With special guests:
- Jill Egizii
- Karen Lebow
In the USA just as in Australia there are many judges, lawyers, psychiatrists and psychologists who have no idea of the damage done by parental alienation. Many in the general public do not even know there is a name for what they see happening to friends, workmates and even themselves.
For this reason it is vital that we improve the awareness and education relating to parental alienation. With that awareness of the damage done to children and parents will come social change.
Today we cross to the USA to talk to two highly motivated women who have their own personal stories to tell. They tell us how they used their own experience as a springboard to develop networks and action plans for dealing with this form of child abuse.
If you are not sure about what can be done to respond to this blight on our parenting practices listen in to hear what our guests are doing in such a big way.
Jill Egizii
Jill Egizii is an Alderwoman in Illinois and to put it mildly she is very active politically working towards legislative change and judicial education as it relates to a change in divorce culture. To work towards effecting this change Jill is serving on the Illinois Family Law Study Committee to reassess divorce law in total. As well as being President of Parental Alienation Awareness Organisation, Jill is a Board member of the not-for-profit organisation Children Need Both Parents and on the Board of The Weitzman Center in Chicago and on the Board of the International Support Network for Alienated Families.
When not serving on these Boards Jill has written a novel The Look of Love and is the host of Family Matters radio show which focuses on parental alienation. In conjunction with Judge Michele Lowrance she has released a work manual on the topic The PA 911 Workbook.
Of particular interest is the Parental Alienation Awareness Day which has found a home in the USA on 25 April each year. Jill also tells us about a full day seminar on parental alienation to be held in Chicago in a few days’ time on 30 June 2012 with recognised experts Dr Amy Baker and Lawyer Brian Ludmer both of whom have been guests on Dads on the Air.
It is a treat to be able to talk to Jill and you do not want to miss out.
Karen Lebow
Our next guest is Karen Lebow who is the Founder, CEO and President of ISNAF (International Support Network for Alienated Families). Karen tells us how being a loving mother, a qualified social worker with two masters degrees and an honorary doctorate did not prevent her from becoming an alienated parent. And when she looked for help from support groups in 2008 she found there was nothing there.
Not being one to die wondering Karen contacted Dr Amy Baker who answered the call, not by suggesting the name of a support group but rather by saying that Karen should start her own group.
From little things big things grow and following that phone call the first meeting took place in a living room in Santa Clarita, California. In 2010 ISNAF held its first major conference and ISNAF became established as an educational presence in the community. The third international conference will be held later this year.
Karen remains on the front line when there is a call for help and she now provides the support and direction to others that she was looking for in 2008. ISNAF provides comfort, hope and education for alienated families and tells the Dads on the Air audience how people in many countries have benefitted since that small beginning. It is inspirational to hear from Karen and to listen to her chosen song by her friend and fellow as an alienated parent, Janis Vaile.
Song selections by our guests:
Jill Egizii: Goin’ Back by Glenn Shorrock and Renee Geyer
Karen Lebow: Icicles (I will wait for you) by Janis Vaile
Other original tracks played on this week’s show:
One Life by Jade Michael and his band 17 Stories featured on his website Artists Against Misandry
Parental Alienation from the album Our Stolen Children by Peter van de Voorde