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Lessons and Advice from Peers

See what policymakers from around the country have to say healthy marriage initiatives!

• Public Statements, Articles and Written Work—published works from policymakers.
• Public Testimony—see what policymakers, practitioners and others have said for the record.
• Peer Advice—Learn what policymakers have gained from being in the trenches.

Public Statements, Articles and Written Work

These resources present the public policy perspective on investing in healthy marriage. Many are written by policymakers or summarize the linkage between healthy policy and marriage programs.

• "Success Against Poverty Requires Thousands of Fathers" By Bill Janis, Virginia House of Delegates.  June 7, 2009.  The Richmond Times Dispatch
• Putting Children's Welfare First: A Comment on "Family Security: Supporting Parents’ Employment and Children’s Development." By Dr. Wade Horn, former Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This paper is a response to New Safety Net Paper 3, "Family Security: Supporting Parents' Employment and Children's Development" by Shelley Waters Boots, Jennifer Macomber, and Anna Danziger.
• "Wedded to Marriage: Invest Now or Pay Later" By Dr. Wade Horn, former Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. August 9, 2005 National Review Online
• "Promoting Self-sufficiency, Protecting Children and Strengthening Marriage" Summary of Dr. Wade Horn’s, former Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, remarks at the University of Washington’s Center for Research on Families, Dec 5, 2002
• "Many Young Parents Not Prepared" By Howard H. Hendrick, Director, Oklahoma Department of Human Services. Dec. 10, 2006 The Daily Oklahoman
• Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy, Rockefeller Institute interview with Don Winstead, former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Services Policy in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services and former Deputy Secretary, Florida Department of Children and Families, on welfare reform, marriage and faith-based initiatives.
• Building Bridges between Healthy Marriage, Responsible Fatherhood and Domestic Violence Programs a summary of lessons learned from policymakers and practitioners.

Public Testimony

• Dr. Wade Horn – Former Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  • Testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee on Children and Families, April 28, 2004
• Ron Haskins - Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution and Senior Consultant, Annie E. Casey Foundation Before the District of Columbia Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations, U.S. Senate, October 6, 2005
• Theodora Ooms, Center for Law and Social Policy before the Committee on Finance, Subcommittee on Social Security and Family Policy, United States Senate, Hearing on The Benefits of a Healthy Marriage, May 5, 2004
• Howard H. Hendrick, Director, Oklahoma Department of Human Services
  • Testimony before the U.S. Senate Finance Committee March 12, 2003 Testimony before the U.S. Senate Finance Committee March 16, 2002

Peer Advice

State and local policymakers share tips and lessons learned through their experience of initiating and implementing a healthy marriage program.

• Howard H. Hendrick, Director, Oklahoma Department of Human Services which sponsors the Oklahoma Marriage Initiative, the first statewide healthy marriage service delivery system in the country.
• Dana Reichert Alfred, former Executive Director, TANF Executive Office of Oversight and Evaluation, Louisiana Office of the Governor which funded research, service delivery and a public awareness campaign to support healthy relationships and marriage.

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