CITY OF RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA
P R O C L A M A T I O N
Declaring November 2022 as Family Court Awareness Month
WHEREAS, in 2020, Tina Swithin , founder of One Mom’s Battle, and Sandra Ross of the California Protective Parents Association recognized Family Court Awareness Month to shine a spotlight on systemic issues that are placing children in harm’s way; and
WHEREAS, top advocates in the family court system joined forces to honor hundreds of children who have been reported as murdered by parents in family court cases, creating the Family Court Awareness Month Committee (FCAMC) to increase awareness o f the importance of a family court system that prioritizes child safety and acts in the best interest of children; and
WHEREAS, FCAMC’s mission is to highlight the importance of empirically -based education and training on domestic violence and child abuse, including emotio nal, psychological, physical, and sexual abuse as well as childhood trauma, coercive control, and post separation abuse for judges and all professionals working on cases within the family court system; and
WHEREAS, FCAMC’s mission is also to highlight the importance of using scientifically valid, evidence-based treatment programs and services that are proven in terms of safety, effectiveness, and therapeutic value; and
WHEREAS, FCAMC’s mission is also to educate judges and other family court professionals on evidence-based, peer-reviewed research, which is a critical component to making decisions that are truly in the best interest of children; and
WHEREAS, FCAMC’s mission is fueled by the desire to create awareness and change in the family court system for the conservatively estimated 58,000 children a year ordered into unsupervised contact with abusive parents, while honoring the hundreds of children who have been reported as murdered during visitation with a dangerous parent.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Richmond City Council do es hereby declare November 2022 as Family Court Awareness Month in the City of Richmond and urges community members to support their local communities' efforts to prevent the harm of children in the hands of family members and to honor and value the lives of children.
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Mayor Tom Butt
City of Richmond, California
November 1, 2022