My first press conference.

I recently became a co-chair of the New York affiliate of the National Parents Organization.

We work to ensure that fit and willing parents receive equal time with their children during and after separation and divorce. It’s a nonprofit that works to help children enjoy the benefits of having both parents in their lives.
I am new to press conferences and public speaking. It’s weird because I can play drums in front of thousands of people with no problem, but having nothing but a podium between me and an audience, it’s a whole other ballgame.

I will get better at it when I get more practice. Hopefully our advocacy can change the law here in New York State as well as the other 49 that need updating.

In 2014 NPO undertook the first ever evaluation of states’ statutory provisions promoting shared parenting. This press conference highlighted the just released 2019 report.

NPO found that, despite the research that strongly supports the desirability of a legal presumption of shared parenting, far too many states lag behind the times and, in so doing, fail to promote the best interest of their children.

In the 2019 NPO shared parenting study:
•2 states received ‘A’s
•7 states and the District of Columbia ‘B’s
•25 states received ‘C’s
•15 states received ‘D’s
•2 states received ‘F’s – NEW YORK and Rhode Island.

Children are entitled to the presumption that both of their fit and loving parents will continue to be fully engaged in their upbringing regardless of whether or not the parents are still living together.

The New York State Chapter of National Parents Organization is working to build a large coalition of moms, dads, adult children of divorce, psychologists, lawyers and judges to go to Albany to pass shared parenting legislation.

Wednesday was just the beginning.