American Coalition of Fathers and Children
Encyclopedia
The American Coalition of Fathers & Children (ACFC) is an organization that promotes the reform of family law
to increase fathers' rights
. It is associated with the men's rights
movement. ACFC has numerous affiliate
organizations throughout the United States
, including Parents Without Rights. In 2003, Stephen Baskerville
became the president of ACFC.
In 2006, the ACFC-affiliated North Dakota Coalition for Families and Children promoted a ballot question initiative which succeeded in getting the question onto the ballot. Opponents campaign
ed heavily against the ballot question, which ultimately failed by a margin of 56 to 44.
In 2011, the ACFC-affiliated Illinois Fathers promoted a bill HB1604 referred to as the Steven Watkins Memorial Act. The bill set penalties for Visitation Interference or a denial of visitation rights defined by court order equitable to that of child support
arrears or enforcement Steven Watkins was murdered
during a routine visitation with his daughter during his divorce. Shirley Skinner, the grandmother of his estranged wife was convicted of murder. Prior to and after the conviction, the family of the Watkins endured substantial visitation interference resulting in 9 misdemeanor charges of visitation interference against the former estranged wife Jennifer Watkins. The bill aims to make visitation interference a far more significant offense within Illinois to help curb incidents by allowing family court
judges to suspend offender's drivers and professional licenses, establish fines, and even have jail time if convicted through civil court.
ACFC also assisted in the filing of a class action lawsuit on 6 May 2011, which claims Ohio's Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) over collects child support payments in violation of state statutes and federal regulations. Records indicate in excess of $176 million has been wrongfully taken from over 114,000 child support payers. The suit further alleges ODJFS knowingly and willfully deceives parents concerning the status of their child support records while receiving tens of millions of dollars in unearned incentive and reimbursement payments from U.S. taxpayers.
Family law
Family law is an area of the law that deals with family-related issues and domestic relations including:*the nature of marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships;...
to increase fathers' rights
Fathers' rights
The fathers' rights movement is a movement whose members are primarily interested in issues related to family law, including child custody and child support that affect fathers and their children. Many of its members are fathers who desire to share the parenting of their children equally with their...
. It is associated with the men's rights
Men's rights
Men's rights is an umbrella term, encompassing the political rights, entitlements, and freedoms given or denied to males within a nation or culture....
movement. ACFC has numerous affiliate
Affiliate
An affiliate is a commercial entity with a relationship with a peer or a larger entity.- Corporate structure :A corporation may be referred to as an affiliate of another when it is related to it but not strictly controlled by it, as with a subsidiary relationship, or when it is desired to avoid...
organizations throughout the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, including Parents Without Rights. In 2003, Stephen Baskerville
Stephen Baskerville
Stephen K. Baskerville is an American scholar of political science and is described by Paul Craig Roberts as a leading authority on divorce, child custody and the family court system.-Education and employment history:...
became the president of ACFC.
In 2006, the ACFC-affiliated North Dakota Coalition for Families and Children promoted a ballot question initiative which succeeded in getting the question onto the ballot. Opponents campaign
Political campaign
A political campaign is an organized effort which seeks to influence the decision making process within a specific group. In democracies, political campaigns often refer to electoral campaigns, wherein representatives are chosen or referendums are decided...
ed heavily against the ballot question, which ultimately failed by a margin of 56 to 44.
In 2011, the ACFC-affiliated Illinois Fathers promoted a bill HB1604 referred to as the Steven Watkins Memorial Act. The bill set penalties for Visitation Interference or a denial of visitation rights defined by court order equitable to that of child support
Child support
In family law and public policy, child support is an ongoing, periodic payment made by a parent for the financial benefit of a child following the end of a marriage or other relationship...
arrears or enforcement Steven Watkins was murdered
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
during a routine visitation with his daughter during his divorce. Shirley Skinner, the grandmother of his estranged wife was convicted of murder. Prior to and after the conviction, the family of the Watkins endured substantial visitation interference resulting in 9 misdemeanor charges of visitation interference against the former estranged wife Jennifer Watkins. The bill aims to make visitation interference a far more significant offense within Illinois to help curb incidents by allowing family court
Family court
A family court is a court convened to decide matters and make orders in relation to family law, such as custody of children. In common-law jurisdictions "family courts" are statutory creations primarily dealing with equitable matters devolved from a court of inherent jurisdiction, such as a...
judges to suspend offender's drivers and professional licenses, establish fines, and even have jail time if convicted through civil court.
ACFC also assisted in the filing of a class action lawsuit on 6 May 2011, which claims Ohio's Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) over collects child support payments in violation of state statutes and federal regulations. Records indicate in excess of $176 million has been wrongfully taken from over 114,000 child support payers. The suit further alleges ODJFS knowingly and willfully deceives parents concerning the status of their child support records while receiving tens of millions of dollars in unearned incentive and reimbursement payments from U.S. taxpayers.