Kudos to Illinois Sen. Kimberly Lightford, 4th District, and please contact your local state of Illinois representation and ask them to support Sen. Lightford!

For what, you may be asking? With Sen. Lightford and Equal Parenting of Illinois' efforts to update our antiquated Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act.

In a prior Pantagraph Letter to the Editor, I commented on how unfortunate it was that I knew a local dad - a good dad and one who wanted full involvement with his children - recently awarded post-divorce time with his children equal to what my dad was awarded with me upon his divorce 30 years ago!

Research has proven that an involved father is fundamental to the healthiest growth and well-being of our children.

Sen. Lightford and EPI are working together to increase the time non-custodial parents have with their children. More time allows for more involvement. More involvement helps our children grow into more centered, stable individuals and better achievers, with less at-risk behaviors for drug and alcohol use and abuse, less at-risk behaviors for sexual behavior, etc.

Thanks Sen. Lightford. Thanks EPI. Thanks to all of you who will contact your state representation and encourage them to support this measure.

Thanks for putting children, their equal access to both parents and their growth into healthy people, first!

Brian Jilek

Bloomington