Did you know Georgia forces some children, who survived horrific abuse, back into contact with their abusers through reunification therapy? This alarming practice is happening in family courts across our state, and it’s putting vulnerable kids at risk. But there is something you can do right now to help stop it.
Sign our petition to protect children from forced reunification therapy! Sign Here!
What is Reunification Therapy?
Reunification therapy aims to help children rebuild their relationship with a parent after separation due to conflict or divorce. But what happens when that parent is an abuser? Tragically, many courts are ordering reunification therapy for children even when there’s clear evidence of abuse. Children are forced back with a parent who physically or emotionally harmed them.
Imagine a child, finally feeling safe, suddenly forced to sit face-to-face with the parent who abused them, all in the name of “reunification therapy.” Actually, it’s happening right now in Georgia. This outdated and dangerous practice must stop. Additionally, custody orders are being modified requiring the children to attend visitation with the abusive parent, despite past court orders of protection, documented abuse, or past criminal charges.
In Colorado, 30 children have died as a result of these mandated practices. One prominent case involves Maya and Sebastian in Santa Cruz, California, who went viral on TikTok. In 2022, authorities found the children and their father dead in an apparent murder-suicide. The court had ordered the children into reunification therapy, ignoring their mother’s claims of abuse.
Sign our petition to protect children from forced reunification therapy! Sign Here!
Why Should You Care?
No matter your political views, we can all agree that protecting our children is a top priority. Whether you’re conservative, progressive, or somewhere in between, you understand that the safety and well-being of children transcend party lines. We believe that Georgia can lead the way in reforming family law to prioritize what truly matters—our kids.
Additionally, civil courts are overreaching, dangerously exceeding civil court authority, wandering into criminal law & authority. This is not only unconstitutional, but it also violates state & federal law and also goes against the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Here’s why this issue should concern every Georgian:
- Children’s Safety is at Risk: In too many cases, family courts prioritize parental rights over the safety of the child. While reuniting families can be a good thing, forcing children into relationships with abusive parents is not. We need to make sure that safety comes first.
- Violates Federal Child Protection Standards: The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) mandates that states protect children from abuse and neglect. When a court orders reunification therapy for an abuse victim, it violates CAPTA’s intent. Georgia courts are putting our state’s compliance with federal law at risk by allowing these dangerous orders.
- It Can Happen to Any Family: You might think this issue doesn’t affect you or your community, but the truth is, it could, and probably already does. Family courts across Georgia are ordering reunification therapy without properly investigating or considering past abuse. This means that any child in the state could face these harmful practices.
What Georgia Law Says—and How It’s Falling Short
Georgia law recognizes that children’s safety should come first. Under O.C.G.A. § 19-9-3, courts must use the “best interest of the child” to guide custody and visitation decisions, considering factors like the child’s emotional and physical safety. However, courts often overlook this standard in reunification therapy cases.
Abusive parents are being given access to children, even when there is a documented history of abuse. This practice directly contradicts Georgia’s own laws that define child abuse and neglect (O.C.G.A. § 15-11-2) and mandate the protection of children above all else. By forcing children into reunification therapy with abusive parents, family courts are endangering the most vulnerable among us.
Georgia’s mandatory reporting laws (O.C.G.A. § 19-7-5) require licensed professionals, including therapists, to report any suspected child abuse. This includes abuse that has been previously documented. But what happens when a reunification therapist chooses to ignore past abuse in favor of repairing a parent-child relationship? Unfortunately, this is far too common. These professionals have a legal duty to protect children, but when they fail to do so, it’s the child who suffers.
Criminal Sanctions in Civil Court Matters
In Georgia, civil court judges cannot directly order immediate arrest or detainment of a child in custody disputes. Instead, they handle non-compliance through contempt procedures and further court action. Law enforcement officers generally do not enforce civil court orders directly but may assist in addressing criminal aspects or safety concerns. To address non-compliance effectively, individuals typically need to follow legal procedures, file motions, and potentially seek modification of court orders through the judicial system.
In any state, including Georgia, a civil court order authorizing a child’s arrest or police transport in custody disputes would be highly unconventional and likely face substantial legal and practical obstacles. Civil courts generally do not issue direct law enforcement measures, and enforcement would involve thorough legal review, potential higher court scrutiny, and adherence to standard child welfare procedures. Police generally cannot directly enforce civil orders by arresting someone, as civil orders typically fall outside the scope of criminal law.
A Bipartisan Issue That Deserves Action
This issue is not about politics—it’s about protecting our children. We can all agree that every child deserves to be safe, loved, and free from harm. Whether you’re a lifelong conservative or a progressive advocate, the safety of children is something we all must rally around. Here’s why this issue should resonate across the political spectrum:
- Conservatives: Family values lie at the heart of conservative ideology. Protecting the sanctity of the family means ensuring that children are safe and secure. However, reunification therapy that puts children at risk directly violates these values. Therefore, we must demand that the government and the courts do better.
- Progressives: Advocating for the vulnerable is a core tenet of progressive beliefs. Children who have survived abuse need protection and support, not forced reconciliation with their abusers. Pushing for reform in this area is a way to ensure that these children are seen, heard, and shielded from further trauma.
The Time to Act is Now
We cannot wait for another child to be killed before taking action.
We need your voice today to protect children from forced reunification therapy. As a result, Georgia’s laws and family court practices must change to prioritize the well-being of children. By signing our petition, you are joining a movement to ensure that no child in Georgia is forced into a dangerous situation with an abusive parent.
Your signature could be the one that tips the scales in favor of protecting children across our state. Sign the petition here!
What You Can Do to End Reunification Mandates for Abuse Victims
- Sign the Petition: Your support matters. By adding your name to our petition, you’re telling lawmakers that the safety of Georgia’s children must come first.
- Share with Friends and Family: Spread the word. Every signature helps build momentum. Also, share this petition on social media, email it to friends, and talk about it in your community.
- Contact Your State Representatives: After signing the petition, reach out to your local representatives. Tell them you support reforming family court practices to protect children. It’s time to make sure that reunification therapy is never used to force a child into a dangerous situation.
- Financially Support Efforts to Pass This Bill: To effectively promote this petition and drive legislative change, we need financial backing. You can help by donating to the Wind Haven Foundation. Your contribution will support our advocacy efforts and ensure that we have the resources necessary to make a strong case for reform. Donate Here!
Forced reunification therapy is putting Georgia’s children in harm’s way, and it’s time to stop it. Our petition is gaining momentum, but we need your help to make a real difference. By signing the petition, you are taking a stand for the safety and well-being of vulnerable children across our state.
Let’s come together—conservatives and progressives alike—to protect Georgia’s children from harmful reunification therapy. Sign the petition today!
Children’s lives are at stake. Act now.
