August 21st, 2008

An Open Letter to 2008 Elective Office Candidates;

The American Family structure has changed.  During the term of our next American President, a historic and unprecedented event will take place. Research studies confirm that by the year 2010, blended families will become the most common family structure in America.  No longer will Mom, Dad and two kids be our standard.  The fact of the matter is more people are part of a ‘blended family’ in America today than the number of people who voted in the 2004 Presidential Election.

“Division” is a common character trait in families of family breakdown or divorce.  The division may be caused by emotional hurdles, unanticipated circumstances, a collapse of faith and values, or tragically when a spouse passing away.   Research shows children are born into 60+% of these scenarios.  Approximately 80% of the survivors from these scenarios often get married again, which creates a new family, the blended family.  This new family can be a blend of children and/or grandchildren with extraordinarily special needs. 

The American Blended Family Association (ABFA) was founded to unite, offer services that support, and advocate for these families. This national organization has the potential to represent more than 20+ million households.  We will encourage and support faith-based and non faith-based solution organizations, working together, to serve the families.

Research studies show there are more than 20+ million blended families in America today and the demographic grows by 2,100 families daily in the USA.  This has created an influence group or voting block with the potential for more than 50 million casting ballots nationally.

ABFA is working diligently to reach out and serve these blended families.  We intend to unite. We intend to advocate.    We intend to set forth blended family friendly policy.  We intend to vote.  We are pro-marriage, pro-family, pro-children and we intend to help reduce the divorce rate in our nation by being a positive voice for change.

ABFA seeks to encourage a new generation of “blended families” to stand as one voice, united in efforts and energy, working to help make the tomorrows for children and parenting better.  John F. Kennedy spoke of being a light that has a higher calling and purpose by his words… “The energy, the faith, the devotion, that we bring to this endeavor can light a fire, and the glow from that fire, can truly light the world.”   

To that extent, the ABFA sends this specific set of questions to you, our presidential candidates.  We also will reach out to candidates in federal, state or local elections. For you the candidate, holding awareness of and communicating with ‘Blended Family USA’ should be worthy of attention.

ABFA the following issues that affect blended families.   Please address to our membership the following questions:

1) Should the U.S. Census specifically track & provide demographic information on blended-families?

2) Should ‘Shared Custody’ become the normal standard in the determination of parenting time?

3) Should states consider mandating blended-family dynamics training prior to a re-marriage with children?

4) Should the IRS rules be modified to allow Child Support payments to be a deduction for the paying family?

5) Should a Congressional Study be conducted on the impact of Child Indoctrination / Parental Alienation?

6)  Should a revision to states ‘no fault divorce’ laws that would make divorce more difficult be enacted,
      with consideration to children who through “no fault” of their own are parties to the marital contract?

Candidates and Citizens may share their insight and responses via email to info@usabfa.org   

Respectively and by Representation,

Dan Snell, CEO and Founder                                                                                          Robert J. Sherwood, President

American Blended Family Association  (ABFA)

www.usabfa.org

Copyright August 21st, 2008 ABFA – The American Blended Family Association