Florida Grandparents Fighting For The Right To See Their Grandchildren
By Amanda AGA, Inc. President/Founder
Alienated Grandparent Anonymous
This Friday, January 19th, CRC Proposal #64 is scheduled to be heard between 8:00 AM and Noon in Tallahassee, Florida. DECLARATION OF RIGHTS, Right of Privacy; Section 23 of Article I of the State Constitution to specify that the right of privacy may not be construed to limit a grandparent’s right to seek visitation of his or her grandchildren under certain circumstances.
While I realize that family dynamics can be complicated, it’s perplexing why anyone would put up resistance to allow grandparents to petition the court on a case-by-case basis to visit their grandchildren. To my knowledge, and I could be wrong, there are no restrictions on others who want to petition the court so why block Florida grandparents? It is borderline discriminatory.
“You can be denied contact with your grandchildren because of divorce, death or simply because something is going on in the child’s household that parents don’t want grandparents to know about.”
This important message is going out to every member of the Florida House. As a Florida grandparent, and there are many of us and YES we vote, we are calling on Florida House members to make contact with Florida Constitution Revision committee members prior to 1/19 to support Senator Rouson’s proposal # 64:
I’m confident that there are many Florida House Members who are grandparents, and although you may not think it can happen in your family; it can. You can be denied contact with your grandchildren because of divorce, death or simply because something is going on in the child’s household that parents don’t want grandparents to know about.
“Let’s get real, with the opioid epidemic in the spotlight – children are being removed by DCF daily and many are going to foster care. Others are being placed with grandparents therefore, it’s absolutely absurd to not allow grandparents to petition the court for visitation.”
Across the United States, more than 7.5 million children are being raised in households headed by grandparents and other relatives; 2.5 million children are in these households without any parents present. As the children’s parents struggle with substance abuse, mental illness, incarceration, economic hardship, divorce, domestic violence, and other challenges, these caregivers provide a vital safety net to children inside and outside of the foster care system. https://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/general/kinship_care_2005_fl.pdf
I urge you to listen to this interview with Florida’s Guardian ad Litem Director, Alan Abramowitz – the numbers are staggering.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN Perspectives: Kids and the Opioid Crisis
On behalf of all Florida grandparents, we are asking you to call and/or email the Declaration of Rights committee members to let them know what YOU think. Below are the names and contact information for each.
At this time, the Chair and Vice Chair (Carlton & Stemberger) oppose the proposal and we don’t know why.
Chair: Commissioner Lisa Carlton (941) 218-0142 lisa.carlton@flcrc.gov
Vice Chair: Commissioner John Stemberger (850) 0805 john.stemberger@flcrc.gov
Commissioner Erika Donalds (850) 270-8283 erika.donalds@flcrc.gov
Commissioner Emery Gainey (850) 296-0898 emery.gainey@flcrc.gov
Commissioner Marva Johnson (850) 792-6574 marva.johnson@flcrc.gov
Commissioner Dr. Gary Lester (352) 775-7890 gary.lester@flcrc.gov
Commissioner Arthenia Joyner (813) 591-0625 Arthenia.Joyner@flcrc.gov
Please continue to sign & share the Grandparent Visitation Rights petition until May 2018. Florida House members see what grandparents are saying: Here is that link:
https://petitions.moveon.org/sign/florida-grandparent-visitati?mailing_id=39246&source=s.icn.em.cr&%3Br_by=18680850&r_by=18683161
ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND ORGANIZATION
Amanda AGA, Inc. President/Founder
Alienated Grandparent Anonymous
International Headquarters Naples, FL
50 states 21 countries
www.AGA-FL.org Email: info@aga-fl.org
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PO Box 3118 Naples, FL 34106