WASHINGTON, D.C. — June 1, 2026 — The Family Preservation Alliance today joins the United Nations in observing the Global Day of Parents, the annual observance held each June 1 to honor parents and caregivers for their selfless commitment to their children. This year’s theme, “Together for Parents,” reflects a truth at the heart of the Alliance’s mission: families thrive when communities, institutions, and systems work to support them rather than divide them.
Proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012, the Global Day of Parents recognizes that the family carries the primary responsibility for the nurturing and protection of children. For the Family Preservation Alliance, the day is both a celebration and a call to action.
“Today we honor every parent and grandparent who shows up to love and protect their children,” said John S. Hamel, Jr., President of the Family Preservation Alliance. “Standing ‘together for parents’ means more than gratitude. It means building systems that keep families connected and ensuring that accurate science and information guides every decision that affects a child’s life.”
The theme aligns closely with the Alliance’s work. The Alliance protects families from systems that disrupt the bonds between parents, grandparents, and children, and provides support and resources for parents, grandparents, children, legislators, and professionals across family and criminal courts, law enforcement, mental health, and international advocacy.
The Alliance is also pleased to support the many organizations and advocates working to help children flourish. Among them, it recognizes the work of Prevent Child Abuse America, the STAR Network Foundation, and the National Parents Organization, whose efforts strengthen families and protect the well-being of children and the bonds that sustain them.
That work reflects a conviction shared widely across this field. As Dr. Jamie Huysman of the STAR Network Foundation has said, “If you do not break the family trauma, the family trauma will break you” — a reminder that healing must be active, and that families recovering from hardship deserve support, not isolation.
In that same spirit, the Alliance is pleased to acknowledge an important global gathering taking place this week to draw attention to children worldwide: the Global Summit 2026: Fostering Hope for Children, held June 3–5 in Rome. Bringing together scholars, humanitarian organizations, and faith and policy leaders from around the world, the Summit advances the dignity, hope, and flourishing of children — a shared, worldwide responsibility the Alliance is proud to champion.
In recognition of the day, the Alliance encourages communities to:
- Honor a parent or grandparent who shaped their lives;
- Reach out to families facing hardship or separation; and
- Champion policies and practices grounded in credible science that keep children connected to those who love them.
“A child thrives when surrounded by love from every direction,” Hamel added. “To the judges, clinicians, attorneys, and officials who shape families’ futures every day, I ask that accurate science and the best interest of the child guide every decision. That is how we honor parents — not for one day, but always.”
The Alliance invites parents, grandparents, advocates, educators, and community leaders to share this message with colleagues, family, and friends.
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About the Family Preservation Alliance
The Family Preservation Alliance protects families from systems that disrupt the bonds between parents, grandparents, and children. The Alliance provides support and resources for parents, grandparents, children, legislators, and professionals involved in family and criminal courts, law enforcement, mental health, and international advocacy. Its vision is clear: to ensure that accurate science and information is communicated by credentialed experts in the family sector.
Media Contact
John S. Hamel, Jr.
President, Family Preservation Alliance
Phone: 917-414-0854
Email: family.alliance@aol.com
Website: familyalliance.org