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Introduction:                            

Welcome to IowaFathers.com.  This website and organization has been created to help single, divorcing, and divorced parents residing in the state of Iowa deal with child custody, child support, visitation rights, and other domestic related issues. Although our emphasis is working specifically with non-custodial parents, concerned grandparents and siblings, every Iowan is welcome and encouraged to join.

 

Special Announcements:

Taking Shared Parenting to Washington D.C.

On September 16, 2008, IowaFathers.com met with select members of the United States House of Representatives and select members of the United States Senate to discuss support of a federal law establishing a rebuttable presumption of joint physical care or shared parenting.  Please click on the picture to the left for more information.

During the 2009 state legislative session, IowaFathers.com intends to have state legislators reintroduce shared parenting legislation (similar to Senate File 507) aimed at creating a rebuttable presumption of joint physical care. 

Please join IowaFathers.com and stay current on legislation and planned events!

Breaking News:

Appeals court says judge ruled unjustly in child custody case

Former Chief Justice of Minnesota Supreme Court supports a Rebuttable Presumption of Shared Parenting.  Watch a two minute edited segment of the interview below:

 

 

Parental Alienation Syndrome - ABC Interview with Alec Baldwin:

Alec Baldwin Interview: Part 1

Alec Baldwin Interview: Part 2

Book Excerpt: 'A Promise to Ourselves'

“The lawyers are there to make money.  It’s an industry.  It’s a racket.  The judges are like pit bosses in Vegas Casinos.  There job is to make sure everybody stays at the table and keeps gambling” – Alec Baldwin during ABC Interview with Diane Sawyer on 9/20/2008.

 

 

Watch Video About Us:

 

 

Quick Facts:

80% of children with divorcing or divorced parents experience some form of Parental Alienation.  20% of these children experience such behaviors at least once a day (Source: American Bar Association).

In 2002, women received physical placement in 84.4% of the cases and men 15.6% (Source: U.S. Census Bureau, released February 2005).

About 85% of custodial parents are mothers (Source: Journal of Family Psychology. 2003, Vol. 17, No. 2, 206–219).

Three out of four teenage suicides (75%) occur in households where a parent has been absent (Source: Elshtain, Jean Bethke, "Family Matters: The Plight of America’s Children." The Christian Century, July 1993.)

  

The 5 most recently created Message Board topics:
Title Author Date

 

 

Our Goal:

Network with non-custodial parents and Iowa citizens around the state and bring about change to our current legal system.  IowaFathers.com wants Iowa legislators and judges to listen to the research and to start putting the children first by allowing equal access to both parents through Joint Physical Care.  The Iowa judicial system needs to uphold the law equally and be held accountable when it doesn't! 

 

Why Join IowaFathers.com?

Iowa's traditional family unit is under attack by trial lawyers, social programs, and state agencies because of monetary gain or self preservation.

Divorce in Iowa is out of control with the latest data showing 9,766 decreed cases under Iowa Statute 598 per year (click to see divorce data). Legislative changes must be made to protect the family unit and ensure that children have an opportunity to be raised by parents, not a parent. This may require changing Iowa's no-fault divorce law or creating a rebuttable presumption of joint physical care (shared parenting) during a dissolution of marriage.

Post-divorce family litigation is at an all-time high in Iowa.  Lawyers, state agencies, and the Iowa Judicial Branch promote conflict because of the revenue that is generated. The Iowa Child Support Recovery Unit had 191,446 cases and collected $327.4 million dollars in 2007. This is crucial because the State of Iowa receives federal incentive money based upon the total amount of collections through U.S.C. Title 42 - Chapter 7 "Social Security" - Subchapter IV - Part D (click see child support collection data). Legislative changes must be made to de-escalate family litigation, possibly though programs like mandated binding mediation or legislation clarifying the intent of the law regarding what constitutes "contempt" for non-compliance of Court Order's, otherwise the future of Iowa families looks grim.

False domestic abuse allegations go unpunished are destroying families by automatically removing fathers from their children without one shred of physical evidence.  This despite the Office of Violence Against Women acknowledging that at least 40% of Domestic Violence is perpetrated by women. Legislative changes are needed so that due process is afforded to all citizens accused, including a presumption of innocence until proven guilty, and there must be consequences for false allegations.

Our military personnel are coming home and finding out that the "Soldiers and Sailors Act" did not protect them from litigation or from losing custody of their children while serving our nation. Legislative changes are needed to ensure that our military personnel are protected from any form of litigation while serving our nation.

Ultimately, we believe it is the responsibility of all Iowan's to protect our prestigious family unit and our children's future! 

 

What is a Rebuttable Presumption of Joint Physical Care?

