Men and Fathers for Justice is a Utah based organization that focuses on mens and fathers issues in our communities; an organization that believes that all individuals, men and women, are entitled to equal respect, treatment, truth and justice.
Keep Informed - Sign up for the MF4J.org Newsletter !!! Don't miss our Monthly MF4J meetings every 4th Thursday in the Weber County, Utah library from 7:00 - 8:30 pm. (2464 Jefferson Ave, Ogden, Utah 84401) This month's meeting is Thursday, August 23, 2007.
Bountiful resident, Doug Butts, has spent untold hours compiling a convincing report that details what he says are the inconsistent rulings of Judge Rodney Page in the Second District. Specifically, Butts alleges that Judge Page fails to consistently and correctly apply Utah Statute 78-45-7.15(3) when determining shared medical costs for children of divorce or custody orders. In his video posted on YouTUBE and below, Butts shows four cases where Judge Page orders different percentiles to parties which, according to Butts, is contrary to Utah Statute that states parties 'shall' share the costs of medical expenses 'equally'. Butts plans on delivering a 6 inch report including graphs, case history and support analysis to the Judicial Review Committee for further consideration.
Utah State Senator Greg Bell addresses a group of concerned non-custodial parents on Thursday, August 2 at the Salt Lake City, County Library. In attendance were various persons representing fathers, mothers, grandparents, step-parents and interested groups. MF4J.org was joined by IAMNOTAVISITOR.org, ForgottenParent.org, Utah Fathers Rights Meetup and Shared Parenting.
Senator Bell fielded a number of questions and concerns ranging from issues related to mediation, child support, visitation and parent time. Thanks go out to the many individuals and persons who made this possible. MF4J.org plans to aid in further discussions with other Utah legislators. (MF4J.org will post a summary of Senator Bell's answers and concerns as soon as video and audio have been reviewed.)
One of the most discussed issues at the meeting was 50/50 equal parenting legislation. Senator Bell explained the difficulties with jumping immediately to a 50/50 parenting presumption from the legislative and practical points of view and was open to looking further into 50/50 equal parenting based on research and studies.
Another of the obvious concerns to non-custodial parents that was brought up was child support. Concerned non-custodial parents contend that child support does not always go to the best interest of the child, but rather to support the custodial parent's interests. See this clip from the meeting with Senator Bell that clarifies that child support is a multi-million dollar interest for the state of Utah. Halfway through the video see a child of divorce question the senator about accountability for the child support the custodial parent receives.
Audience member:The best interests of the child is what I want to talk about. When we discuss this issue of 50/50 custody what often comes up is the economic situation for mothers. That's not talking about the best interests of the child then. You've switched from the best interests of the child now to the best interests of one parent. And what I would like to say about this is we really need to separate those two issues, because if it's truly in the best interests of the child having involvement from both parents, then why are we messing with that because we're concerned about economics for one parent?
Senator Bell:Well, you make a great point and if you and I were designing a new world that's where we would start. But we're not. We're stuck with a system and I'm just saying that there's no way you're going to lop off hundreds of millions of child support overnight or for even a three year ammortization. You know what I'm saying. It's a huge economic and social shift and you know whether you and I and all the angels agree or not we're not going to get the governor and 103 other people you know to move there overnight so ah you're right. The interests of the child is not necesarily found with the child support cause the child support may or may not go to the best interest of the children.
Another audience member:Senator Bell, I am one of those children. My parents divorced in Montana. And my dad currently lives here in Utah. It was a very unfair situation and I'd like to see something on the legislature that puts parents in responsibility to that child support. I'd like to see a program like Horizontee cards for welfare that maybe we keep track of that child support so that we know it's going for the children cause it's not parental support, it's child support. And my mom took the child support and didn't use it to support me. My mom never gave me a college fund. She never made sure I had the tools to be a successful adult. I escaped from my mother from a very abusive situation at the age of 17. My dad had to continue paying child support till I was 19. And I didn't live with my mom and I had no support from her. I would like to see something on the legislature that changes to where we do keep track of child support. My dad is currently $140,000... of what it goes towards, of what it's spent on. Because the price of raising a child is not dependent on a percentage of a wage, it is a price, but shouldn't we keep track of where that money goes so it's not used for mommy when the children are gone, for her and the new husband to go away to Hawaii. That's not a very useful use of that child support... and there's parents trading there child support for drugs and all sorts of ridiculous things.
