Co-founder

Director of Communications

2022 - Present

U.S. family courts must improve their decision-making in high risk custody cases involving abuse in order to keep children safe from prolonged preventable abuse, and even filicide.

National Safe Parents Organization (NSPO) is the leading grassroots organization working to advance evidence-based policies and laws to improve U.S. family court practices and ensure child safety is at the center of all child custody decision-making. NSPO engages decision-makers, builds community, and raises public awareness on these issues affecting children and safe parents. We work across the U.S. and in tandem with international partner organizations and leading research organizations.

Kayden’s Law FAQs

The Keeping Children Safe From Family Violence Act or "Kayden’s Law" in VAWA, incentivizes states to ensure that their child custody laws adequately protect at-risk children by:

1. Restricting expert testimony to only those who are appropriately qualified to provide it.

Evidence from court-appointed or outside professionals regarding alleged abuse may be admitted only when the professional possesses demonstrated expertise and experience in working with victims of domestic violence or child abuse, including child sexual abuse.

2. Limiting the use of reunification camps and therapies which cannot be proven to be safe and effective.

No “reunification treatment” may be ordered by the court without scientifically valid and generally accepted proof of the safety, effectiveness and therapeutic value of the particular treatment.

3. Providing evidence-based ongoing training to judges and court personnel on family violence subject matter, including:

​(i) child sexual abuse;
(ii) physical abuse;
(iii) emotional abuse;
(iv) coercive control;
(v) implicit and explicit bias;
(vi) trauma;
(vii) long and short-term impacts of domestic violence and child abuse on children; and
(viii) victim and perpetrator behaviors.

​4. Courts must consider evidence of past sexual or physical abuse, including protection orders, arrests, and convictions for domestic violence, sexual violence, or child abuse of the accused parent”