A rebuttable presumption of joint physical care requires judges to consider Joint Physical Care as the "First Alternative" in a child custody hearing.   Joint physical care is when both parents share physical placement of the child(ren).  Simply defined, joint physical care allows the child(ren) to live with each parent 50% of the time during the year.  Research has shown that child(ren) need equal access to both parents and joint physical care accomplishes this challenge.  Parenting schedules are established to determine when each parent has the child(ren) living with them.  The most frequent joint physical care schedule is one week at moms, the next week at dads, and holidays are usually alternated. The State of Iowa, allows parents to determine what parenting schedule best meets the needs of their child(ren). Joint physical care is established in Iowa Statute 598.41(5)(a).

 More Joint Physical Care Research  

 

Parenting is a Fundament Right:

Parenting is a fundamental right protected by the 5th and 14th amendments. This has been established in Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S. 99-138 (2000), Santosky v. Kramer, 102 S Ct 1388; 455 U.S. 745 (1982) and Quilloin v. Walcott, 98 S Ct 549; 434 U.S. 246, 255 Q56 (1978), among other cases. Click here for a recent letter from Senator Charles Grassley acknowledging parenting as a fundamental right.

Treating parental rights as fundamental rights requires a presumption of joint legal and joint physical care upon divorce and through litigation. While Iowa Statute 598.41(5)(a) allows for joint physical care upon the request by either parent, the Supreme Court of Iowa has ruled no presumption exists — this despite legislators making clear the intent of the law, which may be viewed by clicking here. As a result, most judges refuse to award joint physical care despite the qualifications or parenting ability of either parent.

 

Opposition to Joint Physical Care:

Why would any legislator oppose a bill allowing children equal access to both parents? The answer is simple when you understand that divorce breeds a host of societal ills for government to solve. Virtually every major social pathology, from violent crime to drug abuse to truancy, is directly attributable to family breakdown and fatherless homes more than any single factor, even surpassing race and poverty. This fills state and local government coffers with federal money for all kinds of social programs to help solve these divorce-related social problems.

The favorite answer many state legislators use for not supporting a rebuttable presumption of joint physical care legislation is the domestic & child abuse myths.  

Domestic Abuse, Child Abuse, & Neglect Facts:

The Office of Violence Against Women acknowledging that at least 40% of Domestic Violence is perpetrated by women.

Who are the perpetrators of child abuse?  Approximately 40 percent of child victims were maltreated by their mothers acting alone; another 18.3 percent were maltreated by their fathers acting alone; 17.3 percent were abused by both parents (United States Department of Health and Human Services, 2007).

Children who had been physically abused by parent-substitutes were much more likely to have been abused by their father-substitute 90% versus 19% by their mother-substitute (Source: Third National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect; NIS-3).

Children were more often neglected by female perpetrators 87% versus 43% by males (Source: Third National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect; NIS-3).

Compared with their counterparts living with both parents, children in single-parent families had:

·         A 77-percent greater risk of being harmed by physical abuse (using the stringent Harm Standard) and a 63-percent greater risk of experiencing any countable physical abuse (using the Endangerment Standard).

·         An 87-percent greater risk of being harmed by physical neglect and a 165-percent greater risk of experiencing any countable physical neglect.

·         A 74-percent greater risk of being harmed by emotional neglect and a 64-percent greater risk of experiencing any countable emotional neglect.

·         A 220-percent (or more than three times) greater risk of being educationally neglected.

·         An approximately 80-percent greater risk of suffering serious injury or harm from abuse or neglect.

·         An approximately 90-percent greater risk of receiving moderate injury or harm as a result of child maltreatment.

·         A 120-percent (or more than two times) greater risk of being endangered by some type of child abuse or neglect.

(Source: Third National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect; NIS-3).

 

FACTS about Joint Physical Care:

  • Such an arrangement removes the child as a weapon in child custody  proceedings.

  • Provides children equal access to both parents after a divorce unless such a ruling would put the children in direct physical or emotional harm. 

  • Children with equal access to both parents have better outcomes in life.

  • Children are less likely to suffer from physical, emotional, or sexual abuse.

  • Helps prevent Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS).

  • Cost of litigations are much lower and less frequent.

  • Parenting is the most fundamental right recognized by the Supreme Court of the United States.

  • Puts the State of Iowa in compliance with the 5th and 14th Amendment.

  • Judges must look at the specific facts of each case.

MYTHS about Joint Physical Care:

  • Judges must grant joint physical care.

  • Children will be placed in homes where domestic abuse has been proven.

  • Children will be placed in homes where sexual abuse has been proven.

  • Such an arrangement is an unstable environment for the children.

More Joint Physical Care Research  

What Does IowaFathers.com Support?

  • Legislative changes to create a presumption of Joint Physical Care (JPC) also known as Shared Parenting.

  • The granting of joint physical care in contested child custody disputes unless such an arrangement places the children directly in harms way.

