ACTION ALERT

We need your help to convince Congress to approve the Administration's request for an increase in access (visitation) funds from $10 million a year to $12 million a year. This is the third year in a row the Administration has requested this increase. We must try for passage this year. Why? Because more than a half million families have been helped since the first $10 million a year in access funds was provided, at the Children's Rights Council's request, in the 1996 Welfare Reform Act. This is a substantial number of families that have been aided by low-cost mediation, parenting education, parenting plans, counseling, and neutral drop-off and pick-up of children and supervised access. An increase to $12 million this year (and further proposed increases up to $20 million a year after that) will help even more children and families to reduce court time, increase access between parent and child, and promote financial child support compliance, as shown by independent research into these grants. Congress needs to hear from SVN providers!

Please fax the following:

Fax: 202/225-9480

The Hon. Jim McDermott
Chairman, Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

Attn.: Mr. Nick Gwyn, Staff Director

Please approve the Administration's request for an increase in access (visitation) funds from $10 million a year to $12 million this coming year. This is an important, low-cost program, that has, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, helped more than a half-million families since the first appropriation in the Welfare Reform Act in 1996. Children and families have been aided with mediation, counseling, parenting plans, parenting education, neutral drop-off and pick-up of children and supervised access (visitation). (Vary this letter a little bit, or give an extra sentence as to why you support this increase.)

Sincerely,
Sign your name, address, phone, fax, email.

PLEASE FAX A COPY OF YOUR LETTER TO YOUR OWN HOUSE MEMBER ASKING HIM/HER TO CONTACT CHAIRMAN MCDERMOTT IN SUPPORT OF THIS REQUEST, AND TO LET YOU KNOW THE RESULT. Obtain such fax number by calling the
local district office of your House member, or calling the House switchboard during normal business hours at 202/225-3121 and asking for your House member. Send copy of Fax to CRC, so we can follow-up. Our fax number is 301/559-3124. Check CRC's website at crcKIDS.org

Thank you, on behalf of children and families everywhere. WE NEED HUNDREDS OF THESE FAXES TO BE SENT, SO PLEASE ASK YOUR MEMBERSHIP, FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES TO DO SO. PROVIDE THEM WITH THIS MODEL LETTER, AND HAVE THEM SIGN AT A MEETING. THANKS.

Note: After 9/11 the preferred way of contacting Congress is by fax. Letters take too long for security screening, and emails tend to be discounted. If you prefer to send to Mr. McDermott's email (on Internet) or phone his office, however, go ahead. If you live in or know someone from Chairman McDermott's Washington State 7th district in Seattle and surrounding areas, a fax from them
will be very helpful. Thanks again.

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Supervised Visitation Network
2804 Paran Pointe Drive
Cookeville, TN 38506
931-537-3414
fax: 931-537-6348