Executive Order 15

IN TH E NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY OFTHE STATE or IOWA EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER FIFTEEN WHEREAS, Iowans have traditionally recognized that strong families are essential to ensuring that our chi1dren will enjoy a secure future; and \VIIEREAS~ lowans intuitively understand that children need to receive the suppott and guidance of both parentsj and \VH:EREAS. an emerging sci of scientific data suppons our belief that a healthy bond between a child and the child's parents has a direci impacl on the future success of the child; and \VHEREAS, the absence or ooc parent from a child's life can place that child at greater risk of health.. emotionaJ, educational, and behavior problems associated with lhc child's devclopn1ent: and \VHEREAS, fo r moS1 children. the absent parent is the father; and \VH[R,EAS. studies reveal that children wilh an absenl parent are more likely to develop substailee abuse problems, drop out of school, becorne ceenage pare11ts, and engage in criminal behavior than children who 1naintain heaJlhy bonds with botl1parents; and \Vlf EREAS, children \Vith two parents who actively and positively engage in their life by providing financial suppon. love. guidance. and discipline. have a greater chance for success than children who receive ac1ive lnvolvemen1 from only one parcn1. NO\\/, THEREFOR£, I, 111omas J. Vilsack, Oovemor of 1he Staie of Iowa, by the power vested in me by the laws of the constitution of the State of Iowa do hereby order the creation or 1he rNTER- AOENCY WORK OROUP ON RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD. I. Purpose. The Inter-Agency Work Group on Responsible Parenthood is established to complete the follo \ving tasks: I. ldc111i fy barriers within state policy and procedures that may act to itnpede the development of strong cn1otional and financial bonds of support bet'\\'ten boll1 parents and !heir children; 2. Jdentify opponunities that may exist among programs ad.ministered by departments to assist the absent parent in providing emotional and financial support ror their c-hi ldren~ 3. Propose adjustments to state policy and procedures to reduce baniers that discourage parents from developing a strong roundati01l or support for their children; 4. Iden Ii fy promising prac.ticcs thal support and engage both parents in the emotional and financial support of their children; a. Identify services that have been successful in keeping young fathers actively invol\o·cd in strong parenting role. b. Identify successful approaches for ensuring that fathers obtain and nlaintain full employment, learn how lo be ac1ivc parents, and develop skills for coping \Yith difficult relationships S. Attempl to quantify the benefits that can be gained by increasing tlle le,•el of active suppon that children reccive from both parents; AITEST: 6. Make recommenda1ions for addi1ional s1eps I.hat the State oflO"'a should take to remove the barriers 1ha1prevent children from receiving the emo1ional and financial support ofbo1h parents. The \VOrk-group shall submit a written report 10 the govemor outlining its finding. conclusions. and recommendations by December 31, 2000. U. Oraanization. The director ror the Iowa Department of Hun1an Services 'viii chair the lntcr·Agcncy Work Group on Responsible Parcn1hood. The \vOrk group will consist of rcprcscnlatives from the follo,ving state agencies: A. Department of Public Health; B. Department of Workforce Development; C. Departntent of Education; D. Department ofCon'CC1ions. IN TESTIMONY \VUEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and c-0.used the Great Seal of Iowa to be affixe<I. Done in DC$ MoinC$, Iowa this ~ay of March i_n the year of our Lord l'\\10 thousand. ThO:ViiSack Governor - (}-vt ~ Chester J. CUiver Secretary of State