divorces found that “parental alienation,” the programming of a child against the other parent, occurs regularly, sixty percent (60%) of the time, and sporadically another twenty percent.5 New York courts have in the past “zealously protected” the non-custodial parent’s visitation rights against interference by the custodial parent.6 Custodial parents seeking to exclude the other parent have, therefore, taken to socially and psychologically turning the child away from the other parent so that the child, and not the custodial parent, refuses the visitation. 

This type of “alienation” has been characterized by the Second Department as a “subtle and insidious” form of visitation interference that may cause even “greater and more permanent damage to the emotional psyche of a child” than the garden variety visitation interference.7 This article will summarize the leading literature in the field of alienation. Part One will review the different techniques employed by alienating parents to marginalize and exclude the other parent from their children’s lives. It will set out the most common symptoms of alienation so that the reader will be more attuned to recognize and deal with potential alienation, and counsel clients who are effected by it. 

Finally, it will describe the profound and enduring devastating psychological, emotional and social consequences alienation has on its primary victims—the children. Part Two of the article will appear in a subsequent issue and describe the effective treatments for alienation, and how New York courts have traditionally and recently dealt with the issue. Because alienation has such profound inter-generational consequences, judges and lawyers must be ever-vigilant to detect and deal with alienation, no matter the guise by which it is concealed. 10 NYSBA Family Law Review | Spring 2006 | Vol. 38 | No. 1

167 Red Flags or Examples of Parental Alienation

Are your children for sale in America’s divorce and family courts?

Are your children for sale?  Isn’t that “the law” as we truly know it in America’s divorce and family courts?

As a mom or dad you go in believing that legitimate lawyers and judges are looking out for your children’s so-called “best interests.” At least that’s what they tell you before examining all your mandatory financial disclosures. Then they plot just how long they can keep two parents fighting over their children for profit. We like to think not all are doing it, but how can you ever know when this gold mine is so easy to access?

It’s a barbaric process reminiscent of a Roman Coliseum, and there is no accountability for the malpractice or misconduct. The foxes are watching the chicken coup, like the ethics lawyers in the witch hunt against Leon who were fired for falsifying their time sheets. These are the standard-bearers of lawyer ethics who oversee billing practices that swallow up entire college funds and life savings. Yet unlike others who steal from government, no public charges, ethical or criminal, were ever lodged.

Hard to believe? Look it up in Albany Times Union, July 2013 (Chief Counsel Peter Torncello, Steven Zayas, etc.). Leon’s custody judge was removed from the bench for admitting to sexual misconduct on his handicapped, five year old niece (Bryan Hedges). Two New York Supreme Court judges, Gerald Garson and Thomas Spargowere sent to federal prison for seeking bribes to fix divorce and custody cases. One did it while facing misconduct charges and the other got early release due to colleague references.

Shamelessly, when the lawyer you hire gets done abusing you, he or she is likely to blame the client for the court’s dysfunction, the emotions they needlessly inflame and the costly outcome to your families. And don’t forget the former lawyer on the bench who knows “the game” (according to New York Family Judge Daniel King, per court transcript of January 15, 2014). The power they are abusing today exceeds that of the NSA, IRS and CIA. They exploit your children to get away with this, and an unsuspecting public goes along.

Well like so many model parents sucked in by this government propaganda, Dr. Leon Koziol was unfortunate to end up with an ex-spouse named Kelly Hawse-Koziol. She engaged herself in an evil scheme to replace the birth father with a millionaire, childless substitute named Joseph Flihan of New Hartford, New York. When Leon outright rejected her offer in exchange for an end to so-called “child support,” (as any loving father would), she plotted to destroy his career, and worse, his relationships with his daughters.

All of Hawse-Koziol’s offense petitions since 2006 were dismissed, only one went to trial but required no defense. Her latest one, a protection (gag) order on this website, was dismissed last month on the eve of trial after a mandamus order was signed in New York Supreme Court which challenged it. Hawse-Koziol actually claimed in court documents that she transmitted notice of child relocation to Flihan’s home under e-mail “gmai.com” (“l” character missing) unlike all monthly notices before and after. That’s like testifying that she successfully mailed a letter from a trash can outside the post office. But Family Judge Daniel King accepted her lies. After that, under pressure, he disqualified himself from all litigation, but by then the damage was done. His free speech retaliations were complete.

Of course, a Social Studies teacher at Frankfort-Schuyler Central School had no ability to achieve her evil agenda. But when Leon began seeking recourse and reforms through proper channels, the beneficiaries of this lucrative enterprise joined the gang assault which resulted. Sure we could give you the “rambling” details of a ten year saga, but that would only incur more orchestrated sanctions and outright fabrications, i.e. judge findings of a PhD and Masters degree never obtained and nowhere in any court record to elevate Leon’s support obligations. Hey we’re serious. It actually occurred and has yet to be corrected.

Consequently a parental rights leader in New York City is seeking to lead a protest in Utica to the Joseph Flihan Restaurant Supply Company on Broad Street. Its purpose is to send a message that pots and pans can be sold but not our children. This corrupt family court system must be dismantled. Too many unsuspecting victims, especially our innocent children, learn too late how this system actually operates. If you are from the Utica-Rome area, you already know Leon’s conscientious stand on your behalf, his sacrifices and the continuing witch hunt against him. So you need to join up. Call (315) 380-3420 to register.

Dr. Leon Koziol, J.D. is joined by a Florida doctor, California dentist and Virginia engineer in a writ for parental equality docketed by the United States Supreme Court on June 17, 2016.

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