By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

Mayors Billy Joe Driver of Clanton and W.C. Hayes of Maplesville have declared Sept. 23-29 as Family Week.

The week is an annual designation solicited by the Alabama Family Rights Association.

According to an Alabama Family Rights Association press release, “The proclamation encourages all citizens to join together in observing this day and week by spending time with their families and by engaging in appropriate ceremonies and activities to honor and strengthen both our city’s and state’s families.”

The Alabama Family Rights Association emphasizes the importance of strong families for a strong society and “parental engagement as an effective tool to help keep America’s children substance-free.”

Family Week was designed to emphasize the importance of parent child interaction on a daily basis.

It also highlights “making a concentrated effort to implement programs that stress the importance of a child’s needs and the importance of interacting together as a family,” according to the release.

“Scientific data indicates that when both parents are actively involved in a child’s life, the outcome is measurably improved,” Alabama Family Rights Association states. “Children spending significant time with their parents and family members decreases the chances of youth suicides, school dropouts, juvenile drug abuse, teen pregnancies and incarceration. Research shows that children with hands-on parents are far less likely to exhibit risky and disruptive behavioral problems.”

Parents are encouraged to plan special time with their children during the week, such as having a meal together, playing games together or attending a movie night.

“This will remind everyone of the precious nature of childhood and our responsibility as adults to protect and encourage our children,” Alabama Family Rights Association states. “Take a photo or video with everyone enjoying time together, and post it on your favorite social media channels using #MyFamilySelfie, #FamilyDayAL18.”