THE IDEAL: "Children thrive with the active involvement of both parents. Children and parents should be encouraged to spend substantial time with each other regardless of the parents' present marital status. We recognize that absent issues of abuse, neglect or abandonment, social and government policy must be structured in such a way as to promote and maximize the opportunity of all parents to contribute to the social, emotional, intellectual, physical, moral and spiritual development of their children."

If only it were that simple. But the family court system and the multi-billion dollar legal engine that keeps it running aren't organized to assist an already difficult parental situation. Instead, they are largely incented to create and encourage conflict and adversity. And much of this comes at the expense of the children when parental responsibility is effectively removed, with little recourse.

This Meetup group is loosely affiliated with ACFC (American Coalition for Fathers and Children). Membership there is not required to join here. Rather, this is a gathering site for like minded individuals interested in changing a system which is severely broken.