JULY 2009

VOL I Issue 2
connecting u
why should u join
Equal, Inc. and become part of the community

Equal, Inc. wants u! children. BUT I did grew up in a

We are looking for men and household with one parent and
women that would like to stand up another parent who wanted to isolate
with us to raise awareness with shared the other parent. The damage did U know?
parenting. Shared parenting has so done..that will have to be online on A relationship break-up is
many meanings for so many folks. We my blog. tough for anyone, but it can be
stand behind the philosophy of both Equal, Inc. offers support to those even harder if you have kids.
parents are the best parents. We are that are going through custody cases. You find that you have to keep
looking for a simple way to connect Often you always think you are alone. in contact with your ex-
people together for support, resources Well, you aren’t! There are people partner because of the children.
and to make a difference going through it, who have gone Parents handle this in a
Imagine this (or maybe you are through it or have lived with it. With number of ways:
living it): You are a parent of a Equal Membership you will
become part of our social ▪Some parents get
beautiful little girl. She becomes locked into conflict and
ill. You find out about it online community to
discuss and get support. costly legal battles. This
days later. Or
We offer resources and can be very damaging to
maybe, you have
no idea where she programs tailored to the children, as well as to
is laying her head at educating you for the parents themselves.
the road ahead. We
night. Then, you get ▪Some parents try to
a call and she has have opportunities
for you to help sort things out themselves,
taken her last breath. but don’t always now help
Now, before you start someone else while
helping yourself. You will have is available.
typing emails to me...I
am NOT talking about access to our experts who will give ▪Some parents are able
the parent that is the stereo typically you invaluable information. You will to work together to make
“baby momma or daddy” I am talking be able to take part in online decisions co-operatively,
about the loving parent who has been programs at no charge and can attend making things easier for
taken out or has limited access to monthly meetings.
themselves and their
their child’s life because the other Equal, Inc. would like you to join children.
parent (either male or female) has us to raise awareness and offer
made that decision based on nothing support. Together we make a How are U handling it?
concrete. A just because reason. difference. Yes, we can!
Now before you email me-I must
join online @
make this statement. I live in a loving
www.bestinterestofachild.com
household with two parents with
Click on Membership to download
application. Membership is open to ALL!

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have u done ur homework?
"States with high levels of joint physical custody
awards (over 30%) in 1989 and 1990 have shown
significantly greater declines in divorce rates in
following years through 1995, compared with other
states. Divorce rates declined nearly four times faster
in high joint custody states, compared with states
where joint physical custody is rare. As a result, the
states with high levels of joint custody now have
significantly lower divorce rates on average than
other states. States that favored sole custody also had
more divorces involving children. These findings
indicate that public policies promoting sole custody
may be contributing to the high divorce rate."
(John Guibaldi, D.Ed., "Child Custody Policies and
Divorce Rates in the US", 11th Annual Conference of the
Children's Rights Council, OCT 23-26, 1997, Washington,
D.C.)
"…children raised by a divorced single parent are
significantly more likely than average to have
problems in school, run away from home, develop
drug dependency, or experience other serious
problems…"
(John Guibaldi, D.Ed., "Child Custody Policies and
Divorce Rates in the US", 11th Annual Conference of the
Children's Rights Council, OCT 23-26, 1997, Washington,
D.C.)
"…the states with high levels of joint custody had
significantly lower divorce rates four years later.
States with higher levels of joint custody had an
average four-year decline in the divorce rate
approximately double that for states with medium
levels of joint custody. On a percentage basis,
between 1989 and 1994 the rate in the High joint
custody group declined by 8%, in the Medium group
by 4%, and in the Low group by less than 1%."
(John Guibaldi, D.Ed., "Child Custody Policies and
Divorce Rates in the US", 11th Annual Conference of the
Children's Rights Council, OCT 23-26, 1997, Washington,
D.C.)
"Father-deprivation is a serious form of child
abuse that is institutionalized and entrenched within
our legal system. Powerful sexist people in Canada
have a vested interest in diminishing the role of
men, especially their role as fathers. Research proves
that children thrive with the active and meaningful
participation of both biological parents, and is true
even for post-divorce families."
JULY 2009
(Dick Feeman, Joseph Maie%o, Mike Jebbet, "Child
Custody or Child Abuse", Victoria Times-Colonist, Jan 8,
1998)
"By presuming joint custody as early as possible
in the court process, parties are impelled to attend to
the child's needs, thereby encouraging mature
behavior and discouraging divisive, childish conflict. 
Shared parenting with mutual responsibility -- joint
custody -- is in the best interest of the child, parents,
society, and the court system. Those courts can assist
the parents in settling their own disagreements by
providing a context for negotiation and helping to
mold specific child-centered joint custody
agreements."
(Potash, Marlin S., Ph.D. : Psychological Support for a
Rebuttable Presumption of Joint Custody : Probate Law
Journal, Vol. 4, 17, 1982)
Boys in joint custody were significantly better
adjusted than boys in sole custody
(Pojman, 1982)
Joint custody fathers were significantly more
involved than sole custody fathers and indicated less
court use
(Bowman, 1983)
partnerships
Josh, 2nd Vice President of Equal,
Inc., is looking for other shared
parenting to partner with. We are all
fighting the same fight. Why not
fight together, side by side. There
are power in numbers. If you belong
to other groups, please contact Josh
about this exciting opportunity to
partner with us!
would you or a group you know like to
partner with Equal, Inc.?
Let Josh know. Just email him.
josh@bestinterestofachild.com
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JULY 2009

calendar
July 28th

Board Meeting @7pm

Pertlow Public Library
2nd Floor Conference Room
111 W. Ocean View Avenue

Coming in soon...
check Equal out on Get Connected
A discussion of our current legislation and how you can
get involved.
Stay Connected
Discuss and network with other locals that are fighting
for the right to parent.
INTERNET ACCESS REQUIRED
reading resources SIGN UP ONLINE
FORCheck
PROOFOnline
ONLY.For
NOT TO BE
NEW USED WITH
Resources on OUT
WRITTEN CONSENT OF PPG.
divorce, custody and parenting.

founders
Thomas Hinton
Family Law Abby Hinton
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board members
Kelly Tulensa
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757-903-4410 Contact us if you are interested in

757-903-4412 FAX
being apart of Equal, Inc.
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