R 228

2021 -- S 0854 Enacted 05/04/2021

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING APRIL 25, 2021, TO BE "PARENTAL ALIENATION AWARENESS DAY" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By: Senator Roger Picard

Date Introduced: April 28, 2021

WHEREAS, Parental Alienation is described as behavior by a parent, or an adult a child

trusts, whether conscious or unconscious, that could create alienation in the relationship between

a child and a parent; and

WHEREAS, This negative behavior involves the manipulation of a child through a set of

behaviors that can result in destroying the loving and warm relationship the child shares with a

parent; and

WHEREAS, The alienating behavior often involves one caregiver attempting to turn a

child against another caregiver with a desired outcome of persuading the child that they should

exclude the other caregiver or parent from their life permanently; and

WHEREAS, Methods of behavior typically include constant badmouthing and/or

belittling of the other parent, and limiting a parent's contact with the child; and

WHEREAS, The manipulation can be mild and temporary but can also be extreme and

ongoing, damaging a child and potentially leading to life-long consequences; and

WHEREAS, Children who are alienated from one parent may experience increased

anger, have heightened feelings of neglect, or learn a destructive pattern that they pass on to

others; and

WHEREAS, Parental Alienation deprives children of their right to be loved by and

showing love for both of their parents and is seen mostly in cases of divorce or separation; and

WHEREAS, Research has estimated that twenty-two million adults in the United States

and almost four million children have been victimized by Parental Alienation; and

WHEREAS, Parental Alienation Awareness Day was created to help raise awareness

about this growing problem of mental and emotional child abuse; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby proclaims April 25,

2021, to be "Parental Alienation Awareness Day" and urges all Rhode Islanders to help stop the

abuse of innocent caught in the crossfire of this destructive behavior from the people they love;

and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Stephen Gouin, RI Chapter President,

Parental Alienation Awareness.

========

LC002732

========