Testify About Family Court at Vermont Department for Children and Families

June 7, 2014

By Craig Miller, Member, National Parents Organization

As many of you have heard in the local news there has been a special legislative committee formed to address the issues surrounding the recent deaths of two children where there was Department for Children and Families involvement.

If any of you have been through a high conflict divorce you are probably well aware of the negative impact emotional abuse has on our children. You are probably also frustrated how the Judges and Mental Health Care Providers take a Hear No Evil, See no Evil, Speak no Evil approach to awarding custody to these abusers.

To date meetings have been held throughout the state and 3 more are scheduled for Tuesday, June 10. Though these meetings are targeted towards Department for Children and Families, many people spoke out about the short comings of the judges in the Family Court System. Members of this panel include the House and Senate chair of the judicial branch.

I attended, and spoke up, at the Rutland meeting on Tuesday. About half the people that spoke up were non-custodial parents and/or grandparents and all referenced not only Department for Children and Families but the Family Court System as well and how they awarded custody to emotional abusive parents.

Here is your chance to speak up about the short comings.

June 10, 2014

11 a.m. St. Johnsbury Academy, Morse Theater, 1000 Main St., St. Johnsbury.

2:30 p.m. Town Hall Meeting Room, 43 Portland St., Morrisville.

6 p.m. State House, Room 11, 115 State St., Montpelier.

When speaking please not only relate your story but also make whatever recommendations you feel are necessary. Focus on education of the judges, the need to take emotional abuse as serious as physical abuse and accountability.