SPRINGFIELD – Recognizing the devastating impact of parental alienation on families across Illinois, State Senator Rachel Ventura successfully advanced Senate Resolution 66, declaring April 25, 2025 as Parental Alienation Awareness Day in the state. The resolution aims to increase understanding, promote prevention and encourage intervention efforts to support healthy family relationships.

“The emotional and psychological toll of parental alienation can have lasting effects on children,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “Fostering unfounded fears about a parent or guardian can create serious barriers to a child's emotional and psychological well-being. By raising awareness, we can foster healthier relationships and ensure that all children have the opportunity to maintain meaningful connections with both parents.”

Parental alienation is a harmful and deliberate tactic in which one parent manipulates a child to distance them from the other parent. Research from the Parental Alienation Study Group estimates that approximately 3.9 million children in the U.S. experience moderate to severe forms of parental alienation, affecting over 22 million parents nationwide.

“Parental alienation is a form of child abuse and family violence, but unfortunately there is little awareness and education about this growing epidemic,” said Dr. Karen Maloney Ward. “I am eternally grateful to Senator Ventura and the Illinois State Senate for this resolution as a means to raise awareness and education of parental alienation.”  

Senate Resolution 66 was officially adopted by the Senate on Friday. With its passage, Illinois joins a growing movement to recognize and address parental alienation as a significant issue impacting families.