Governor Ducey Declares April 26th Arizona Shared Parenting Day

Candace Harrison, NPO Arizona Chair, in yellow, the color of Shared Parenting Day

Arizona Becomes Third State to Officially Proclaim Shared Parenting Day

Thanks to Governor Doug Ducey, Arizona just became the third state to honor shared parenting arrangements by proclaiming April 26th as Shared Parenting Day. The Governor’s proclamation acknowledges that children are our nation’s “most important asset”. Further, the proclamation states that children “benefit greatly when they have a relationship with both parents, if the parents are fit caregivers.”

“April 26th, 2021 goes down in history as the day Arizona declared that shared parenting arrangements for capable caregivers are best for children,” said Candace Harrison, Chair of the National Parents Organization in Arizona who led the effort for the day’s proclamation. “Research overwhelmingly shows children want and need both parents after separation. Our Governor responded by giving the state a day to honor joint custody equal parenting time for children.”

The proclamation declares that April 26th was chosen because it is the day “the nation’s first shared parenting bill was signed into law.” The law happened in Kentucky, which is also the first state to declare Shared Parenting Day. Arizona also joins Missouri who declared Shared Parenting Day last year.  

“This is a great day for Arizona’s children. Congratulations to the National Parents Organization of Arizona and pioneering shared parenting advocate Dr. William Fabricius who laid the foundation for this day,” said Matt Hale, Creator of Shared Parenting Day. “Governor Ducey deserves to be commended for helping shape a better future for Arizona’s children.”

You can see the actual proclamation here. You can also learn more about shared parenting at the National Parents Organization’s website sharedparenting.org.