Marriage and family therapists are professionals who dedicate their lives to the well-being and health of families. As an association, AAMFT is committed to positive family policies that affirm the ability and responsibility for dependent care, responsible nurturing of children, and the ability to provide for dependents' basic needs. Recent reports of children in U.S. care being held in unsafe and potentially traumatizing conditions directly contradicts this commitment of our profession. Fundamental rights to basic needs, safety, and security for children is not a political issue but rather one that we as an association believe is a commitment that our society should strive for every day to support families as its most basic institutions.
AAMFT urges immediate action be taken to ensure that children and families in U.S. care be provided with these basic necessities essential to protecting their long-term well-being. As an association we will continue to seek out opportunities via our coalitions and partnerships with other mental health associations to honor our commitment to ameliorating challenges to relationships and emotional and mental health within the context of family and larger social systems.
Tracy Todd, PhD
CEO, AAMFT