Our Story
The Formation of Our Children Have Rights.Org
Our Children Have Rights, and those rights must be safeguarded. We believe that our life experiences and the environment in which we grow up shapes our opinions and self-esteem; they can determine a child’s level of trust in others and overall sense of security.
The role of a parent is critical to a child’s confidence and development. Denying a responsible parent access to their child impairs the child’s healthy development. Alternatively, when we protect a child’s right to have access to both parents, we foster a sense of security that can prevent disruption in their social life, development, and opportunity to reach their full potential.
When my son was born, his mother and I had not married and were no longer together. I vowed to never allow myself to be on the wrong side of the statistic involving a child’s access to their father. I wanted to always be there for him and share the lessons needed for my son to become a man.
Then the unthinkable happened; his mother denied me access to my son and the law supported her. Because we were not together, nor married, Florida law gave her all rights to our son. I had no idea what to do! What could I do? How would I navigate the process? What is the process? Where do I even start?
I learned that, by law, in my state of residence, an unwed father has NO RIGHT TO HIS CHILD until he petitions the courts for paternity to establish rights to his own child. I found myself with no knowledge and at the mercy of the courts and the law.
Initially, I completely failed to establish what the court required to rule in my favor. I began to understand that the fight was not about me. It was about my son and his right to have access to both parents. I realized I needed to educate myself on how to protect my son’s right to have access to me as his father.
Through hard work, relentless research, and dedication, I was able to achieve a more favorable co-parenting situation. Navigating the process was challenging and overwhelming, yet ultimately, we achieved success. I knew then that I could help others and use my experiences for a charitable purpose.
In 2019, I wrote a book titled Our Children Have Rights. By sharing my experience trying to navigate this process, I can help countless parents as they embark on their own journey. The book has been very well-received. I learned that there is an even greater need to serve and equip parents with the right guidance and support than I previously thought.
Many say timing is everything. Whether by coincidence, luck, or good timing, I happened to reconnect with my dear friend Jake Hornstein. We spoke about the book, my journey, and shared our visions to help more children by helping parents. We knew that by bringing our abilities and passions together, we could build something meaningful and special for others. Our planning led us to establish a web-based nonprofit that we named Our Children Have Rights.Org, which pulls together resources and tools to facilitate the difficult process that I (and many others) have navigated, sometimes unsuccessfully. OCHR.org builds upon three key pillars: education, legal, and mental health & wellness. We’re committed to making a great impact on society by making these resources readily available to all responsible and willing parents. I’m grateful to Jake, his skillsets, and his leadership in combining our experiences and strengths to bring our vision to life.
We’re on a mission… A mission to protect the rights of children to have access to parents by providing education, resources, and support services for successful co-parenting strategies. Why? Because Our Children Have Rights, and those rights must be safeguarded.
- Greg Hill