Parental Alienation Prevention Week & Day

WHEREAS, strong family relationships constitute the foundation of our community; and

WHEREAS, alienating behaviors are frequently present in high-conflict divorces, separations and asymmetrical custody arrangements; and

WHEREAS, behaviors such as speaking negatively about a parent to, or in front of, a child and interfering with parenting time and communication can not only destroy the bond between a loving parent and child, but can cause a child mental and emotional harm, as such alienating tactics are confusing, frightening and rob children of their sense of security; and

WHEREAS, parental alienation takes advantage of the innocent and impressionable, depriving children of their right to freely love and be loved by both parents and extended family; and

WHEREAS, mental professions agree that the negative effects of parental alienation can follow a child into adulthood with tragic consequences; and

WHEREAS, the recently published Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) made several references to dysfunctional family dynamic of alienation to be a form of psychological child abuse; and

WHEREAS, approximately 40,000 children in the state of Alabama were subjected to child custody determination in 2012; and

WHEREAS, Parental Alienation Prevention Week is intended to increase the knowledge and understanding of this problem to help Alabamians, institutions and the legal and mental health community leaders to better identify and combat such abusive behavior to children:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert Bentley, Governor of the State of Alabama, do hereby proclaim April 20 – 26, 2014, as

Parental Alienation Prevention Week

and April 25, 2014, as

Parental Alienation Awareness Day

in the state of Alabama.