Who's Looking Out for Our Children?

Child Interference Abuse is a barely detected phenomenon, yet current research reveals over 22 million households in the United States are affected by it. Again, child interference abuse is characterized by on-going interference or disruption of a child's relationship with a primary caregiver. Children can be in danger of a relational dynamic where one parent deliberately encourages and cajoles a child(ren) to reject and refuse the comfort, care, guidance, food, and participation of a loving and available parent. If left unchecked, the once loving relationship will be replaced with rejection and refusal. This type of relational interference has profound and long term impacts on a child's attachment style.

Impacts to children include: chronic anxiety and irrational fears related to the rejected parent; depression and persistent sadness or emotional numbness from the loss of the healthy relationship with the rejected parent; feelings of guilt and confusion about having to refuse a loving, safe, and available parent; low self-esteem, especially if the child internalizes negative messages about the rejected parent; emotional instability, isolation, missed developmental support, irreparable damage to the parent-child relationship, distorted memories, sibling distrust and unhealthy competition, substance abuse, self-harm, suicidal ideation and drive.

This campaign aims to educate the public that interference or disruption in a child's relationship with a primary caregiver is a form of child abuse that is a criminal act on par with physical abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse. Custodial interference laws were introduced state by state throughout the 80's and it is a criminal act in all 50 states plus America Samoa, Guam, and Puerto Rico.

So who needs this information?

• Physicians

• Surgeons

• Dentists

• Nurses

• Physician assistants

• Psychiatrists

• Psychologists

• Mental Health Professionals

• Pharmacists

• Hospital personnel (administrators, technicians, etc.)

• Marriage and family therapists

• Clinical social workers

• School psychologists

• Substance abuse counselors

• Behavioral therapists

• Teachers (K-12 and higher education)

• School administrators (office staff, principals, vice-principals, etc.)

• School counselors

• School nurses

• Coaches and athletic staff

• Teacher's aides and paraprofessionals

• Early childhood educators (e.g. preschool, daycare, Head Start, etc.)

• Special education staff

• Tutors

• Child Care Centers

• After-school program staff

• Camp counselors

• Youth group leaders (e.g. Scouts, 4-H, Boys and Girls Club, etc.)

• Social Workers

• Child welfare caseworkers

• Family services workers

• Employees of child protective services

• Domestic violence shelter staff

• Housing assistance workers

• Police officers

• Sheriff's Deputies

• State troopers

• Probation officers

• Juvenile detention center staff

• Correctional facility staff

• Judges and magistrates

• Attorneys

• Mediators

• Court commissioners

• Custody evaluators

• Parenting coordinators

• Court administrators

• Court-appointed special advocates (CASAs)

• Guardian ad litems (GALs)

• Priests

• Ministers

• Rabbis

• Imams

• Deacons

• Pastoral counselors

• Religious education staff

• Public health officials

• Victim advocates

• Community center workers

• Outreach workers

• Homeless shelter staff

• Volunteers in organizations serving children

• Photographers of filmmakers working with children

• Librarians

• Recreational program staff

• Lifeguards

• Transportation providers

All professionals involved in the health and welfare of children need to be aware of what child interference abuse looks like, the signs and symptoms, how to prevent and address it.