If you’re like us, you probably share a commitment to preserving America’s heritage and values. That’s why we invited one of the most respected voices in our nation’s discourse to shed light on his mission to uphold our nation’s principles. As the Founder and Chairman of the American Cornerstone Institute (ACI), Dr. Ben Carson works tirelessly to make a lasting and positive impact on the national dialogue.
In today’s podcast, Craig DeRoche sits down with the esteemed Dr. Carson, where they delve into crucial topics surrounding faith, family values, and education. Want to learn how you can get involved and make your own impact on the national dialogue? Stay tuned to hear how ACI can be a part of your community.
WATCH TODAY on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube,
SoCon Report or by clicking the image below
10:00am PT / 11:00am MT / 12:00pm CT / 1:00pm ET
At Family Policy Alliance, our vision is a nation where God is honored, religious freedom flourishes, families thrive, and life is cherished. To stay up to date on the fight to protect families and learn how to take action, follow us on social media!
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See you in the comments section,
Emma Rarden
Digital Specialist – Producer
Did you hear the news? At a U.S. Senate Hearing last week, Mark Zuckerberg apologized to families whose children suffered as a result of social media use.
As families held up photographs of their deceased children, Zuckerberg pledged to invest in greater safety efforts.
So, will parents finally be able to rely on big tech companies to protect their children from abuse, exploitation, pornography, and other unwanted content?
Of course not.
We don’t ask our children to cook dinner without explaining how to safely operate an oven. We don’t even take them on a walk without instructing them to hold our hand, when they’re little, or to look both ways, when they’re old enough to walk alone.
We teach them how to protect themselves and others in all of these situations (and many more). Why? Because we love our children.
Using technology is no different. We can’t leave it up to big tech companies to protect our kids. It is up to us to protect them and teach them how to safely navigate life online.
Here are three tips to get started:
- Take an inventory of all technology devices.
You know what technologies your child has access to at home–tablets, phones, computers, and televisions–but do you know what technologies are available to them at school? Monitoring your child’s time spent online is impossible without first knowing all of the devices they use. Ensure proper safety apps and programs are downloaded on each device and that an appropriate amount of time is being spent on all of them, combined. - Make technology expectations clear.
As parents we hope that our children have a good head on their shoulders, but it’s unfair to have expectations for our children without ever directly expressing them. Talk to your child about your expectations for their behavior and time management while using technology. Be their best resource on how to appropriately use technology and keep conversations open so that both you and your child can bring up any concerns. - Know the potential harms associated with technology.
It’s easy to bury our heads in the sand and just accept technology as a way of life in the 21st century, but it’s up to parents to know the threats of on-line bullying, sexploitation, social contagions, drug sales, and more so that we can properly train and warn our children. We will never begin to form a battle plan if we can’t even identify the enemy.
We know that the ever-changing nature of the internet makes it hard for parents to keep up with all of the threats facing our children. But there are resources available for parents who want to grow in their knowledge of how to protect their children, including our Back-to-School for Parents guide. Our free guide is designed to help parents like you be better prepared to protect and advocate for your children.
Tech companies may be feeling the demand for greater safety protocols online, but they are still driven by profits. Parents, alone, are driven by their child’s well-being. We look forward to partnering with you to protect them.
From one parent to another,
Robert Noland
Director, Marketing
P.S. – Keep an eye on your inbox! New resources to help parents better protect their children are under development. We can’t wait to share them with you.
In a majority of states, the legislature is in full swing, or soon to get started. In the coming weeks and months, lawmakers around the country will gather to decide the future of key issues for families in their states. Many of the issues at stake are ones that are playing out on a national scale, and could have big consequences for families. This year, there’s a major theme of protecting children. Here are 3 specific issues to watch and be praying for:
- Protecting children online — and defending parental rights in the process — is on the agenda.Around the nation, lawmakers are getting serious about protecting kids online. One way they’re doing this is by pursuing age verification laws, which prevent minors from engaging with pornography sites and other illicit content online. These laws also prevent big tech companies from preying upon them. And, age verification laws end up empowering parents to protect their children, as wellStanding in contrast are those who are pushing “kidnapping” laws that allow the state to take custody of children whose parents don’t support their intent to “transition.” These laws (in places like California) pose a grave threat to parental rights.Prayer point: Please be in prayer for families in your state, that parents’ God-given rights will be honored and children’s innocence preserved.
- Protecting children from medical harm.Last year, America crossed the 20-state threshold for protecting children from dangerous transgender “transitions.” These “Help Not Harm” laws also give victims of transition the right to sue the medical professionals who harmed them.This year, we and our allies in the states are focused not only on expanding the number of states with Help Not Harm laws, but also on expanding protections for victims.Prayer point: Please be in prayer for the protection of children against dangerous gender ideology, for physical, emotional, and spiritual healing for victims, and for boldness and integrity among lawmakers on this charged issue.
