- Diann Dawson, Director, Regional Operations, ACF, Washington, DC | Bio
- Jerry Regier, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Planning, ASPE, HHS, Washington, DC | Bio
- Dr. Archie Ervin, Associate Provost, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC| Bio
- Nancy Dickinson, PhD, Executive Director, Jordan Institute for Families, UNC-Chapel Hill School of Social Work, Chapel Hill, NC | Bio
- Stacey Bouchet, PhD, Senior Cunsultant, The Annie E. Casey Foundation | Bio
Title—Models, Methods and Concerns in Conducting Research within the African American Community
Description: This session provides an overview from a research perspective about the current body of knowledge on the African American population and the critical need for culturally competent targeted research.
Moderator
- Carlis V. Williams, Regional Administrator, ACF Region IV, Atlanta, GA| Bio
Speaker
- Cleopatra Howard Caldwell, PhD, University of Michigan, Health Behavior & Health Education, Ann Arbor, MI | Bio | Slides
Title—Family Structure Transitions and Impacts on Maternal and Child Health
Description: This session explores Fragile Families and Child Well-being data to determine whether families might be better off if parents married. The study examines the trajectories of mental and physical health among mothers, specifically focusing on transitions into and out of residential relationships with the child’s biological father.
Moderator
- Leon McCowan, Regional Administrator, ACF Region VI, Dallas, TX | Bio
Speaker
- Sarah Meadows PhD, Princeton University Office of Population Research, Princeton, NJ | Bio
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Title—Can We Make them Healthy, Wealthy and Wise?
Description: This session provides an overview of the ground-breaking study on closing the achievement gap for African American boys, and findings on parental relationships and the socialization of adolescent girls.
Moderator
- Hazel D. Dean, ScD, MPH, (Acting) Deputy Director, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, CDC, Atlanta, GA | Bio
Speakers
- Oscar Barbarin, PhD, UNC-Chapel Hill School of Social Work | Bio
- Barbara Guthrie, RN, MSN, PhD, Yale University School of Nursing | Bio
Title—A Crisis in the Village: “Fill the Prescription, Take the Medicine”
Description: This highly interactive session presents a bold call to action for Black America. Dr. Franklin shares specific data impacting the African American community and specific actions needed by the three anchor institutions: family, education, and faith. Three representatives from the sectors react and respond to this bold call to action.
Moderator
- Joyce A. Thomas, Regional Administrator, ACF Region V, Chicago, IL | Bio
Presenter
- Robert Franklin, PhD, Presidential Distinguished Professor of Social Ethics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA | Bio
Speakers
- Rufus Lynch, PhD, Education Responder, Dean of the School of Social Work, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA | Bio
- Rev. George Young, Faith Responder, Holy Temple Baptist Church of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City, OK | Bio
- Stephanie Robinson, Esq, Family Responder, Founding president and CEO of the Jamestown Project, New Haven, CT, Co-Author of Our Foundational Covenant: Strengthening the Family | Bio
Dinner and Keynote
Special Appearances by:
- Jerry Regier, Principal Deputy Assistant, Secretary of Planning and Evaluation, ASPE, HHS, Washington, DC | Bio
- Wayburn Dean, Contemporary Christian Entertainment, Grand Rapids, MI | Bio
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Workshops
Title—What do We Know and What do We Need to Know about Health and Marriage in the African American Community?
Description: This session highlights literature reviews focusing on African American Marriages and health indicators. What does the current body of knowledge specific to African Americans tell us?
Moderator and Presenter
- Linda Mellgren, Senior Social Services Analyst, ASPE/HHS, Washington, DC | Bio | Slides
Speaker
- Martha Okafor, PhD, Deputy Director of Special Projects, Department of Public Health, Atlanta, GA | Bio | Slides
Title—Keys to a Healthy Relationship: Reaching Youth 12-18
Description: This session examines two model abstinence-until-marriage/healthy relationship education curricula utilized in urban school settings. Healthy Marriage grantees, Opportunities Industrialization Centers of America, Inc. and ReCapturing the Vision are working with inner-city youth addressing risky behaviors and providing tools for building healthy relationships.
Moderator
- Frances Ashe-Goins, RN, MPH, Deputy Director, Office on Women's Health and Director, Division of Policy and Program Development, Washington, DC | Bio
Speakers
- Anthony Powell, Marriage Education Project Coordinator, Opportunities Industrialization Centers of America, Philadelphia, PA | Bio | Slides
- Jacqueline Del Rosario, CEO, ReCapturing the Vision, Miami, FL | Bio | Slides
Title—The ACF Research Update: Lessons Learned from the Building Strong Families, and Community Healthy Marriage Initiative Evaluations: includes 1115 OCSE Waiver Implementations.
Description: This session provides an overview of the major Healthy Marriage research demonstration projects funded by ACF. What are the demonstrations designed to test, what we have learned about serving low-income couples and how should this information be factored into future program designs?
