Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE – 20^th April 2017 - For immediate release

Tuesday 25^th April is
Parental Alienation Awareness Day

Family separation may bring out the worst in parenting behaviour, forcing children into the focus of family conflict.  Remarkably often, this may turn into Parental Alienation (PA), causing long-term damage to children.

Families Need Fathers have compiled a handy self-assessment Good Parenting after separation quiz. This gives clues as to how parents might avoid the pitfalls that are all too common when couples part.

Download it here:

The questions have been put together with input from expert in the field, Dr Sue Whitcombe and supported by MATCH (Mothers Apart from Their CHildren).

The behaviours identified lead to children expressing an irrational and unwarranted fear or hatred of a parent with whom they previously had a normal, loving relationship.  This is a sign of psychological distress and often results in a child rejecting a healthy parent-child relationship as they are unable to manage this distress.  Left unchecked it results in the destruction not only parental relationships, but also grandparental and other family relationships with half of a child’s family as well as long-term damage to the child.

·         Approximately 50% of FNF service users identify PA as a factor in their family separation.

·         A recent Parliamentary petition attracted 12,000 signatories supporting criminalising PA.

·         Parental Alienation was debated in Parliament on 15th March in Simon Danczuk MP’s  ‘Adjournment’ debate on the subject  (see Hansard here).

·         PA was referenced on 28th March in Suella Fernandes MP’s Ten Minute Rule Motion on Family Justice (see Hansard here).

Please address any queries/requests for data to Michael Lewkowicz at FNF (michael.lewkowicz@fnf.org.uk)

Scottish media contact Ian Maxwell at FNF Scotland (ian.maxwell@fnfscotland.org)
Welsh media contact Paul Apreda at FNF BPM Cymru (paul@fnf-bpm.org.uk)

Notes for editors:

Families Need Fathers - because both parents matter
FNF is a registered charity providing information and support on shared parenting issues arising from family breakdown, and support to divorced and separated parents, irrespective of gender or marital status. FNF is NOT a fathers' rights group - we support the best interests of children - namely mature and collaborative parenting by both parents - an objective which is inadequately promoted in the family court system and associated services.

Our primary concern is the maintenance of the child’s meaningful relationship with both parents.

Founded in 1974, FNF helps thousands of parents every year.

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