- Protecting children – and their mothers – from abortion.Though we praise God that Roe v. Wade is no more, the battle against abortion rages on in the states. While many states have banned most abortions, more liberal states have gone in the opposite direction—allowing unfettered access to nearly all abortions, often late in the pregnancy. In both cases – pro-life states and pro-abortion states – there is often a real effort to change the law. Voters in several states will decide on pro-abortion ballot measures this year, even as those who cherish moms and babies continue to fight for them around the nation.Prayer point: Please be in prayer for abortion to become unthinkable in America, and that even as we work in faith toward that day, for lives to be saved in your state and around the nation. Pray also for courage and wisdom for all who are involved in the fight for life, from elected lawmakers to pregnancy center staff to sidewalk volunteers and beyond.
What You Can Do
At Family Policy Alliance, we’re honored to host the alliance of Family Policy Councils, the leaders who are championing your voice on these and other critical issues in states around the country. Day in and day out, they work to advance social conservative principles, stop dangerous agendas that target your family’s values, and bring you into that process. If you haven’t already connected with your FPC, you can find one in your state here.
Plus, in the weeks to come, be sure to follow along on SoConReport.com, where we post the latest news for social conservatives. It’s your one-stop-shop for updates on the issues that you care about.
Please join us in prayer for the issues affecting families, and for the leaders and lawmakers working to defend your values. And be sure to connect with your state FPC!
Standing together,
Meridian Baldacci
Marketing Strategist
Dear Friends,
We have a request for your help. This week, Senator Tim Scott introduced the Families’ Rights and Responsibilities Act.
Parents know their children best and love them more than anyone else. But recent years have seen unprecedented attacks on parents’ fundamental right to direct the upbringing of their children. The Families’ Rights and Responsibilities Act will ensure this fundamental right is not ignored or overruled by government officials simply because the government disagrees with the parents.
The Families’ Rights and Responsibilities Act will also protect parents’ rights to choose schools and make medical decisions for their children.
The U.S. Supreme Court has consistently recognized parental rights as fundamental, and this Act will ensure that courts treat parental rights with the highest legal standard of “strict scrutiny” when federal policies burden parental rights.
Along with our friends in the Promise to America’s Parents Coalition, we need your help to ensure Congress passes this Act and protects parental rights.
Send a message to your Congressional Representative today and tell them you expect them to sign on as cosponsor of the Families Rights’ and Responsibilities Act!
Getting as many cosponsors on the bill as possible will help ensure the House votes to pass it. Contacting your Representative only takes a minute in our Action Center; by doing so, you will ensure parental rights are protected in federal law.
For families,
Joseph Kohm
Director of Public Policy
Dear Friends,
As we begin 2024 and look ahead, there are many topics looming large as major cultural, political and spiritual issues in our country. That’s why we want to start this year inviting you to join the Family Policy Alliance team in prayer for our nation.
Here are four of the most important issues that we are praying over as we have entered into the new year. (Be sure to see the end of this email for an opportunity to join us for prayer in a live online event tomorrow.)
Life
Pro-abortion forces are diligently and persistently seeking to challenge pro-life laws in nearly a dozen states this year by placing the outright legalization of abortion for any reason directly on the ballot. (So far, these are the states facing this challenge: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New York and South Dakota.) If these efforts follow previous patterns, the abortion industry’s tactics will be dishonest and deceptive. Pro-life voters must push back with the truth and most importantly, show up to vote for life!
We are praying that:
- That the message of life would prevail in all of these locations and that every deceptive message of the pro-abortion forces would be exposed and confused in its delivery
- That the dark money funding these pro-death initiatives would fail in all of its efforts and the profit-seeking nature of the abortion industry behind these efforts would be revealed
- That pro-life voters would become educated and vote on these critical matters in every state where it appears on the ballot
- That our nation would finally turn the corner in the efforts to eliminate the evil of abortion and lead us to a time when we wonder how we ever let the holocaust of abortion go on for so long
Transgender Agenda
The transgender agenda is fiercely aggressive, and its messages lurk everywhere seeking to entice children into life-long decisions that lead to pain, regret and suicide. The hollow promise to children is one of ultimate self-determination as the solution to the challenges they face. In the end, however, it is a lifetime of dealing with the consequences of denying the reality of God’s creation of them as male or female.
