At a recent signing ceremony in Montgomery, State Assemblyman Kenneth Paschal joined with Governor Kay Ivey to proclaim April 25 as “Parental Alienation Awareness Day” and April 21 through April 27 as “Parental Alienation Prevention Week.”

The Declaration and the initiatives it accompanies aim to demonstrate the importance of allowing children to share love with their parents without feeling fear or guilt. The campaign also highlights the link between parental alienation and child abuse, and the psychological harm that children can experience as a result.

“Parental alienation occurs when one or both parents intentionally behave in an unjustified negative manner towards a child in order to strengthen their relationship with the other parent and to harm the other parent,” Pascal said.

“Research shows that such behavior is harmful and that if children have positive, loving relationships with their parents, they are more likely to thrive behaviorally and academically.”

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Among the points Ivey's declaration acknowledges are:

• Strong family relationships form the foundation of our community.
• Parental alienation refers to a range of actions and attitudes by one parent, both parents, or a third party, intended to disrupt, damage or destroy a child's relationship with the other parent and is a form of emotional abuse that has a lasting impact on a child.
• Parental alienation denies a child their fundamental right to love freely and to receive love from both their parents and extended family, undermining a child's sense of security.
• In Alabama, an estimated 40,000 children each year are forced by court order to have just two to six days of visitation per month with one parent.

On April 25th, people are encouraged to take five minutes to blow bubbles and show their love and support for children.

Participation is encouraged from various community organizations including the Mayor's Office, churches, schools, businesses, etc. Participants are asked to share photos and videos on social media using #BubblesForLove and #StopParentalAlienation.

In February of this year, Rep. Paschal also introduced a constitutional amendment that would recognize and protect the fundamental right of parents to direct the upbringing, education, care and control of their children.

In addition to these efforts, Paschal introduced a bill in January 2023 that would ensure Alabama recognizes parental rights as a “fundamental right” rather than merely a “normal right.”

“'Ordinary rights' allow the state to easily overturn a parent's decision,” Pascal explained, “while 'fundamental rights' cannot be taken away unless 'compelling reasons' are shown.”

According to Paschal, the U.S. Supreme Court has recognized parental rights through its interpretation of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution. However, parental rights are not specifically set out in the Alabama Constitution.

Austin Shipley is a staff writer for Yellow Hammer News.