Governor Baker Declares April 26 Massachusetts Shared Parenting Day

The focus of National Parents Organization is on reforming laws to give every child the benefit of having both parents even when those parents are living apart. Gaining greater awareness that shared parenting is best for kids helps convince lawmakers that their constituents want shared parenting to be the default after divorce or separation, which makes them more likely to vote for shared parenting bills when they come before state legislatures. That’s why we’re glad to announce that Massachusetts’ Governor Baker issued a proclamation declaring April 26 Shared Parenting Day. The proclamation recognizes both that “Research indicates that children benefit greatly when they have a relationship with both parents if the parents are fit caregivers” and that “Declaring a statewide day honoring shared parenting will encourage children’s access to both parents.” Massachusetts is the state where National Parents Organization was founded, so this effort is a culmination of many years of NPO activism in the state. 

The effort to declare April 26 Shared Parenting Day wouldn’t be successful without the efforts of NPO’s state volunteers, who submit proclamation requests and develop dialogues with Governors’ offices to educate them on the importance of shared parenting and the research supporting it. This year, Arizona and Massachusetts became the third and fourth states to declare April 26 Shared Parenting Day, joining Kentucky and Missouri. Lianna Mika, NPO’s Office Manager, led the Shared Parenting Day effort in Massachusetts.

April 26, the day that Kentucky’s first in the nation equal shared parenting law was enacted, is truly a day for celebration. This year Arkansas passed a shared parenting law, giving even more families a reason to celebrate. Our nation’s families are stronger when children receive the love and care of both parents and we thank Governor Baker and his office for recognizing that.