Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
--Margaret Mead
--Margaret Mead
![F.R.E.E.[tm]](gif/freetm.gif){kind=small}
The Fathers' Rights & Equality
Exchange (F.R.E.E.[tm]) is a
member-supported, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the premise that parenting is a 50/50 proposition. Both
fathers and mothers should share equally in the parenting and support
of their children.
While there are many highly visible interest groups advocating for the very real plight of single mothers, few groups speak out for the problems encountered by single fathers. As a result, society has come to not only overlook the problems of single fathers, but to view single fathers as the root of all evils visited upon the single mother. To be sure, F.R.E.E.[tm] recognizes that there are indeed some fathers who don't pay support, or who skip town. However there are a great many fathers who want to parent their children, who are willing and prepared to pay their fair share of child-support, and who wish only to be treated with respect, fairness, and dignity by the State, the Family Law System, and by society. It is these fathers for whom F.R.E.E.[tm] stands up and advocates.
The primary mission of F.R.E.E.[tm] is to work to ensure that both parents are allowed and expected to be responsible and involved parents. For the non-custodial father this means being able to have fair time with his children, and being able to provide for them not just financially, but parentally as well, including being able to provide emotional and moral support, and generally being able to be a part of, and positive influence in, his children's lives.
F.R.E.E.[tm] is a voice of reason, and
addresses issues in that manner.
F.R.E.E.[tm] is not an
"angry men's" organization.
F.R.E.E.[tm] is active, and vocal, but not
confrontational. F.R.E.E.[tm] does not
demonstrate or "court watch."
F.R.E.E.[tm] does not get directly involved in the particulars of an individual case. This is both because we can help far more people, in a far shorter time, by working to correct systemic problems, and because to weigh in on a particular case, without knowing all of the facts and history behind a particular case, is the quickest way to lose organizational credibility. This is different from providing support to individuals, which we most assuredly do.
F.R.E.E.[tm] understands and recognizes the concerns of advocates of "choice for men," however, F.R.E.E.[tm] is an organization dedicated to the involvement of fathers with their children, and does not get involved in or actively support the "choice for men" platform.
F.R.E.E.[tm] uses a 3-prong approach to addressing the problems and concerns of single fathers, the three prongs being: support, education, and legislation.
SUPPORT:F.R.E.E.[tm] provides support to individuals through volunteer calls to people who call the F.R.E.E.[tm] hotline, attorney referrals, and by maintaining resources such as document archives.
EDUCATION:F.R.E.E.[tm] is actively involved in educating all facets of society to the problems and concerns of single fathers. We provide speakers for various civic and institutional events, we develop working relationships with legislators (educating legislators is very different from lobbying them, which we do also), and we educate the public through the media (such as writing letters and article) and through PSAs.
LEGISLATION:F.R.E.E.[tm] is actively working to change the family law system to a more equitable one by direct legislative involvement at the state and federal level.
This 3-prong approach works! Some of our more recent achievements include:
The Fathers' Rights and Equality Exchange
1-500-FORDADS
This page last updated Thursday, 18 February, 2010 by:
F.R.E.E. free@vix.com