Lake Elsinore To Declare November Family Court Awareness Month 2022

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — The Lake Elsinore City Council is expected to proclaim November 2022 as "Family Court Awareness Month," according to the city council agenda.

Mayor Timothy J. Sheridan was slated to read and sign the proclamation at Tuesday's council meeting.

But what is Family Court Awareness Month?

The national mission is to shine a spotlight on the family court system and identify areas that need improvement that could save the lives of innocent children, caught in the crossfire of abusive parents. November was purposefully chosen, as it dovetails October’s Domestic ViolenceAwareness Month.

"Domestic violence is about power and control and when an abusive relationship ends and children are involved, the abuse often escalates and transitions into the family court system," a spokesperson for the National Family Court Awareness program said. "When the power and control dynamics become rooted in the family court system, children are often used as pawns and weaponized by an abusive or unhealthy parent."

In Lake Elsinore, declaring November Family Court Awareness Month will serve to increase awareness of on the importance of a family court system that prioritizes child safety and acts in the best interest of the children.

"Approximately 58,000 children a year are ordered into unsupervised contact with abusive parents," the city's proclamation reads. "There are hundreds a year who are murdered during visitation with a dangerous parent."

According to the council, judges and all professionals working on cases within family court need more training and education on how to handle cases of domestic violence and child abuse, including emotional, psychological, physical and sexual abuse.

It was not immediately clear how they plan to support the programs within the city. Still, the city's proclamation says that the council encourages all residents to support the city's efforts to prevent the harm of children in the hands of family members and to honor and value the lives of children.