When Family Court Fails to Protect Children with Hope Hooton
Perfect Prey: A Coercive Control PodcastShow Notes
In this episode of Perfect Prey, Dr. Christine is joined by Hope Hooton, child safety advocate and mother, for a deeply important conversation about coercive control, domestic violence, family court, and the urgent need to prioritize child safety.
Hope shares the heartbreaking story of her children, Alec and Lydia, and the devastating circumstances surrounding their deaths. She discusses the coercive control, domestic violence, and mental health concerns involved, as well as the warning signs and risk factors that she believes were not adequately recognized by the systems responsible for protecting her children.
The conversation also explores how temporary custody decisions can have life-altering consequences when courts fail to fully examine allegations of domestic violence and coercive control. Hope explains what happened in her case and how her experience has shaped the advocacy work she does today.
Rather than allowing her grief to be the end of Alec and Lydia’s story, Hope has turned it into a mission to help protect other children and families. She discusses the Alec and Lydia Act, her work with other protective and bereaved mothers, and the changes she believes are necessary to make child safety a true priority in family court.
What We Cover • Hope’s story and the loss of Alec and Lydia • Coercive control and domestic violence • Warning signs and lethality risks in custody cases • The role of mental illness, psychosis, and perpetrator behavior • Family court failures and temporary custody orders • Why protective parents’ concerns can be minimized • The importance of recognizing patterns rather than isolated incidents • The Alec and Lydia Act and its focus on child safety • Hope’s advocacy and work alongside other mothers • Turning grief into meaningful systemic change
Why This Conversation Matters Child safety should always be at the center of custody decisions. Hope’s experience raises important questions about how family courts assess risk, how coercive control is recognized, and what happens when serious concerns raised by protective parents are dismissed or minimized.
This conversation is for survivors, protective parents, advocates, attorneys, clinicians, and anyone working toward safer outcomes for children navigating family court.
About Hope Hooton Hope Hooton is a child safety advocate and mother dedicated to protecting children and advocating for family court reform. Following the deaths of her children, Alec and Lydia, Hope has devoted herself to educating others, supporting fellow mothers, and working toward legislation that strengthens protections for children and holds systems accountable.
Connect with Hope Hooton 📖 Book: Hope Hooton’s Book on Amazon 🎙️ Podcast — Voices Against Filicide: Listen on Apple Podcasts 🌐 Linktree: Hope Hooton’s Linktree ▶️ YouTube: Hope Hooton on YouTube 📸 Instagram: Hope Hooton on Instagram 📘 Facebook: Hope Hooton on Facebook 🎵 TikTok: Hope Hooton on TikTok
Connect with Dr. Christine Cocchiola Protective Parenting Program: Protective Parenting Program Website: Coercive Control Consulting YouTube: Dr. Christine Cocchiola on YouTube TikTok: Dr. Christine Cocchiola on TikTok Instagram: Dr. Christine Cocchiola on Instagram TEDx: Dr. Christine Cocchiola’s TEDx Talk Books: FRAMED: Women in the Family Court Underworld | Every Moment of Every Day
If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who needs to hear this conversation.
— Dr. Christine Cocchiola & Hope Hooton 🩵
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