Below is a sample template to use when you contact your Texas House District Representative and Texas Senate District Senator.

I would like to ask you to support the equal parenting bill, HB 803. It will provide for equal and consistent parenting time (possession and access) for every child, when both parents are fit, willing, and able as a starting point in child custody cases. This law will enhance the lives of almost 2 million children in Texas to allow them to have equal access to their parents. There is extensive research supporting a 50/50 custody arrangement is best for the child. Children whose parents share physical custody have better outcomes even when one parent initially opposed the arrangement and even when conflict between the parents was high. Even at a young age, every increase in the number of overnights per week during infancy and toddlerhood was matched by an increase in the strength and closeness of their relationships with their grown children. Spending equal time with both parents generates better health, mental and social outcomes for the children. Dr. Edward Kruk Ph.D., specializing in child and family policy outlines 16 arguments in support of shared parenting: 1. Shared parenting preserves children's relationships with both parents 2. Shared parenting preserves parents' relationships with their children 3. Shared parenting decreases parental conflict and prevents family violence 4. Shared parenting reflects children's preferences and views about their needs and best interests 5. Shared parenting reflects parents' preferences and views about their children's needs and best interests 6. Shared parenting reflects child caregiving arrangements before divorce 7.Shared parenting enhances the quality of parent-child relationships 8.Shared parenting decreases parental focus on “mathematizing time” and reduces litigation 9.Shared parenting provides an incentive for inter-parental negotiation, mediation and the development of parenting plans 10. Shared parenting provides a clear and consistent guideline for judicial decision-making 11. Shared parenting reduces the risk and incidence of parental alienation 12. Shared parenting enables enforcement of parenting orders, as parents are more likely to abide by an equal parental responsibility order 13. Shared parenting addresses social justice imperatives regarding protection of children's rights 14. Shared parenting addresses social justice imperatives regarding parental authority, autonomy, equality, rights and responsibilities 15. The discretionary best interests of the child / sole custody model is not empirically supported 16. A rebuttable legal presumption of shared parenting responsibility is empirically supported There are many biases in the court that affect the outcome which extends to black fathers. The assumption that black fathers have little involvement with their children has a major impact on the way judges, attorneys, and the general public view them. This biased assumption directly affects the outcome of many divorces, child custody, and child support cases involving black fathers. The biases with the current laws against fathers and women keep men from fatherhood and women out of the workplace. Research has shown that equal parenting closes the pay gap, allows women to advance their careers, and we will convey to our children that men can be equal caregivers and women are just as successful in the workplace. It is time for Texas to put our kids first and change our culture.