Family Court and Children's Mental Health

The Family Court System in the United States is broken. More and more, abusive parents are awarded custody of their children because they know how to manipulate the family court system. National attention is finally being given to this problem, including the fact that many judges are corrupt.

Families caught in the Family Court quagmire can become frustrated. Below are links to groups and organizations that are trying to assist these families with a myriad of services. Because children are caught in the middle, the list includes organizations directed to the safety of children.

FAMILY COURT CRISIS: VIDEO SLIDESHOW: Center for Judicial Excellence

FAMILY COURT CRISIS: OUR CHILDREN AT RISK: Center for Judicial Excellence

BREAKING THE SILENCE – CHILDREN’S STORIES: PBS documentary on You Tube

CHILD ABUSE – WHEN FAMILY COURTS GET IT WRONG: Christian Science Monitor

FBI CORRUPTION HOTLINE: When things go wrong in court because of corrupt judges and money changing hands, you can now report it to the FBI by calling the Public Corruption Hotline. This link takes you to field office phone numbers.

THE CENTER FOR JUDICIAL EXCELLENCE: A community-based organization in Marin County established to improve the public accountability of the judiciary and strengthen and maintain the integrity of the courts.

MOTHERS OF LOST CHILDREN: The mission of Mothers of Lost Children is to support, nurture and pray for mothers who have been forcibly separated from their children by the family law and juvenile courts. The primary goal is to bring to public awareness the fact that children who report abuse, particularly incest, are regularly given into the custody or unsupervised visitation of the identified perpetrators.

FAMILY COURT IN AMERICA: Working together to protect our children in our nation’s family courts.

BATTERED MOTHER’S CUSTODY CONFERENCE: This group seeks to raise public awareness by documenting civil, legal, due process, and human rights violations perpetrated on victims of domestic violence towards women and children by family courts, their professional appointees, Child Protect Services, other government systems, and all who have built an industry which profits from the suffering of mothers and children trying to escape domestic violence. There are links to articles that expose these violations. There is also an annual weekend conference event dedicated to educating professionals and the general public about the serious legal and psychological challenges faced by battered women who seek protection for themselves and their children from the family/divorce court system.

COURAGIOUS KIDS NETWORK: This organization, started by children survivors, is dedicated to stopping the continuing assault on children’s human rights to live free from abuse.

CALIFORNIA PROTECTIVE PARENTS ASSOCIATION: The mission of this group is to protect children from incest and family violence through research, education and advocacy.

WOMEN’S LAW: Topics include staying safe, preparing for court, know the laws, learn about abuse, where to find help, and legal statutes.

DC VOLUNTEER LAWYERS PROJECT: This is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide high-quality, free legal services to low-income District of Columbia residents in family law cases. Their lawyers provide pro bono legal representation to (1) survivors of domestic violence in civil protection order, custody, visitation, divorce, child support and cases, (2) children in high-conflict custody cases, (3) foster parents in adoption, guardianship, placement and licensing matters, and (4) third-party caregivers in custody cases.

AARDVARC: AN ABUSE, RAPE & DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AID & RESOURCE COLLECTION: This site is for victims of violence, their families and friends, and the agencies and programs which serve them, both public and private. The goal of this website is to assist efforts to aid and support those trying to removed themselves from abusive situations and build healthier, stronger lives. For individuals, they hope to provide general educational and reference material as well as a comprehensive nationwide director of services for “one stop shopping.”

SAFE AND SOUND: For over 40 years this San Francisco program has partnered with local nonprofits to pioneer an approach to prevent child abuse and reduce its devastating impact. It delivers services, develops polices, and works to improve the systems which respond to families with young children exposed to violence.

DIRECTORY OF CRIME VICTIM SERVICES: This online resource is from the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC). Since its launch in 2003, the Directory has helped thousands of crime victims and service providers find non-emergency crime victims service agencies in the United States and abroad. Search by State or Country. Go to the home page and click “Search the Directory.”

POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (MAYO CLINC HEALTH INFORMATION): Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that’s triggered by a terrifying event. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severer anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thought about the event. Many people who go through traumatic events have difficulty adjusting and coping for a while. But with tine and taking care of oneself such traumatic reactions usually get better. Getting treatment as soon as possible after post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms develop may prevent long-term PTSD.

TAKING YOUR CHILD TO A THERAPIST: Sometimes kids, like adults, can benefit from therapy. It can help kids develop problem-solving skills and also teach them the value of seeking help. Therapists can help kids and families cope with stress and a variety of emotional and behavioral issues. Many kids need help dealing with school stress (such as homework, test anxiety, bullying or peer pressure). Others need help to discuss their feelings about family issues, particularly if there’s a major transition, such as a divorce, move, serious illness or incest.

ART THERAPY FOR CHILDREN: Art therapy for children can provide kids with an easier way to express themselves since children are more naturally artistic and creative. A young child is likely to be more comfortable initially expressing him/herself with some crayons and markers, for example, than they are going to be at expressing emotions and feeling through words.

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