Defending Parents' Rights
Parents take care of us before we can take care of ourselves. They bring us into the world. They teach us to walk, to talk, to love. They prepare us to enter society and live as upstanding citizens.
Of all the people who share in shaping a child’s moral character and the adults they become—from teachers and coaches to spiritual mentors, extended family, and others—parents have far and away the deepest and most enduring influence. The men and women we become often reflect the men and women our parents are.
Everyone should care about how children are raised. They become our nation’s leaders, after all. Everyone should also be able to agree that, in nearly every case, parents are best positioned to protect their children’s health and welfare.
Parents have a fundamental human right to direct the upbringing of their children
Although the law recognizes the rights of parents, parental rights are under increasing attack from public school indoctrination and state governments. Sometimes, tragically, parents fail at providing their children’s most basic needs. When that happens, the government plays an important role. But the government should never replace parents.
Alliance Defending Freedom is working to achieve a Generational Win for parental rights. We litigate precedent-setting cases to protect parents and help to shape and defend public policy that enshrines parents’ rights as fundamental.

America’s Parents
Parents have a natural right to make educational and medical decisions for their children. But courts have not consistently protected those rights from government interference and invasion. Parents need laws that provide government Accountability, Choice, and Transparency (ACT).

Defending Your Parental Rights
Together with like-minded partners, ADF advocates for parents’ rights in three key areas by engaging in strategic litigation, influencing law, and promoting policies that protect parents and children.
Public School Curricula
Medical Decision-making
Adoption and Foster Parents
Parental Rights Cases
Alliance Defending Freedom and our allies are defending parents' rights in cases nationwide.
Get the Parents’ Toolkit on Critical Theory as a free download!

Parent's Guide to Critical Theory
This parental rights resource will help equip you to love, guide, and protect your children and grandchildren.
Learn Your RightsADF's Other Practice Areas
Free Speech
We aim to ensure all people can speak freely through direct advocacy and alliances.
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