HR0113 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Parental alienation is the psychological term used to denote the unacceptable manipulative process used by one parent to alienate a child from the other parent by disparaging conduct or words to encourage the child to dislike or break communication ties with the other parent; and

WHEREAS, This process is most often used in the course of the parents' divorce or separation; and

WHEREAS, While divorce is the most common situation where parental alienation is used, it also has been known to happen during the course of unhappy marriages or relationships that do not end in divorce, as one parent seeks the exclusive companionship and alliance of the children or of a particular child in the family; and

WHEREAS, Parental alienation can be viewed as a form of child abuse because it denies a child, through cruel manipulation, a loving a supportive relationship with both parents; and is not in the best interest of the child; and

WHEREAS, The unhappiness bred by parental alienation has been known to lead to child kidnapping, murder, and suicide, or other destructive behavior as has been reported in the media; and

WHEREAS, Awareness of parental alienation and its negative consequences on family relationships, and on children caught in this unhealthy negative web between his or her parents, will help to highlight this problem and lessen its occurrence; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we designate the month of April of 2013 as "Stop Parental Alienation Awareness Month" in the State of Illinois.