Moderator and Presenter
- Seth Chamberlain, Social Science Research Analyst, Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, ACF, Washington DC | Bio
Speakers
- M. Robin Dion, Senior Researcher, Mathmatica Policy Research, Princeton, NJ | Bio
- Robert I. Lerman, PhD, Professor of Economics, American University, Senior Fellow, Urban Institute, Washington, DC | Bio | Slides
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Title—Healthy Marriage and Early Childhood Development
Description: This session highlights research and practice on fatherhood and healthy marriages, and its impact on parenting and developmental outcomes for young children.
Moderator
Carmen Bovell-Chester, Senior Advisor, ACF, Office of Head Start, Washington, DC | Bio
Speakers
- Akilah Thomas, Project Director, Building Strong Families, Atlanta, GA | Bio
- Stephen Erath, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Auburn University, Auburn, AL | Bio
Title—Building Bridges Between the Healthy Marriage, Responsible Fatherhood, and Domestic Violence Movements: Issues, Concerns, and Recommendations
Description: This session focuses on the complex and important interrelationships between and among healthy marriage, responsible fatherhood and domestic violence. What does the research say and what are some successful Healthy Marriage, Fatherhood and Domestic Violence practice models?
Moderator and Presenter
- Theodora Ooms, MSW, Couples and Marriage Policy Consultant, Bethesda, MD | Bio
Speakers
- Marjorie Lewis, PhD, DMin., LMFT, Professor, American Pathways University, Denver, CO | Bio
Title—“My Kids and My Wife Have Been My Life.” A Qualitative Study of Married African American Fathers.
Description: This session shares recent research that takes a qualitative look at the good news about African American fathers and husbands. Why focus only on what African American fathers and husbands are not doing? In many corners of the world men are successfully assuming their roles as fathers and husbands. Hear first hand from husbands and fathers who say “My kids and my wife have been my life, and I love it.”
Moderator and Presenter
- Cassandra Chaney, PhD, Assistant Professor, School of Human Ecology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA | Bio | Slides
Speakers
- Leon McCowan, Regional Administrator, ACF Region VI, Dallas, TX | Bio | Slides
- Jeffery M. Johnson, PhD, President, National Partnership for Community Leadership, Washington, DC | Bio
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Title—From Prison to Home: Marriage, Incarceration and Mentoring Children of Incarcerated Parents
Description: This session examines the issues and strategies for improving outcomes for couples who want to develop healthy marriages during and after one partner’s incarceration; what have been the benefits of mentoring programs for the children of incarcerated parents; and what are the intersections and opportunities for research and program development needs through research and practice.
Moderator
- Addie Richburg, Inmate Transition Branch, Federal Bureau of Prisons; President, National Alliance of Faith and Justice, Washington, DC | Bio
Speakers
- Creasie Finney Hairston, PhD, Dean and Professor, Jane Adams College of Social Work, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL | Bio
- W. Wilson Goode, Sr, DMin, Director, AMACHI, Philadelphia, PA | Bio
Title—A Crisis In The Village: “Fill The Prescription, Take The Medicine” The Conversation Continues.
Description: This continuation session encourages deeper conversation and action planning surrounding a bold African American strengthening and family movement. What are the anchor institutions doing, what are others doing and what are you doing to make outcomes better for the African American community? What needs to be done and by whom?
Moderator
- Carlis A. Williams, Regional Administrator, ACF Region IV, Atlanta, GA | Bio
Presenter
- Robert Franklin, PhD, Presidential Distinguished Professor of Social Ethics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA | Bio
Speakers
- Rufus Lynch, PhD, Education Responder, Dean of the School of Social Work at Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA | Bio| Slides
- Rev. George Young, Faith Responder, Holy Temple Baptist Church of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City, OK | Bio
- Stephanie Robinson, Esq., Family Responder, The Founding President and CEO of the Jamestown Project, Co-Author of Our Foundational Covenant: Strengthening the Family, New Haven, CT | Bio
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Title—Healthy Marriages and African American Male/Female Relationships: What You Need to Know About Intimacy and Mate Selection
Description: This session examines Black male-female values, lifestyles, beliefs and relationships from a culturally competent perspective. Are Black relationships different from Euro-American relationships? What factors impact mate selection and intimacy in marriage and what does this mean for practitioners working with these couples?
Moderator
- Carol Osborne, Director, Region IV ACF Division of Program Initiatives, Atlanta, GA | Bio
Speakers
- Twinet Parmer, PhD, Professor, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI | Bio | Slides
- Andrew Lyke, Consultant, LYKE to LYKE Consulting, Arusi Network; Coordinator, Marriage Ministry for the Archdiocese of Chicago Family Ministries, Chicago, IL | Bio
Title—Military Service and Marriage: Important Findings in a Nutshell
Description: This session focuses on military couples and children and the impact of long term separations on their relationships. Well over 100,000 military couples have experienced separations that have put them at risk for death, injury and relationship distress. What strategies have they used that have helped them adjust under these pressures? What support systems appear to be most effective in strengthening these relationships? What can we learn that can be applied to other couples and families?
