Is Government Policy Undermining Family Stability?

Is Government Policy Undermining Family Stability?

What: Press Conference

Where: National Press Club, Holeman Lounge
529 14th St. NW, 13th fl., Washington, DC 20036

When: Thursday, August 16, 2007 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Preview Begins at 1:30 p.m. Questions following preview
Light refreshments

Sponsors: The American Coalition for Fathers and Children
National African American Coalition for Shared Parenting

Contact: Michael McCormick (202) 538-2221

Subject: Is Government Policy Undermining Family Stability?

On Thursday, August 16, 2007, the American Coalition for Fathers and Children (ACFC) and the National African American Coalition for Shared Parenting (NAACSP) will host a press conference on specific issues in government domestic policy leading to family destabilization.

Filmmaker Angelo Lobo's new documentary "Support: System Down" will provide the backdrop. In this riveting and insightful film Lobo exposes the glaring failures of government family policy. Viewers will see through the eyes of citizens forced to interact with social service bureaucracies and family courts.

"Support" examines a system that leaves devastation in its wake and impacts the financial and emotional well being of every citizen in America. Lobo reveals:

-- Debtor prisons are alive, thriving and widespread in the United
States.
-- Over 4,000 children each day lose a relationship with a parent in the
United States.
-- Sprawling nationwide bureaucracies have been established at an
estimated taxpayer expense of over $100 billion annually to deal with
problems which are, by and large, created by the bureaucracy itself.
-- Special interests assure obvious solutions to the problems are not
implemented.
-- Thousands of citizens commit suicide every year in despair as a
result of interaction with these agencies. Millions more live in
emotional turmoil and financial ruin.
-- A significant segment of the population is 'controlled' by an
industry with minimal regulatory oversight.

The unintended consequences of federal policies are clearly revealed in "Support: System Down." From the opening footage of a devastating court room shooting which leaves four people dead and numerous injured to the anguished cry of grandparents distraught over the loss of their grandchildren, "Support" explores the basic lack of protection for parents who come under the purview of predatory courts and social service agencies.

Our discussion will focus briefly on the multi-faceted nature of the problems as revealed by social service workers, attorneys, legislators, judges and ordinary citizens. America's social service and family law systems are broken. There are remedies.

Countries around the world are reexamining policy in an effort to develop more humane approaches to these issues. A candid national conversation on these problems and how to protect our citizens from further government encroachment into their private lives is essential to assure a viable future for our children and nation.

Joining us to discuss these issues, illustrated through vignettes from the film, will be:

Angelo Lobo -- Filmmaker, Aginelo Productions
The Honorable Willie Lipscomb -- Judge, 38th District, Detroit Michigan
Dr. Stephen J. Walker -- Director, SCOPE -- Senior Citizens Organization
for Parental Equality
Robert Looper, Executive Director -- National African American Coalition
for Shared Parenting
Dr. Stephen Baskerville -- Author of numerous scholarly articles and the
forthcoming book, "Taken Into Custody: The War Against Fathers,
Marriage and Families"
Stanley Charles Thorne -- Constitutional Law Attorney
John Cole -- terminal cancer patient, debtor prison survivor
Rev. Ronald Smith -- Exec. Director Children Need Both Parents

CONTACT: Michael McCormick, +1-202-538-2221, for American Coalition for Fathers and Children.

PRNewswire-USNewswire -- Aug. 14
First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: American Coalition for Fathers and Children

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