PITTSBURGH VOL.4 NO. 1
CHAPTER
Phone no. 412/466-8928 E-mail: pghdads@aol.com Fax 412/835-1362
WELCOME TO NCFC GREATER PITTSBURGH CHAPTER
"THE BEST PARENT IS BOTH PARENTS"
PRESUMPTIVE JOINT CUSTODY BILL 1723
The Presumptive Joint Custody bill number HB 1723 is still in the judiciary committee waiting action for being put on the agenda. Apparently, the house majority leader Representative John Perzel is not enthusiastic about the bill. The problem may be related to party line affiliation.
It is a shame that our children will continue to have one parent torn from their lives, or as we call it parentectomy, because one party sponsored the bill and not the other. Please call Representative Perzel at 717-787-2016 to express your viewpoint and to educate him on the importance of both parents in the raising of our children.
You should continue to write to the Judiciary Committee Chairman Representative Thomas Gannon to have HB 1723 to be added to the committee agenda. Rep. Gannon can be reached at:
Rep. Thomas Gannon
PA House of Representatives
PO Box 202020
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Please remember to include a copy of your letter to your local state representative and send us one for our files.
DANGER IN WASHINGTON!
A House bill HCON 182 was introduced to the Judiciary Committee recently. This bill is a real tragedy to children across the entire country. The bill downgrades the actual use of false allegations to gain legal advantage in court custody actions to the same level of false bank robbery claims. It equates fathers who challenge the courts for custody of the children to those of domestic violence abusers. The bill says ". . . Fathers who abuse their children's mothers are more likely to dispute custody and visitation than are fathers who are not violent."
Nevertheless, the worst is the part that would promote sole custody to the primary caretaker. What a disaster for our children and our families. This bill even goes on to say that fathers win sole or joint custody up to 70% of the time. What world are these legislators living in?
Please write, call and meet with your local federal representative and tell him or her the rest of the story.
HOLIDAY AWARENESS NIGHT
Come join us as we celebrate the holidays together and bring to the attention of the public that many children will be denied access to one or both of their parents this holiday season. Our rally will be held on Saturday evening, December 20, 1997, from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm on the City County Building Courthouse steps. Please come and bring your children and your singing voices. Please call Alberta at 466-8928 for more information. Our children and our chapter needs your support by being there in person!
TOWN HALL MEETING
NCFC is participating in a town meeting on January 15, 1998. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss a fathers hotline, PFA's, the importance of fathers in their childrens school success and a housing shelter for fathers.
Other groups that will participate are ACES, Citizen's for Family Unity, The Father's Resource Center, Step Families of Pittsburgh and The Male Coalition, Fathering Families. The meeting will be from 7:00 to 10:00 pm. Please call Kevin Sheahen at 854-4799 for more details and the location.
PAPI (Pennsylvania Parenthood Initiative)
On September 20, 1997, in Carlisle, PA, a group of concerned citizens from all across Pennsylvania met to discuss common points of fathers rights movement across the state. Groups such as FACE, NCFC, Fathers are Necessary and the Male Coalition, Fathering Families attended. Jimmy Boyd of Mens Health Network and Michele Delo formerly of ACFC moderated the meeting and gave us updates on other states successes and failures on our issues.
Everyone who attended agreed to make HB 1723, Presumptive Joint Custody, the number one goal for educating our legislators. The next meeting will be the last Saturday in February. Our own Dave Scott was chosen to be the next meeting coordinator. Please call Kevin at 854-4799 for more information.
NATIONAL STUDY LINKS FATHERs INVOLVEMENT
TO CHILDREN GETTING A'S IN SCHOOL
According to a new national study, children do better in school when their fathers are involved in their schools, whether their fathers live with them or their mothers are also involved. Fathers can be a positive force in their childrens education, and when they do get involved, their children are more likely to get mostly A's in school. According to U. S. Secretary of Education, Richard W. Riley, "Dads make a powerful difference in defining expectations and challenging children to do their best."
Then why do our courts limit fathers to only four days a month with their children? Doesn't Title 23, Chapter 5301 of Pennsylvania statutes support "the best interests of the children?" The answer lies with the corruption and biases of the present adversarial family court system.
For a copy of this study, please call David Thomas at 202-401-1579.
PITTSBURGH CHAPTER MEETINGS
Our chapter educational meetings are open to the public. There are not any fees to attend and you do not have to be a member to attend.
Recent Meetings
Our September meeting featured Representative Tom Stevenson. Rep. Stevenson talked about current legislation in Pennsylvania House of Representatives that pertain to family court issues. Rep. Stevenson also said that he favors equality in family court and that children need both parents involved financially and emotionally. He also agreed that four days a month is not enough time to be a parent and that the present system does put fathers at a disadvantage due to gender biases of the system.
PA HOUSE BILLS
HB 22 Proposes to amend Title 23 to recognize the "nurturing" parent to exclude him or her from being assessed an earning capacity and providing child support. Some factors would be total available resources, that parents desire to stay at home, and the availability of others to care for the child,
HB 1129 Proposes to amend Title 23 to deny or suspend drivers license or motor vehicle registration for support arrears greater than three months of support obligations.
HB 1723 Proposes to amend Title 23 to create a presumption of joint physical and legal custody in a divorce action. It changes the definition in PA from shared custody to joint custody. Parents will be required to submit written parenting plans. Judges would be required to put in writing why joint custody would not be in the best interests of the children.