  • Legislation to allow both parents to be more involved in their children’s lives. 

  • Children having maximum continuing physical and emotional contact with both parents.

  • Children having equal access to both parents.

  • Legislation making a denial by either parent to support the children having continuing physical and emotional contact with the other parent a Felony.

  • Grandparent legislation affording access to their grandchildren. 
  • Judges holding both parents accountable for their actions.
  • Change the "No-Fault" divorce law when children are involved unless a presumption of joint physical care is established.

  • Changes to the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS).
  • Child Support Recovery (CSRU) needs changes to be fair and uniform regarding collections.

  • Prevent the Iowa judicial branch from using divorce and child custody issues as a main source of revenue to fund state and local government coffers.

  • Tougher and more frequent penalties on attorney's who violate the code of ethics.

  • Tougher and more frequent penalties on judges who disregard Iowa Law.
  • Schools providing both parents information without hassle.
  • Medical professionals providing both parents information without hassle.
  • Legislative changes creating consequences for false domestic abuse and false child abuse accusations.
  • Stricter legislation on founded child abuse cases.
  • Legislation allowing for an immediate, neutral appeal (not through DHS) of child abuse cases.
  • Change the current judicial system practice of awarding the custodial parent superior rights over the non-custodial parent, which is unconstitutional.
  • The "Soldiers and Sailors Act" must apply to military personnel in child custody matters while serving our nation.  Note: Supreme Court of Iowa in a recent ruling declared that the "Soldiers and Sailors Act" is trumped by the "best interest of the child" standard, which is non-measurable and different from judge to judge.
 
Did You Know:
The United States has 5 percent of the world's population and 70 percent of the lawyers.
The United  States is the only country in the world where the court lets the prisoner go home and locks up the jury.
The term "red tape" comes from nineteenth-century England when documents were bound in reddish ribbon.  Common folks cited the process of tying and untying the tape as an excuse for the slowness of government decisions.
Every tax-paying U.S. Citizen pays child support through U.S.C. Title 42 - Chapter 7 "Social Security" - Subchapter IV - Part D.
 

 

What is the Beast?

 

Dr. Baskerville on Crooked Courts.

 

 
 

 

Quotes:

“Children with two parents who actively and positively engage in their life by providing financial support, love, guidance and discipline, have a greater chance for success than children who receive an active involvement from only one parent”  – former Iowa Governor, Thomas J. Vilsack.

"Part of ending sexism involves eliminating the inhuman practice of awarding a parent ‘visitation’ to his or her own child" -- Karen DeCrow, past president of the National Organization for Women (NOW).

"Courts are supposed to approach cases of child custody, support payments, and visitation rights in what we call a gender-neutral posture. It sounds fair, and it is fair. But it is a myth. Judges are not enforcing these gender laws fairly, and few seem to care" - Judge Judy Sheindlin.

"Unless you have been forcefully removed from the everyday upbringing of your child by the Court, you can not fathom the emotional distress" - Bryan Iehl, founder & president of IowaFathers.com.

 
 
An affiliate of American Coalition of Fathers and Children (ACFC)
 
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Iowa Judicial Election Process

In 1962, Iowa voters approved a constitutional reform that replaced the process of selecting judges by popular vote with a merit selection and retention election process. 
 
Forty-six (46) years later, its clear this has politicized the judicial process more than ever by allowing either the appointment of conservative or liberal judges.

IowaFathers.com Poll
Given the current political appointment of judges by the Governor of Iowa, should the Iowa Legislature propose a constitutional amendment requiring judges to be selected by popular vote?




Alienated from your child?

You Are Not Alone!!!

The following photos were taken at a meeting at the Capitol on June 2, 2008, to discuss the importance of Governor Culver supporting a rebuttable presumption of joint physical care.

Governor Culver with Bryan Iehl.

 

Gov. Culver with Harry Whiteside and Erin Drake.

 

Entering the Hughes Conference Room.

 

Mr. Iehl preparing to present information.

 

KCRG and KWWL News Coverage of the Protest
 

KWWL Report on Joint Physical Care

 

KWWL Report on Joint Physical Care 

 

Iowa State Motto:

Our Liberties We Prize and

Our Rights We Will Maintain

 

 

Parental Alienation Awareness Day

 

Must Read Books:

 

Please Sign Our Petition to Impeach Judge George Stigler!

 
 
IowaFathers.com Poll
Does the Iowa Judicial Branch discriminate against non-custodial parents?




IowaFathers.com Poll
What should the penalty be for individuals who knowingly make false domestic abuse allegations or false sexual allegations against an innocent party?





 

 

 

 

Mailing Address: 

IowaFathers.com

P.O. Box 2884

Waterloo, IA 50704-2884

This website is paid for by the IowaFathers.com Political Action Committee.

 

Website last updated: June 12, 2009.