Pictured L-R: Miranda and Jackson Patterson, Mayor Townson, Brad and Karlee Patterson
CULLMAN – Mayor Max A. Townson has officially proclaimed Sept. 26 “Family Day” in the city of Cullman. Brad and Miranda Patterson of the Alabama Family Rights Association (ALFRA) were on hand, along with their children Karlee and Jackson, to receive the proclamation. ALFRA is a nonprofit organization of parents and families who work to preserve parental fundamental rights, promote equal parenting time with each fit parent and protect children from being placed at risk. They do this through interaction with all three branches of state and federal government.
Family Day is a national movement to celebrate parental engagement as an effective tool to help keep America’s children substance-free. Families are the cornerstone of an orderly society, but over the last several decades, Alabama families have grown progressively weaker. Family Day has evolved and expanded to reflect the importance of connecting with children throughout the day and making a concentrated effort to implement programs that stress the importance of a child’s needs and the importance of interacting together as a family.
“Children are our future,” said Townson. “It is our responsibility to make sure that our children develop good character, and learning good character begins at home with the family.”
Scientific data indicates that when both parents are actively involved in a child’s life, the outcome is measurably improved. Children spending significant time with their parents and family members decreases the chances of youth suicides, school dropouts, juvenile drug abuse, teen pregnancies and incarceration. Research shows that children with hands-on parents are far less likely to exhibit risky and disruptive behavioral problems. Family Day is an important local and national initiative to remind parents, communities and leaders that a child whose parents are not engaged and involved in their upbringing and care is a child at risk.
On Family Day, Sept. 26, 2016, families are asked to do some type of activity together, such as:
• Organizing a block party in your community
• Hosting a potluck at church
• Playing games that include the family
• Eating dinner as a family and using conversation starters
• Attending movie night at the park
Participating in such family events will help remind us all of the precious nature of childhood and our responsibility as adults to protect and encourage our children. Families are also encouraged to post a photo or video of your family enjoying time together on your favorite social media channels using the #MyFamilySelfie or #FamilyDayAL16 hashtags, in order to further increase awareness of the importance of family.
Find out more about Family Day by visiting the Alabama Family Rights Association Facebook page at www.facebook.com./ALFRA1997.