Just how much money is this hundreds of millions in child support?? According to the website of the Utah Office of Recovery Services, over $195.9 million was collected in fiscal year 2006. Of this amount over $23.4 million was distributed to the Utah Department of Health (as apposed to being distributed to recipient parents), and at least $6.3 million made it directly into the state's general fund (as apposed to being distributed to recipient parents).
As a response to the above a member of Utah Fathers Rights Meetup submitted the following link to a video where a former worker for a state office of child support enforcement testifies as to the ulterior motives these offices have and employ.
On July 2, the CRISPE.org rv came to Salt Lake City. Larry Kerkman, President of CRISPE.org, brought his campaign RV and parked it at strategic areas throughout the city. (CRISPE is a non-profit organization that promotes the importance of equal parenting in divorce.) MF4J.org joined along with other local parental rights interest groups and individuals and donated funds to bring the CRISPE RV to Utah. The RV was parked at strategic locations throughout the city where promotional materials were handed out to passerby's by Larry and other local parental rights groups including MF4J.org, IAMNOTAVISITOR.org, Shared Parenting, Fathers Meetup Group Utah , ForgottenParent.org, and other individuals.
The first stop was was the Murray City Parade, then off to Sugar House Park where T-shirts and frisbees were handed out. Then a few days later the RV moved on to Liberty Park where local support groups passed out literature and held out signs to passing cars. The response was incredible as passing cars 'honked' in approval of the message that children need both parents - equally. The CRISPE RV then made its way over the next few days to the Salt Lake City County Building, the Salt Lake County Court, and even the Utah Legislature. It was a pleasure to have Larry and his mobile billboard at all of these locations - the local media even came out to do an interview.
Hopefully this visit has made more Utahns aware and informed on equal parenting difficulties in Utah and how legislative and court reform can help ensure children have equal access to both parents.
MF4J.org would like to thank Larry Kerkman and those who donated funds to bring Larry to Utah.
Modern media allows us to synthesize issues in a variety of ways. Newsprint. Radio. Television. Websites and podcasts. MF4J.org has pulled together some of the more prominent youtube.com videos that echo the cry in other forms of media that Fathers Count. Watch the included videos and gain a clearer understanding of the fathers rights movement and growing sentiment against anti-father and anti-family courts and organizations.
Advertisement Promoting Fathers:
To see more videos click on the read more link below:
MF4J.org is searching for a few good individuals to direct its efforts in communities throughout Utah. If you are 'equality minded' and believe that all individuals, whether a man or woman, are entitled to equal value and respect, become a part of the MF4J.org movement.
Chapter Directors are responsible for arranging and hosting monthly MF4J.org meetings, special events, recruiting members, and reporting to MF4J.org officer meetings. In addition Directors work closely with MF4J.org officers to bring awareness through media outlets and campaigns in the community.
If you're interested in becoming a Chapter Director or member of the MF4J community contact Alan Millard at 801-776-4766, or email .
Visit www.mf4j.org or www.menandfathersforjustice.org for more information.
Support?is a film that covers the true everyday issues of love, stress, family, and the pain that is enhanced a 1,000 times more when families are put through the detrimental affects of the Family Court systems in which are flooded with more cases than the labor force can handle OR chooses NOT to handle.
Exposed…Support? Brings you deep into the Military angle! Go face to face with the attorneys that handle the day to day cases of the men and women who give their lives to protect our homeland. You be the judge is this justice? Shocking news as every branch of the US military is affected when they return home after fighting at war and not being able to pay while abroad. Only to return and be incarcerated for missing payments due to arrears the day they arrive on American soil.
Support?was made to be suggestive and educational in order to spark a call to action and bring a case by case solution for better results for the children of America and the Generations of the World!
Utah State Senator Greg Bell addresses a group of concerned non-custodial parents on Thursday, August 2 at the Salt Lake City, County Library. In attendance were various persons representing fathers, mothers, grandparents, step-parents and interested groups. 
On July 2, the 
The first stop was was the Murray City Parade, then off to Sugar House Park where T-shirts and frisbees were handed out. Then a few days later the RV moved on to Liberty Park where local support groups passed out literature and held out signs to passing cars. The response was incredible as passing cars 'honked' in approval of the message that children need both parents - equally. The CRISPE RV then made its way over the next few days to the Salt Lake City County Building, the Salt Lake County Court, and even the Utah Legislature. 
It was a pleasure to have Larry and his mobile billboard at all of these locations - the local media even came out to do an interview.