We are praying that:
- More states would adopt Help Not Harm laws that prohibit transgender procedures for children
- The truth about the lifelong effects of so-called gender “transition” on children would be revealed and that the very real harm and anguish caused would be acknowledged and understood – including the stories of those who have “de-transitioned”
- Those who seek to profit from the mutilation of children would be open to hearing the truth and turn from their ways
- Parents would specifically educate themselves on what their schools are teaching on this topic and that they would speak up when schools become accessories to imposing this agenda and these procedures on children
Parental Rights
Related to the prior topic, parents have, in recent years, become more aware of how schools are pushing numerous harmful agendas on their children. Whether it is transgender indoctrination, critical race theory, normalization of homosexuality or provision of pornography in reading materials, parents must be aware and vigilant when it comes to not only schools, but also doctors’ offices, libraries, social media and the entertainment industry, among many others who actively seek to push harmful ideas and abnormal worldviews on innocent children.
We are praying that:
- Parents would become active and strategic about confronting schools when questionable material is presented to their children
- Parents would exercise their rights to remove their children from environments where such material is treated as normal and taught as truth
- Students would be equipped to discern the truth when confronted with harmful, dishonest agendas and then respectfully be allowed to address those agendas with truth
- Local governing bodies and lawmakers at all levels of government would recognize parental rights and enact provisions to reaffirm the rights of parents in the bringing up of children
Elections
This year brings us to another presidential election. We have seen nearly three years of radicalism, whether it be the taxpayer funding of abortion, attempts to erode religious freedom or the proliferation of transgender mandates throughout the entire federal government. This election has the chance to determine whether or not these dangerous abuses of power will be allowed to continue.
We are praying that:
- The 2024 election process will reveal the true nature of all candidates seeking to lead our nation and that voters will chose wisely
- That godly men and women will be elected to Congress and state legislatures regardless of the outcome in the presidential election
- Outside forces and the media will not succeed in influencing the outcome of this election and that the country would be able to accept the results as reflecting election integrity
- Our nation makes good choices that will help move our nation toward righteous, biblical values and Godly principles of governance
These are but four issues (among many) that we see as critical for this year and they are just a beginning of where we would invite God’s influence in our culture.
Please add your own prayers to these as we move through the coming months. We encourage you to share these with your family and friends as well as your prayer groups, small groups and Sunday school classes.
You are invited to join us online tomorrow for a prayer livestream as we talk about and pray over these issues as well.
LIVE on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube
SoCon Report or by clicking the image below
9:00am PT / 10:00am MT / 11:00am CT / 12:00pm ET
We hope you can join us tomorrow, but if not, please do keep these things in prayer and watch for periodic prayer updates from us as 2024 progresses.
Prayerfully,
Robert Noland
Director of Audience Engagement
As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, we are reminded of the hope and joy that He brings to our lives.
And as we reflect on the many blessings brought to mind throughout this season, we are especially grateful for the opportunity to work alongside you in defending faith, family, and freedom in our nation. Your support has made it possible for us to make a difference in the lives of countless families across the country.
Click the play button below to hear a special message from Family Policy Alliance CEO Craig DeRoche expressing our gratitude for all our supporters and advocates have made possible this year.
You can also watch on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube,
SoCon Report or the Family Policy Alliance website
We pray that this Christmas season is filled with peace, love, and joy for you and your family.
Merry Christmas,
Emma Rarden
Communications Specialist – Producer
The Left is trying to destroy God’s ordained plan for family leadership, causing disdain for parental authority and reimagining culture to include more government control over the next generation.
But you know that children—yours, your grandchildren, or even your neighbor’s children—are not political pawns to be won.
Thanks to the support of social conservatives like you, 2023 saw Family Policy Alliance (FPA) on the front lines of the fight to restore parental rights and Let Parents Parent.
Our updated, comprehensive Back to School Guide is a valuable resource that’s educating parents about their rights and teaching social conservatives how to better protect children from the Left’s pro-abortion and LGBTQ agendas–agendas that continue to creep into our nation’s classrooms. Take advantage of the Back to School Guide and share it with a friend so that you, too, can champion the rights of parents in our schools.
While schools are ground zero for the Left’s attacks, their plans to indoctrinate children go well beyond the classroom. Their messages often dominate on social media, through the judicial system, and even through sporting events. The ambush on our homes can feel overwhelming, but there is good news: Your generous support is allowing us to grow our defense of parental authority to be equally comprehensive.
After seeing how the Left used the judicial system to punish parents holding traditional sexual values, we drafted model legislation for 2024 that will protect parents from judicial activism in custody battles. Our Model Custody Protection Act seeks to prevent judges from favoring parents who affirm children’s transgender identities over those with traditional convictions about human sexuality.
Additionally, FPA has endorsed model legislation to implement age-verification requirements for children’s social media use. Social media has played no small part in conditioning our children to accept the Left’s agenda. The Protecting Kids Online Act simply seeks to restore parents’ control over their underage child’s online activity, including of the content they see.