Moderator and Presenter
- Dennis Orthner, PhD, Professor of Social Work and Public Policy Analysis, Associate Director of the Jordan Institute for Families, UNC-Chapel Hill School of Social Work, Chapel Hill, NC| Bio
Speaker
- Jennifer Hicks Lundquist, PhD, Sociology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA | Bio
Title—Basic Training for Couples and Singles: A Marriage Education Curriculum Designed for African American Couples
This session provides an interactive overview of an evidenced based marriage curriculum. This hands-on experience provides a culturally based approach to teach Black couples and singles the benefits of marriage, communication skills, how to manage conflict and increase intimacy.
Moderator
- Bill Coffin, Special Assistant for Marriage Education, ACF, Washington, DC | Bio
Speakers
- Nisa Muhammad, Founder, Wedded Bliss Foundation, Washington, DC | Bio
- Rozario Slack, PhD, DMin, First Things First, Chattanooga, TN | Bio
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Title—HIV, Chemical Dependency, Mental Illness and the Black Community
Description: This session explores the disparities in access to health care and preventative services impacting the African American Community
Moderator and Presenter
- M. Valerie Mills, PhD, MSW, Senior Health Policy Advisor, Substance Abuse and Mental Heath Services Administration, Washington, DC | Bio | Slides
Speakers
- Hazel D. Dean, Sc.D., MPH Acting Deputy Director, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention , CDC, Atlanta, GA| Bio | Slides
- Terrence D. Walton, Treatment Branch Manger for the DC Pretrial Services Agency (PSA), Washington, DC | Bio |
- Jan Quiram, Interim Director, Father Friendly Initiative, Boston, MA| Bio
Title—Strengthening Marriage and Marriage Prospects
Description: This workshop focuses on the federally funded Strengthening Marriage and Marriage Prospects (SMMP) project. Specifically, this workshop will share information on how programs in two communities—Atlanta and Cordele, Georgia—are combining parent education, PAIRS, financial literacy, and enterprise development to provide a solid foundation for lasting relationships for healthy families.
Moderator
- V. Jeffrey Evans, PhD, JD, Director of Intergenerational Research, DBSB, CPR, NICHD Bethesda, MD | Bio
Speakers
- Obie Clayton, PhD, Professor/Chair Sociology and Executive Director, Morehouse Research Institute; Co-Author, The Consequences of Marriage for African Americans, Washington, DC | Bio |
- Jeffery M. Johnson, PhD, President, National Partnership for Community Leadership , Washington, DC | Bio | Slides
Title—The Marriage Mystery
Description: This session focuses on positive interventions needed to support African American males and females. Studies and reports have diagnosed and described the lack of achievement, poor earnings, high incarceration, poor health outcomes and the impact on relationships and marriage. How do we stop the current trends and “Tip” to a more positive direction?
Moderator and Presenter
- Linda Malone-Colon, PhD, Co-Author of The Consequences of Marriage for African Americans; Hampton-University Psychologist, Former Director of the National Healthy Marriage Resource Center, Washington, DC | Bio | Slides
Speaker
- Hillard Pouncy, PhD, Visiting Lecturer, Princeton University, Woodrow Wilson School, Princeton, NJ| Bio | Slides
Title—Relationship Quality and Health Outcomes for Black Women and Men
Description: This provocative session will focus on married, cohabiting or “friends-with-benefits.” Research tells us that on virtually every indicator of well-being married African Americans do better than those who are unmarried. But are all of the members of the family benefiting equally? Hear from co-author of Marital Secrets: Dating, Lies, Communication and Sex.
Moderator and Presenter
- Linda Malone-Colon, PhD, Co-Author of The Consequences of Marriage for African Americans; Hampton-University Pshysclogist, Former Director of the National Healthy Marriage Resource Center, Washington, DC | Bio
Speaker
- Paris Michelle Finner-Williams, PhD, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Finner-Williams and Associates Psychological Services, Detroit, MI | Bio | Slides
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Title—Marry Your Baby Daddy Day—One Woman’s Journey to Strengthen African-American Marriages
Description: In this plenary, best-selling author, journalist and talk show host, Maryann Reid will share her research on fatherlessness in the Black community and feedback from interviewing hundreds of couples. She discovered “baby mamas and baby daddies” who love each other and defeat the negative stereotypes perpetuated by some forms of popular culture. Coined the “Oprah of Brooklyn, Ms Reid will share her journey and why she started “Marry Your Baby Daddy Day.”
Moderator
- Joyce A. Thomas, Regional Administrator, ACF Region V, Chicago, IL | Bio
Speaker
- Maryann Reid, Author, Founder, Marry Your Baby Daddy Day, Brooklyn, NY | Bio
- Nisa Muhammad, Founder, Wedded Bliss Foundation, Washington, DC| Bio
Closing Comments
Diann Dawson
