Family Matters

On March 1, I presented an excerpt of this speech, titled Family Matters: Making the Case for Advocacy for Children of Divorce, to Toastmasters Tulsa Club #148. I accumulated these results through research over the course of many years. This presentation examines how divorce impacts children and families. I offered four action steps for those in attendance.

Adults, we must

1.) educate ourselves about the problem, its impacts, and the special needs of children after divorce.

2.) meet the child's special needs. These needs vary based on the child's development, temperament, and personality, but we can safely say that all children need stability, security, emotional support and guidance, and examples of healthy relationships, healthy communication and conflict-resolution, and healthy coping skills.

3.) volunteer to work with children. Children need available, dependable, positive people in their lives. Be positive role model and become a mentor. If this cause is on your heart, send me an email at SashaMTownsend@gmail.com, to apply to become a volunteer with Blended Love, a nonprofit that seeks to help children after divorce.

4.) request divorce support programming for students at your school.

Left unaddressed, divorce has a huge impact on the trajectory of a child's life, but we know that it doesn't have to be that way. If not for your children, request programming for the children of others. As adults, we know that what happens at home impacts all areas of our lives; every child should be equipped to cope positively. These impacts cannot and should not be ignored. Family matters.

Family Matters

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