Tying the Knot: Roundtable Research Forum Looks at Government, Faith-Based Providers and 'Healthy Marriage'

6/22/2004

From: R. Bryan Jackson of the Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy, 518-443-5774 or 518-207-5698 (cell)

News Advisory:

A primary strategy of the Bush Administration's plan to fight poverty and to stabilize families is its "Healthy Marriage Initiative." Promoted as part of welfare reform, advocates of this approach believe it can reduce the large number of broken families and single-parent households in America, which may be responsible for as much as 80 percent of long-term child poverty in the nation. Clearly, it is an issue involving millions of Americans.

The President's marriage initiative envisions a substantial role for faith-based organizations in the delivery of services, ranging from counseling to the teaching of relationship skills and the value of marriage.

But, implementing these services through the use of faith-based groups also raises important questions -- and challenges. These will be the focus of a special Roundtable forum: "Government Partnerships with Religious Groups to Promote and Support Healthy Marriages."

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to noon on Monday, June 28th in the Holeman Lounge at the National Press Club in Washington.

This event will present a comprehensive report on the elements of the marriage initiative, research related to the current state of services being provided by faith-based organizations, and what lies ahead for this important public policy issue. The session will also focus on niche services where faith organizations may have a natural fit and affinity.

Highlights include presentations by:

-- Implementing Healthy Marriage Policy: Introduction & Overview -- Richard P. Nathan (Rockefeller Institute Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy)

-- The Healthy Marriage Initiative -- Wade F. Horn (assistant secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

-- The Involvement of Faith Organizations in State Efforts to Strengthen Marriage and Two-Parent Families -- Theodora Ooms (The Center for Law and Social Policy)

-- Promising Partnership or Conflicted Collaboration? Faith- Based Organizations, Government, and Family Policy -- John P. Bartkowski (Mississippi State University)

-- The Ties that Bind: Religion and Marriage in Urban America

-- W. Bradford Wilcox (University of Virginia)

This session will have particular focus on implementation challenges that arise around such partnerships, drawing out:

-- Information on the scope and nature of faith-based group involvement in marriage/family programs, whether in coalitions doing general promotion or as direct providers of training, counseling, or mentoring (drawing from national surveys of congregations and scans of state/local programs to promote marriage and two-parent families)

-- Findings from studies of attitudes among at-risk populations that would indicate whether there is reason why governments should strongly consider FBOs as partners in delivering marriage/family services

-- The effects of religious practice on transitions into marriage and quality of relationships among urban parents of young children (Fragile Families data from 20 cities in the U.S.)

-- Information on attitudes toward religious and secular healthy marriage programs among urban parents (Fragile Families sample)

-- Efforts to understand the ways in which faith is an element in healthy marriage services and influences performance (conceptualizing and measuring the influence of faith in healthy marriage/family programs on how and how effectively services are provided)

-- The most promising and most challenging dimensions of collaboration between faith-based organizations and the government concerning family formation and support programs

A question and answer session will be included during the event. Participants will also be available for follow up interviews.

Attendance is free, but pre-registration is requested. Registration is available online at: http://www.ReligionandSocialPolicy.org or by phone at 518-443-5721.