“The DC Festival has united us on the common issue of fundamental rights. It is history in the making,” says Theresa Martin, director of Parental Alienation Awareness Organization - United States (PAAO-US), which, along with Massachusetts’
Parental alienation includes various behaviors generally done in the context of divorce or separation, but also other family law areas, which tend to interfere with the loving relationship between a child and one or both parents. These destructive behaviors include such things as speaking negatively about either parent to the child, interfering with communication, visitation, presents and mail, outright lying or other fraud used to distort a child’s perception, and other manipulations designed to alienate the relationship between them.
The annual DC Festival’s simultaneous events include many gifted speakers, live music, awards and other entertainment on stage, book signings, films, training sessions, and other types of indoor presentations, as well as several public participation events like a justice march, a candlelight vigil, and a rally in front of the White House. There will also be submissions of grievances at the buildings of the Supreme Court, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Health and Human Services, all done in public rally format.
The parental alienation topics will include presentations on disabilities and discrimination in parenting, loss of a child, custody and child support reform, child abductions, and steps toward family reunifications.
Jeffrey Parks, Director of PAPA, and also a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, notes: “The toxic damage of parental alienation is now seen by most knowledgeable experts and layman as a significant contributor to long term mental health problems, relationship failures, teen pregnancy, school problems, and an entire laundry list of devastating social issues that our nation increasingly faces on a daily basis.”
Sharing of accommodations and travel can be arranged via online public discussion groups for states and counties, a network of the United Civil Rights Councils of America (UCRCoA), one of the Festival hosts.
“This is an event to help people appreciate the importance of families, and the harm we may cause if we interrupt or prevent important family relationships”
The second annual DC Family Preservation Festival will be centered in Upper Senate Park, with indoor events held at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill, and several public participation events in the nearby area.
More information online:
DC Festival 2008 http://dcfestival2008.com
PAAO-US http://paao-
SpLiT N TwO http://splitntwo.com
PAPA http://groups.yahoo.com/
UCRCoA http://unitedcivilrights.org
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