Strengthening Families: Building a Progressive Agenda to Promote Family Stability and Cut Poverty

Watch a recording of the event here.

On June 9, Half in Ten hosted a discussion examining the challenges facing low-income families in today’s economy. Participants discussed tangible policy goals that could help strengthen all families and create positive outcomes for their children, as well as strategies to help build strong family connections through supportive environments, economic support, and safe relationships and how these approaches can help reduce poverty in the United States.

A progressive view of the role of government supports the notion that governments should act affirmatively to create and protect the conditions necessary for all families and children to thrive. Developing policies to support and stabilize families should go beyond a narrow focus on marriage promotion and unmarried childbearing; policies should reflect the fact that decisions related to family structure, relationships and parenting are inherently personal, and are made complex by one’s life and economic circumstances. Progressive policies must recognize and address the reality of today’s complex family dynamics.

Discussion participants included:

Welcoming Remarks:
Debbie Weinstein, Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs

Keynote Speaker:
Senator Ben Cardin, (D-MD)

Panel Introduction:
Joy Moses, Senior Policy Analyst, Center for American Progress Action Fund

Panelists:
Racquel S. Russell, Special Assistant to the President for Mobility and Opportunity, White House Domestic Policy Council
Lisalyn Jacobs, Vice President for Government Relations, Legal Momentum
Aisha Moodie-Mills, Advisor, LGBT Policy and Racial Justice, Center for American Progress

Moderator:
Peter Edelman, Professor, Georgetown University Law Center

Watch a recording of the event here.