CAFC 2007 Summary

We have completed our CAFC Annual Summary for 2007 -- read all about it here. We apologize for its late release but, as you know, limited staff and resources have been a challenge for us over the years. This year the time required to hold our historic February 2008 domestic violence conference partly contributed to the lateness of this report.

CAFC Historic 2008 Domestic Violence Conference a Major Success

CAFC just wrapped up a truly historic domestic violence conference that was held in Sacramento on February 15 and 16, 2008. CAFC was proud to sponsor the conference, which was co-sponsored by the Family Violence Treatment and Education Association (FAVTEA). The conference also featured many of the speakers from the National Family Violence Legislative Resource Center (NFVLRC). Read the story of this year's conference..

CAFC Sponsors Daddy Hunger Screening

On April 18, 2008, Ray Upchurch, producer of Daddy Hunger, held a special screening of his powerful film in Sacramento. CAFC was extremely honored to be asked to sponsor the screening, and CAFC's Michael Robinson was asked to do the opening presentation and remarks. You have no idea how honored we feel that Ray made this request to us considering all of the other organizations that are in Sacramento, let alone statewide or nationwide.  Read the full story.

CAFC Opposed to "Bad Dad" Reality Show

Fox Television is looking at a new reality show entitled "Bad Dads. The premise is that Jim Durham, director of the National Child Support Center, functions as a sort of 'Dog the Bounty Hunter' for tracking deadbeats...."  The show will target fathers who are behind on their child support by making their lives miserable -- foreclosing on their house, repossessing their car. [Durham] will squeeze them.... CAFC wholeheartedly agrees that there are some "bad Dads" who have the financial means and legal obligation to support their children. They should pay, period -- no excuses. These men, however, are a small minority compared to most fathers, who struggle to meet their obligations, often while supporting a second family. Read the full story.

CAFC Impact Seen On Paternity Fraud Bill

CAFC was successful in getting SB 1333 (Ashburn) introduced to fix confusion regarding a recent law that was meant to allow genetic testing to disprove falsely alleged or incorrectly determined paternity. Based on the testimony of CAFC's Michael Robinson and others, we were successful getting the bill passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 25 on a 5-0 vote. As a result, the bill will likely be on a consent calendar from here on out. Read the full story.

CAFC Impact Seen In COAP Report

On March 10, 2008, the California Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) released its 2008 report on the Compromise Of Arrears Program (COAP). The report states that since its implementation in 2004, COAP has "demonstrated effectiveness in reducing arrears." The report further lauds the program as "a valuable tool for collecting arrears that were once deemed uncollectible and reducing California's growing child support arrears balance." It allows noncustodial parents to compromise child support arrears in exchange for partial repayment and in some cases current child support to the family. CAFC sees this as a win-win for everyone. Read the full story.

CAFC Success Against AB 612

In April 2007, AB 612 was introduced in the California Assembly. This bill was the stalking horse for the California Protective Parents Association to make it much harder to protect children against alienation by one parent against the other. We are happy to report that AB 612 has effectively died for the 2007 legislative session, but we expect this battle to be replayed again next year in California, and maybe nation wide as well.  Indeed, in 2008, a new bill regarding custody evaluators (AB 2587) was introduced to continue last year's attempt to eliminate the use of parental alienation.  AB 2587 is currently stalled and not being set for a hearing.  Read the full story of the battle over Parental Alienation so you can understand all the implications.

This Could Just As Easily Have Been California

We strongly believe that our organized legislative efforts were a big factor in defeating AB 612. Conversely, we also believe that the lack of legislative vigilance and action led to the passage of horrible legislation in Florida. The " Keeping Children Safe Act" became law on July 1, 2007. This new law provides that a parent's visitation is automatically stopped once a telephone report is made from any source, including an anonymous source, alleging sexual abuse. No questions asked. Visitation remains stopped until the court holds a full hearing on the allegation. Not only is there an implicit presumption of guilt, but at the hearing, the accused must prove by clear and convincing evidence (a very high legal threshold), that the safety of the child would not be threatened by continued visitation. Though the purpose of the law is to protect children from sexual abuse, it is much more likely to have the effect of supporting the process of parental alienation.