The Children's Rights Council (CRC) is a

non-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

dedicated to help

divorce Divorce (also known as dissolution of marriage) is the process of terminating a marriage or marital union. Divorce usually entails the canceling or reorganizing of the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage, thus dissolving the ...

d, separated and never married parents to remain active in their child’s life. The organization focuses on children’s rights advocacy for

shared parenting Shared parenting, shared residence, joint residence, shared custody, joint physical custody, equal parenting time (EPT) is a child custody arrangement after divorce or separation, in which both parents share the responsibility of raising their c ...

, the prevention of

child abuse Child abuse (also called child endangerment or child maltreatment) is physical, sexual, and/or psychological maltreatment or neglect of a child or children, especially by a parent or a caregiver. Child abuse may include any act or failure to ...

and alternative dispute resolution. CRC also run parental access centers where children can spend supervised time with their non-custodial parents and where transfers between parents can occur in a monitored environment. The organization was founded in 1985 by David L Levy, and it is headquartered in

Landover, Maryland Landover is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. As of the 2020 census it had a population of 25,998. Landover is contained between Sheriff Road and Central Avenue to the so ...

, in the

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

metropolitan area.

Activities

CRC promotes legislation that works to benefit children through

. Seeking legislative reform, the organization advocates joint physical custody. CRC also manages 26 Child Access Centers in 11 different states which provide supervised access and visitation of children and serve as safe transfer points for children who are moving from the custody of one parent to another. In addition, CRC conducts research and submits testimony to Congress in regard to the well being of children. The organization's primary focus is to minimize the emotional, physical and economic abuse, neglect and distress of children and the development of at-risk behaviors following relationship breakups between separated, divorce, or never-married parents who are highly conflicted. In 1995, Cynthia L. Ewing testified as a Legal Analyst for CRC that states which had the most "intact" families had, for the most part, the highest rankings of children's wellness.

Goals

In support of this commitment to children, CRC has established a set of social goals based on program utilization of the Both Parents Approach model to help highly conflicted parents better cooperate and collaborate in the best interests of their children following break-up of the family. CRC's advocacy and program goals are designed to accomplish the following: Mitigate the long-term damaging effects to children caused by divorce and relationship break-ups; Reduce total children at risk from developing harmful and destructive behaviors; Encourage non-custodial parents to remain emotionally & financially supportive of their child(ren); Advocate increased opportunities for access to non-custodial parents; and Decrease the nature, burden and expense of legal disputes and court interventions caused by persistent parental conflict.

Media

On November 3, 2008, Children's Rights Council was mentioned in Abigail Van Buren's “

Dear Abby Dear Abby is an American advice column founded in 1956 by Pauline Phillips under the pen name "Abigail Van Buren" and carried on today by her daughter, Jeanne Phillips, who now owns the legal rights to the pen name. History According to Pauli ...

” column, which runs in 1,400 newspapers. The article was entitled "Man Pestered by Ex-Wife Must Act to Help his Son", and CRC was referenced as an effective resource for

parental alienation Parental alienation is a theorized process through which a child becomes estranged from one parent as the result of the psychological manipulation of another parent. The child's estrangement may manifest itself as fear, disrespect or hostility tow ...

problems.Abigail van Buren, Dear Abby: Man Pestered by Ex-Wife Must Act to Help his Son, The Western Star, November 3, 2008.

Acknowledgments

*Designated "Best in America" by the Independent Charities of America *2006 "Non-Profit Intern Provider of the Year" by

The Washington Center The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars, less formally known as The Washington Center, is an independent, nonprofit organization serving hundreds of universities in the United States and other countries. The Washington Center ...

*"Lifelong Achievement Award" Presented to President David L. Levy by US Office of Child Support Enforcement *"Legislative Achievement Award" from First Lady

Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton ( Rodham; born October 26, 1947) is an American politician, diplomat, and former lawyer who served as the 67th United States Secretary of State for President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2013, as a United States senat ...

*"Distinguished Service to Children" presented by Parents Without Partners International

References

External links