Executive orders · Governor Thomas J. Vilsack
Executive Order 17
Signed by Governor Thomas J. Vilsack on February 13, 2001.
What it does
AI summary Governor Vilsack created the Task Force for Responsible Fatherhood to study how to better involve fathers in their children's lives. The group is tasked with identifying obstacles to father involvement, raising public awareness about the effects of a father's absence, and recommending new policies and practices. The Governor will appoint the members of the task force, and they must report their findings and recommendations to him by March 31, 2002.1
The Legislature’s description: Creates the Taskforce for Responsible Fatherhood, which will focus on identifying obstacles that encourage absent fathers, raising public awareness about the consequences of a father’s absence on his child’s development, and recommending practices that will actively engage fathers in raising their children.
Read the order
INTHE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY Of THESTATE Of IOWA IN T HE NAME ANO BVTHE AUTHORl'rY OF' THE STATE OF 10\VA WHEREAS, W HE REAS, W HEREAS, W HEREAS, \VREREAS, \VHEREAS, WHEREAS, EXECUT IVE ORDER NUMBER SEVENTEEN Children living in single parent households arc more likely to be living in poverty; and Fatherless children are at a significantly greater risk for drug and alcohol abuse; and Fatherless children are twice as likely to drop our of school; and The vast majority of homeless and runaway chi ldren arc from fatherless homes; and Iowans intuitively understand that children need to receive the support and guidance of both parents; and The absence of one parent from a child's li fe can place 1ha1 child at greater risk of health, emotional, educational, and behavioral problems associated with the child's development; and For most children, the absent parent is the father: NO\V, THEREFORE, I, THOMAS J . VCLSACK, Governor of the State of Iowa, by the p0wer vested in me under the laws and the constitution of the State of Iowa do hereby order the creation of the TASK FORCE FOR RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD. I. &irnose. The purpose of the Task Force is to further rhe understanding of the importance of two parents being actively involved in the lives ofa child, with particular emphasis of fathers. The Task Poree is charged with the fo llowing: I. Identify promising best practices that supp0rt and engage both parents in the emotional and financial support of their children; 2. Identify obstacles that impede or prevent the involvement of fathers in the lives of their children; 3. Raise public awareness of the consequences the absence of the father causes in a child's life; 4. Make recommendations for policy and practice both within and without state government that sustain and re-engage fathers in their children's lives; and 5. Report its findings and recommendations to the Governor by March 31, 2002. II. Organization. The Task Force shall be appointed by the Governor. It is comprised of the following members: ATfEST: Elaine Szymoniak, Chair Harry Brod Des Moines Cedar Falls Carlisle Cedar Rapids Reasnor Tom Klaus Nancylee Ziese Ana Lopez-Dawson Odell McGhee Des Moines Fort Madison State Center Urbandale Mason City Benendorf Man Mohrfeld Cindy Schulle Mike Carver Phyllis Mulkey Joseph Cress K.D. Burkett Carol Reed New Providence Fort Dodge IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunio subscribed my name and caused the Great Seal of Iowa to be affixed. Done in Des Moines, Iowa, this /3~ay of February in the year of our Lord Two Thousand One. ilid: ~Chester J. Culver Secretary of State
From the text in the order’s PDF. Older orders were scanned, so a few words may be garbled; the signed PDF is the official version.
Printed in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin, XXIII, No. 18 (03/07/2001) p. 1415.