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DADS and MOMS of Michigan eNewsletter
April 2006

This is a brief report of some of the many activities going on around the state and country. There is a lot more to report so check the Dads and Moms of Michigan web site and the Message Forum for the latest news. Dads and Moms of Michigan will strengthen its focus on education and expand the programs around the state. DADS of Michigan PAC issues will begin to be published in a separate eNewletter.

For information call 248-559-DADS (3237)

Sign up for our eNewsletter at www.dadsofmichigan.org

 

Dads and Moms University Presents
The Dads and Moms University is growing and the team is assembling a great expansion plan. We will be expanding resources for Dads, and in the Moms of Michigan and Parenting forums to provide more resources for both Parents.

Oakland County 1st Tuesdays, May 2nd, at 7:00 PM, Birmingham Community Center
Guest Speaker: DADS PANEL , consisting of fathers like you sharing their experiences and suggestions.

Monroe County Wednesday, May 17th, 7:30 - 9 p.m., Regular meetings will continue every subsequent Wednesday evening at the same time. The meeting place is Bobby's Kitchen, 15391 S. Dixie Hwy. (Corner of S. Dixie and Dunbar). Local contact information:   Pat McElligott, SE Michigan Regional Director 734-240-0225 mcelligott@ameritech.net

Wayne County 3rd Tuesday of the month from 6:45 pm to 8:15 pm, Christus Victor Church, 25535 Ford Rd. (West of Telegraph, East of Beech-Daly), Dearborn Hts., 48127, Contact Fred Owens (313) 955-0913 dadshelpdads@yahoo.com or http://home.earthlink.net/~dadshelpdads

Kent County Education Programs
Domestic relations education sessions are being presented in Grand Rapids at the Kent County Courthouse on the second Tuesday of each month. (See the Education page)

For other locations and information, GO: http://www.dadsofmichigan.org/events.html

 

PROM TIPS FOR DADS at DADS and Daughters http://www.dadsanddaughters.org/
Fathers of teenage daughters often approach Prom season with great trepidation. DADs can help with our easy steps to make Prom a safe, fun-and shared-experience for girls and their fathers and stepfathers.  Read DADs Prom Time Tips for Dads at www.DadsandDaughters.org/PromTips.pdf
http://www.dadsanddaughters.org/

 

Dads Marathon, June 14-23, 2006
Robb MacKenzie is at it again with bigger dreams. Robb will be traveling from Lansing to Washington, DC on a bicycle marathon because “the best parent is both parents”. With his bright yellow jersey emblemmed with DADS of Michigan and Children Need Both Parents, he will be greeted at many stops along the way. In 2005, Robb was greeted by his daughter in Lansing, whom he has fought Michigan courts just to have a relationship with. His Mom and stepdaughter were proudly displaying signs of support. See his 2005 trek at http://www.dadsofmichigan.org/marathon.html

 

Shared Parenting Resource Center
http://www.dadsofmichigan.org/shared_parenting.html

 

Dads and Moms of Michigan PAC focuses on sharing parenting
Shared parenting would permit more Dads to be involved in children’s lives. So, why is it not the standard? The presumption (unwritten) is Mom custody and Dads gets a standard parenting plan, in most instances. HB 5267 has been introduced to support shared parenting. This would require a presumption of substantial equal parenting, in most instances, for unwed and divorced parents, unless there is clear and convincing evidence of unfitness. Click Here for more information on how you can support shared parenting and what it means. Let your legislator know how you feel about shared parenting and go to www.HB5267.org

 

Risks of sole custody
http://www.gocrc.com/research/dangers-of-sole-custody.html
The statistics are frightening... Raising a child as a single parent is extraordinarily difficult.   Even the hardest working single parent may not be able to couteract the damage from loss of a strong relationship with both parents.  Children raised by a single parent are at an extremely high risk of serious trouble in school, teen pregnancy, drug use, and countless other problems.

 

Legal Resources

Michigan Circuit Court Benchbook
http://courts.michigan.gov/mji/resources/circuit-court/circuit-court-bb.htm The Michigan Circuit Court Benchbook, by Hon. J. Richardson Johnson, is a quick reference resource for the Circuit Court judge.

Michigan Trial Court Benchbooks and Publications http://courts.michigan.gov/mji/resources/publications.htm The MJI publications team produces and revises trial court benchbooks as part of the MJI's mission to keep judges and court employees informed of the very latest developments in Michigan law and procedure. Trial court benchbooks are procedural manuals that serve as reference tools for trial court judges, court staff and trial attorneys.

Dads and Moms of Michigan (www.dadsofmichigan.org) includes Dads of Michigan, Moms of Michigan, and Dads of Michigan PAC. These are volunteer responsible parenthood education organizations for fathers and mothers. They instruct on the importance of involved biological parents to the successful development of their children.  Dads of Michigan PAC is an independent volunteer political advocacy group dedicated to legislation keeping both biological parents actively engaged in the lives of their children despite divorce and custody, in most instances.  They believe men and women should be viewed equally under the law and their credo is: "fathers are responsible parents too…because the best parent is both parents."  Dads of Michigan, the Michigan affiliate of the American Coalition for Fathers and Children, is also the developer of the Dads and Moms University of responsible education for teenage, divorced, and unmarried parents.  This educational program employs several features to either directly or indirectly benefit nearly 2 million men, women, and grandparents and just under one-half million children each year in Michigan.  For more information, please contact us at (248) 559-DADS (3237) or email info@dadsofmichigan.org.

Your financial assistance is vitally needed to help us meet our goals via the above projects. We ask you to please consider Dads of Michigan among your corporate and individual charitable contributions. Dads of Michigan is a volunteer, tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and qualifies for tax deductible contributions. Major credit cards are also now accepted.

DADS and MOMS of Michigan Code of Ethics and Business Conduct. 

 

"Fathers are responsible parents too…because the best parent is both parents”