PA SENATE BILLS
SB 437 Proposes to amend Chapter 53; relating to custody. Parents will be required to attend an education program that covers the topics of children developmental stages, adjustment to separation, conflict resolution, visitation, stress reduction in children and cooperative parenting.
SB 761 This bill would amend Section 4309 of Title 23 to allow local publications to list support obligors who are in arrears 30 days or more and indemnify the county employees and the publication firms.
SB 840 This bill would amend sections 3301(c) and 3302(b) of Title 23 to generally reduce the divorce waiting time period from two years to one year, change estate value to the date of equitable distribution hearing and allow interim or partial distribution.
SB 841 To amend Title 23 by adding a chapter introducing binding Arbitration to hear all money related issues. The fees shall be paid by the parties at the arbitrators rates.
The October meeting featured Attorney Eli Zlokas and Judicial Candidate, Bob Colville. Eli talked about the family court motion system and that October is not too early to submit modifications for custody for the upcoming holidays. Eli reviewed the process of the Allegheny Countys mandatory mediation program called "Generations." He also discussed strategies for parents when requesting extra time or specific changes and to be realistic. Eli can be reached at 381-4030. Bob Colville was the District Attorney for Allegheny County while he was running for a position on the Common Pleas court as a judge. Bob is a divorced father who understands the plight of fathers in family court. Incidentally, Bob did win his election and is now sitting in Allegheny County Juvenile Court. Lester Nauhaus telephoned in during the meeting to express his regret for not being able to attend the meeting due to religious convictions. Lester has spoken to our group on a previous occasion and he supports our groups mission statements. Lester also won a seat on the Common Pleas court in Allegheny County Civil Division.
The November meeting featured, Kathy Moore, Manager of Family Stress at the Parental Stress Center. Kathy is a working mother and her husband is a stay at home dad. His comment is that "it is not easy" in todays society to be a stay at home dad. Kathy talked about stress. We always have stress in our lives and it is the changes or additional stressors that can create problems in people.
She offered a Solution Seeking seven step guide:
Kathy closed with the serenity prayer.
Upcoming Educational Meetings
Butler County Educational Meetings are held the first Thursday evening of every month at the Butler YMCA from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. 1998's meeting schedule includes January 8th, February 5th and March 5th. Please call Gary Setzenfand at 368-9155 for more information.
New Service for NCFC Members
Allegheny County began a mandatory mediation program in February of this year, Generations. We offer our members a service to help them understand this program. If you are in the Generations program, call the office prior to your 2-hour mediation session. We will meet with you and walk you through the custody issues that will be raised in the mediation. The overall goal is to prepare you for the mediation and for you to have a written proposal ready for consideration. This service, like all others is available to all members, male or female. Call the office (854-4799) for an appointment.
Pro Se Help
Help in filling out and filing Pro Se motions is available on Thursdays from 6-11:00 PM. We have to restrict this to members but you can join when you come in. Call the office (854-4799) for an appointment.
NEW LOCAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Our chapter members voted at the November educational meeting for the new Chapter Board of Directors. The term is a two year term and the commitment is for about five to ten hours per month and attendance to the monthly board meetings. The only requirements are paid in full membership and a willingness to support our mission. Call Kevin Sheahen at 854-4799 if you are interested in running for a seat on the Board for 1998. The new Board includes:
WE NEED YOU!
Our chapter had a grant that helped us grow to where we are today. However, that funding has all been spent on our activities. We desperately need additional funding. Your membership dues go a long way to help us do what we do, but it is not enough to keep NCFC as vocal as we have been. Please consider donating to our chapter or renew your membership and use the form on the back. Remember, your donation is tax deductible!
CRIMINAL OFFENSE FOR DENYING CUSTODY?
Chapter 2904 of Pennsylvania's Crimes Codes says it is unlawful to interfere with the custody of children. Does it apply to denial of a court ordered custody of children? We are not sure if it applies or it does not apply. You may want to bring this section of the Crimes Code to the attention of your local police the next time you are denied custody of your children.
OTHER SUPPORTIVE GROUPS
Joint Custody: An Incentive for Support Payment Compliance
There is a lot of legislation on the books and in the legislative hopper to penalize non compliance of support obligations. Our legislators are overlooking a proven incentive for not only financial support of children, but also of emotional support for children. How? Joint Custody!
According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, Child Support for Custodial Mothers and Fathers: 1991, More than 90% of fathers who have joint custody pay child support as opposed to 43% when there is not any parenting time for the father with his children.
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
MEMBERSHIP INFO:
Please call 412-854-4799 or use the application on this page.
A local Chapter resource list and sections of Pennsylvania's custody statutes is included in a membership package. Membership is tax-deductible.
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* Family Membership covers second spouses, significant others, & grandparents.
Send to: National Congress for Fathers and Children
37 Seneca Road
Pittsburgh, Pa. 15241
Current Volunteer Officers of NCFC/Greater Pittsburgh Chapter
Divisions
Volunteer Staff
NCFC ADVOCACY GOALS
The NCFC is a coalition of organizations and individuals who support fathers rights, mens rights, and divorce reform in North America. We advocate and encourage:
CHILDREN NEED PRESENCE...NOT JUST PRESENTS!
Greater Pittsburgh Chapter
National Congress for Fathers & Children
37 Seneca Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15241
THE BEST PARENT IS BOTH PARENTS!