Newsletter
A Child Advocacy Company
Bringing Support to Parents
Building Strength to Children
Bringing Support to Parents
Building Strength to Children
Disclaimer: BS Kids LLC legal research and information has been prepared for educational and informational purposes only. This material is not legal
advice or legal opinions on any specific matters. Transmission of the information is not intended to create and receipt does not constitute a
lawyer-client relationship between BS Kids LLC , the author of the information and any other legal publisher. Customers of BS Kids should not act upon
this information without seeking professional counsel. The opinions expressed in the material presented to BS Kids clientele is based on information
found in legal publications. BS Kids LLC, 78 Canterberry Court, Hudson, NH 03051 781-756-1214.
advice or legal opinions on any specific matters. Transmission of the information is not intended to create and receipt does not constitute a
lawyer-client relationship between BS Kids LLC , the author of the information and any other legal publisher. Customers of BS Kids should not act upon
this information without seeking professional counsel. The opinions expressed in the material presented to BS Kids clientele is based on information
found in legal publications. BS Kids LLC, 78 Canterberry Court, Hudson, NH 03051 781-756-1214.
| BS KIDS BEAT VOLUME 1 WINTER 2008 Welcome to BS KIDS BEAT BS KIDS BEAT, a quarterly newsletter aims to educate and inform readers on new developments in Family Law Reform. Topics will range from; local and national news and initiatives, getting involved opportunities, legislative updates and what’s happening with BS KIDS. The intent of the newsletter is to update those involved in the Family Law Reform with current information about the status of Shared Parenting and Equality. If you have a story or information that you would like to include in the next edition of BS KIDS beat, please send your information to info@bskids.net. BS KIDS For those of you who may not know about BS KIDS, we are devoted to Family Law Reform and assist those individuals who need research and information on current, pending or future disputes. BS KIDS offers paralegal assistance, Mediation services, Legislative Updates, Workshops and Group Seminars, Get Involved Opportunities and much more! We encourage you to visit our website at www.bskids.net. What’s happening at BS KIDS? BS KIDS is pleased to offer Mediation Services! BS KIDS offers those involved in a dispute the opportunity to mediate these differences, without court involvement. Mediation is a non-adversarial process helping people negotiate and results in mutually beneficial agreements accomplished in total privacy. Mediation helps identify key issues and plans for the future. The process is a mutual search for a reasonable solution; neither individual can win at the other’s expense. Resolutions must emerge from the process with a settlement created and accepted by both. Mediation can also deal with specific limited issues, as identified at the start of the process. The mediator does not act as a judge, does not make decisions or impose solutions. All decisions come from the people involved. The mediator doesn’t represent either party but is focused resolving issues in dispute or conflict. Mediation is a fast, fair and cost effective way to settle disputes that might otherwise end up in court or requires additional involvement and resources. For more information on these services, visit www.bskids. net/mediation services. Please note: BS KIDS is not considered *certified* for Family Mediation Services under the New Hampshire Requirements. Workshop/Seminar Opportunities BS KIDS continues to provide Social Service Agencies or local groups with informative workshop/seminars. Some previous sessions have included how the laws in New Hampshire have changed regarding the divorce proceedings, the pitfalls of the divorce process, how to manage a parenting plan and things you need to know to represent yourself in a divorce proceeding. If you are a social service agency or local group and would like to have BS KIDS lead a workshop, please contact us at info@bskids. net. These seminars and workshops are provided at no charge. Legislative Updates The current Legislative session began on January 2, 2008. Many bills are concerned with Family Law Reform. To see a complete list, please visit www.bskids.net and click on bills of interest in NH and MA. Below are some key bills of interest: New Hampshire: HB 1188: Relative to grounds for modification of parental rights and responsibilities. There is an Executive Session on February 19th at 10:30am, LOB Room 206. HB 1190: Establishing a Commission to study issues relating to child support. The Child and Family Law Committee voted to Inexpedient to Legislate with a vote of 14-1. CACR23: Relating to parental rights. That the State shall not abridge the right of parents to control the welfare and education of their children. The Child and Family Law Committee voted to Inexpedient to Legislate this bill. The reason given was that the amendment presented a classic case of good intentions with unintended consequences. The Committee heard similar testimony from the Attorney General’s office and a variety of children’s advocates. This amendment would make the parents’ determination supreme in all matters relating to children. This would mean that all laws that protect children and all laws that weigh what is in the best interest of children will, at a minimum be un- amendable and most likely be unenforceable. Furthermore, it would create conflicting constitutional interests when there is a disagreement between parents, be they married or not. HB 1280: Repealing divorce based on irreconcilable differences and replacing it with divorce based on mutual consent. There is an Executive Session on February 21st, at 10:30am, LOB room 206. HB1361: Requiring the continuation of the appointment of marital master by election within the judicial district. The Committee voted to Inexpedient to Legislate with a vote of 18-0. Upcoming sessions for the Child