Policy Positions

The Dads’ Resource Center believes that father absence is a significant factor, if not the root cause, of virtually every social issue our country faces. The more we have mothers and fathers working together on behalf of their children, the less we will need programs and the use of taxpayer money to make up for what their children are not getting.

Parenting is a two-person job and children need the unique contributions that both parents give them to have the best chance to live productive and fulfilling lives. Unless there are serious safety concerns or truly unusual circumstances mothers and fathers should always be considered equal partners and the primary support for one another in raising their children.

The DRC supports efforts to implement “equal shared parenting” legislation similar to what the National Parents Organization advocates. Here in Pennsylvania the DRC supports the efforts of Representative Jamie Flick (Lycoming County) to advance shared parenting legislation. Link to

The DRC believes that there is a great need to examine the misuse of Protection from Abuse orders to gain advantage in custody matters and that meaningful reforms are needed to ensure the integrity of domestic violence interventions.

The DRC believes that that there is a great need to reform the use of Guardian ad Litems and other professional contracted services by the family courts to ensure transparency, professionalism and unbiased services that truly benefit the best interests of children in separated families.

When the family court, county and human services systems are working with fathers the DRC strongly advocates that any standards of consideration regarding the rights and custody of children should be applied equally to both parents. Further, any necessary interventions to redress parental standing should be clearly specified, with defined and measurable objectives and completion of these interventions as prescribed should result in a timely and appropriate readjustment of parental standing. This is what is best for the children in separated families, to have both parents actively involved in their lives with as little disturbance as possible.

In contested custody cases the DRC suggests that judges ask both parents: “What are you going to do to ensure the other parent has the time and access your children need from him or her?” and “What are you going to do to support the other parent for the benefit of your child(ren)?” Courts should not allow custody cases to degrade into completely unproductive he said / she said Battles of the Roses. The courts can and should direct custody hearings in a constructive direction by holding both parents accountable to a commitment of doing what is best for the children.