3/28 July 17, 2006 Judge Joseph D. Johnson District Court Judge ‘Shawnee County Courthouse, Room 311 200 SE 7* St. Topeka, Kansas 66603-3696 Re: Claudine Dombrowski: (DOB 4/10/1965) Dear Hon, Johnson, 1 am writing this letter on behalf of Claudine Dombrowski. She came to my office on June 28, 2006 wanting help to regain joint custody and visitation with her daughter, Rikki. Tt is ony understanding she has been separated from her daughter for the past 6 years and has supervised “safe visits” with her twice a month for an hour. ‘Ms, Dombrowski states she loves Rikki unconditionally and has been suffering with emotional pain since being separated from her daughter. Throughout our sessions, I Lave been told by Ms, Dombrowski that she has never been charged with any form of child abuse joward Rikki. I am perplexed on why she has only been allowed to see her daughter for two hours a month thru safe visits. It makes me wonder if'she has been a victim lost in the judicial system with nowhere to go. If this isthe case, it needs to be rectified immediately. ‘No child should be kept away from their parent because husband and wile are at extreme odds with each other. The anger between Ms. Dombrowski and her ex husband needs to be resolved and an equitable agreement reached so that their daughter is removed from the center of their contlict. ‘Throughout the years of my practice I have found in most cases; money and/or children are used to get back at one another. This is wrong and should be stopped. The only unconditional love is between a parent and their child. The child needs to have access to either and/or parent. Children require the love, nurturing and acceptance from both parents. The parents are the model for the child to grow intellectually and emotionally in order for them to become the best person they can be. ‘When a child is alienated from either parent that child is given the often unspoken bat clear message that one parent is senior to the other. Therefore, access and contact blocking by either parent needs to be closely observed. Ms. Dombrowski, to my knowledge, has never been found zovd 3qTSsyoosa pisezzzse. 8 900z/6z/80guilty of any abuse towards her daughter, There has been a detcrioration inithe relationship since the separation of Ms. Dombrowski and Rikki, A healthy and established pafental relationship does not erode naturally of its own accord. It must be attacked. Any dramitic change in this area is virtually always an indicator of an alienation process that has had some success in the past. I ‘would think there is an intense fear reaction by Rikki considering the living situation she has endured. I have not had an opportunity to meet or talk with Rikki so I am st odds to evaluate this aspect of alienation. However, it is known that the fear the child may exhibit is due to the fear of abandonment. Children under these conditions live in a state of chronic upset and threat of reprisal. When the child does dare to defy the alienating parent, they quickly Jearn that there is a serious price to pay. Children who live such lives develop an acute sense of vigilance over displeasing the alienating parent. Ifthese actions are evident in this case the court needs to deal with it swiftly. [fit is not dealt with, it will contaminate and quietly control.all other parenting issues and then lead to unhappiness, frustration and finally, parental estrang¢ment, From my sessions with Ms. Dombrowski it has become quite clear she loves Rikki and wants = torbe apositive role model for her-child. -Thra many tears-she-hes showmrgrtat sorrowand— ss remorse for her missing out on so many important life changes her daughter has made without her. I do not feel Ms, Dombrowski is a threat to herself or her daughter. She has been bright, verbal and motivated to do whatever is required by the courts to regain joint custody of her daughter. T believe it is important that Ms, Dombrowski and Rikki have three or four joint sessions to re- establish their relationship: talk about each others needs; work on boundariés and healthy ways to communicate with each other. If the court grants joint custody, both parents need to be instructed that Rikki should never be subjected to their animosity and anger'with each other. This interjection process needs to be monitored closely by a therapist who is familiar with human behaviors and the negative effects that can be put on children. This process should also be monitored for parental alienation by either parent. Tam willing to offer my office as a place for both parents to exchange Rikki with each other. 1 request that these exchanges be made during our normal business hours. IfT can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me. ‘Sincerely, Mary Ann Dugan, LSCSW, CFT. MAD/sp 62/68 3OVd 3qrsyoosa pisezzzse. 8 9002/67/80