and Family Law Committee include: Tuesday, February 19th: Executive session on: HB 1148, relative to the enforcement of parenting plans, HB 1188, relative to the grounds for modification of parental rights and responsibilities, HB1189, relative to the development and enforcement of parenting plans, HB1213, establishing a commission to study the juvenile justice system, HB1386, relative to a grandparent’s rights to access court and case records involving a grandchild. Tuesday, February 21st: Executive session on HB 1370, establishing a pilot program for an integrated juvenile justice information sharing system, HB 1490, adopting the uniform child custody jurisdiction and enforcement act, HB 1280, repealing divorce based on irreconcilable differences and replacing it with divorce based on mutual consent. Massachusetts: HB1460/SB994: An Act Relative to Shared Parenting HB1639/SB995: An Act Clarifying the Removal Statute HB1459: An Act Relative to Increasing Parental Involvement with Child Care HB1655: An Act Relative to Establishing Paternity HB2877: An Act Relative to Department of Revenue Hearings For more information on any pending legislative bill, go to www.mass.gov or www.gencourt.state.nh.us. Regardless of whether you can attend the public hearings, a letter of support is as effective as live testimony to let your elected officials know the importance of passing these critical bills. News: Some interesting articles you may wish to read are below. To read the entire article, go to www.bskids. net and click on News: Washington Times Op-ed—Treaty Threatens Parents’ Rights By J. Michael Smith HSLDA President All good parents are committed to seeking the best for their children, and in the crucial days of the presidential nominating process, many of us are turning our eyes to the years ahead. What will the future look like for our children? Though candidates and voters may have different perspectives on the specifics of achieving a positive future, one thing remains certain: Children need their parents…… The Failure of “Family Policy” By Stephen Baskerville Welfare reform was supposed to discourage unmarried childbearing. However, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) recently disclosed that out-of-wedlock births are at a record high. The Census Bureau also reports that, for the first time, married couples constitute less than half of the nation’s households. Thus, whatever the budgetary savings over the past ten years, from the standpoint of the family, welfare reform has failed…… Study: Divorced Parents Do a Good Job Jeanna Bryner LiveScience Staff Writer Divorced parents do just as good a job as married couples in raising kids, a new study claims. This new research overturns a commonly held belief that families fractured by divorced parents become inferior havens for children compared with stable homes. "My findings that parenting practices are unrelated to divorce appear to fly in the face of accepted wisdom," said Lisa Strohschein, a sociologist at the University of Alberta in Canada…… Get Involved There are many ways to get involved, below is a small sample of opportunities. For more information, please go to; www.bskids.net and click on *Get Involved*. Joint Custody Resolution Now Being Considered by U.S. Senate Background: I'm a strong believer in Shared Parenting (aka Joint Custody)--the legal presumption that upon divorce or separation, as long as both parents are fit, they will equally share custody of their children. Research shows that this is best for kids, in large part because it protects their relationships with both parents……. ENRICH A CHILD’S FUTURE- A LITTLE TIME MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE Caring adults are urgently needed to represent children with disabilities who do not have parents to fulfill the parent role in the special education process. Volunteers spend only 15 to 20 hours per year helping. Volunteers are not responsible for the daily care of the child, but only for making special education decisions. New Hampshire currently has a desperate shortage of volunteers willing to represent these children. Participants in the Educational Surrogate Parent Program receive free training and an extensive resource manual. Please contact the Parent Information Center at 800-947- 7005 or (603) 224-7005 to learn more about this exciting and very rewarding volunteer opportunity. You can also email dfeeney@parentinformationcenter.org. Massachusetts: Access and Visitation Massachusetts: Access and Visitation. Massachusetts provides unwed parents with courses in parenting and education and on how to proceed through the court system. The expected outcome is that parenting plans will be developed by and for noncustodial and custodial parents. Contact Beth Winik at (617) 626- 4182 E-mail Alerts If you are interested in getting alerts from BS KIDS regarding news, legislative activity or get involved opportunities, please send us an e-mail at info@bskids.net and specify what you would like to be notified of. Comments/Suggestions BS KIDS is looking to include areas of interest to our readers. If there is a topic or area of concern that you would like to learn more about, please let us know. You can send an e-mail to info@bskids.net or call 781-756-1214 If you wish to unsubscribe to these newsletters, please just hit reply. Your name will be automatically removed from future mailings. Disclaimer: BS Kids LLC legal research and information has been prepared for educational and informational purposes only. This material is not legal advice or legal opinions on any specific matters. Transmission of the information is not intended to create and receipt does not constitute a lawyer- client relationship between BS Kids LLC , the author of the information and any other legal publisher. Customers of BS Kids should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel. The opinions expressed in the material presented to BS Kids clientele is based on information found in legal publications. BS Kids LLC, 78 Canterberry Court, Hudson, NH 03051 781-756-1214. |
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