In 2023, FPA also helped five more states enact legislation to #SaveGirlsSports. The Left’s attempt to infiltrate athletics with their liberal agenda has far-reaching consequences for both the women athletes who are losing out and the next generation of children who are waiting to see if we will defend God’s design of men and women. Thanks to your support, more than 1.5 million female athletes–both at the high school and college level–won’t have to compete against men.
The fight to restore parental rights is far from over, and the Left never stops in seeking to claim ground that was never theirs to start with.
But we stand on solid ground.
We look forward to advancing reforms that restore parental authority in 2024, and with your help, we will continue to reclaim our homes one school board, one state, and one generation at a time.
May God bless your home now and in the new year,
Robert Noland
Director, Audience Engagement
There’s no shortage of liberal instruction and even indoctrination for the next generation. The mainstream media, Hollywood, social media, college campuses, and even public K-12 schools offer a constant echo chamber for the Left’s agenda. And thanks to cancel culture, even everyday consumers can be compelled to become activists for the Left.
Activating social conservatives in the battle to win back our culture is more important than ever, and it’s the reason why Family Policy Alliance (FPA) invested so heavily in two very important social conservative resources for you this year.
SoCon Report: Your One-Stop Shop for Social Conservative News
The newly-launched SoCon Report pulls together the most relevant news stories from trusted sources to make it easier for social conservatives like you to stay ahead of the news cycle and get the details on stories the Left would rather bury.
SoCon Report is already becoming a go-to resource for both policymakers and social conservative voters who, like you, reject the mainstream media’s biased reporting.
And if you’re looking for cultural and policy commentary on the go, you can check out the SoCon Report Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts for weekly episodes.
Social Conservative Academy: Because We Can’t Be the Silent Majority Anymore
Did you know that more voters identify as social conservatives today than at any point in the last decade? It’s true, and together we represent a powerful force that can make a difference across the nation.
Social Conservative Academy, the newest training program from our sister organization, Family Policy Foundation, is designed to help social conservatives like you to actively engage in cultural issues. By providing real-world training from national leaders and seasoned activists, social conservatives can gain valuable insight and inspiration to move from being part of the silent majority to becoming an effective voice for positive change.
It’s not hard to be a social conservative, but it can be a challenge to know exactly how to be effective. That’s why we hope you will take advantage of these resources developed just for you!
SoCon Report is the source for the news you need, and Social Conservative Academy will give you the tools you need to take truth to power.
As the 2024 elections approach and voters become increasingly aware of the fight for our culture, both of these platforms will serve as important resources for social conservatives who desire to take their rightful role in making a difference now and for future generations.
God’s blessings as we look ahead to a brighter New Year,
Robert Noland
Director, Audience Engagement
Dear Friends,
On behalf of everyone at Family Policy Alliance, I want to wish you and your family a very happy Thanksgiving. 2023 has given us much to be thankful for. God blessed us with historic legislative success and unprecedented ground gained by the pro-family movement. But you and your support are what we are most thankful for, because without you, none of this year’s success would have been possible.
Gratitude is at the heart of our faith: our entire lives are to be lived as one great expression of gratitude to Christ for His sacrifice on the cross to make us holy. And your support is a direct reflection of that gratitude-driven life. We are so honored to partner with you to support and further pro-life, pro-family values in America, and we want to particularly express that gratitude on the day our nation focuses most on thankfulness.
We pray you and your family have a wonderful, blessed Thanksgiving ! May God shower you with grace and favor this holiday season and in 2024.
In gratitude
Joseph Kohm III
Director, Public Policy
Can you imagine your elementary-school-aged child or grandchild going to their school’s book fair and finding pornographic material available to purchase and take home? That could be happening in a school near you, if your local school hosts Scholastic book fairs.
Scholastic Books, the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books, recently decided to offer a collection of books to elementary school students that covered controversial topics including pornographic LGBTQ+ material. After controversy with the Left, Scholastic buckled under pressure, possibly resulting in an even more dangerous policy regarding these books.
Join our Joseph Kohm and Amanda Banks as they take a deep dive into this controversial story and provide you with the information you need to take action and help protect kids. Tune in to our video podcast and ask your questions LIVE this morning!
TUNE IN Tuesday November 14 on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube
SoconReport or by clicking the image below
7:00am PT / 8:00am MT / 9:00am CT / 10:00am ET
You might be thinking, “I’ll watch the podcast and share it with my friends, but what can I do now?” Sign our open letter to Scholastic Books, telling them that selling sexualized, pornographic material in schools is unacceptable. You can do that here.
At Family Policy Alliance, our vision is a nation where God is honored, religious freedom flourishes, families thrive, and life is cherished. To stay up to date on the fight to protect families and learn how to take action, follow us on social media!
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See you in the comments section!
Emma Rarden
Communications Specialist – Producer