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2004–05: NCFR involvement in the National Healthy Marriage Resource Center

1 Leave a comment on paragraph 1 0 The National Healthy Marriage Resource Center (NHMRC), funded for 5 years by ACF through the Department of Health and Human Services, was initiated. It was a cooperative agreement between the U.S. government and NCFR, with the work carried out by NCFR and its six partners. The exclusive focus was on heterosexual marriages. Michael Benjamin was the designated principal investigator, with the following staff: Linda Malone-Colon, director, and Derek Gwinn, research associate.

2 Leave a comment on paragraph 2 0 The HUB partners were as follows:

  • 3 Leave a comment on paragraph 3 0
  • Brigham Young University, Provo, UT
  • Child Trends, Washington, DC
  • Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA
  • Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
  • Texas Tech University, Lubbock
  • University of Minnesota

4 Leave a comment on paragraph 4 0 Bill Doherty was director. The two federal officers were Stan Koustaad, PhD, and Paul Maiers from the Office of Family Assistance, from which grants to states were funded.

5 Leave a comment on paragraph 5 0 Read the 2004 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Press Release

6 Leave a comment on paragraph 6 0 A website was established, and a protocol for approval of materials was submitted to be approved by NCFR and ACF, as well as drafts of 40 research briefs; definitions of marriage education, community, healthy marriage initiatives, and healthy marriage; and summaries of several pieces of legislation and research articles.

7 Leave a comment on paragraph 7 0 The NCFR Board, concerned about government censorship of content, warned that the “deal breaker” part of the contract would be used if ACF altered content or changed the intent of the center from education to advocacy (meaning NCFR would withdraw from the contract).

8 Leave a comment on paragraph 8 0 An internal advisory committee of seven NCFR members to monitor website articles and consult with the government was to be initiated. On July 25, the Board sent a memorandum to all NCFR members addressing the four concerns of NCFR regarding the NHMRC: (1) discrimination, (2) censorship, (3) partisanship, and (4) NCFR leadership and reputation in the family field. An open forum on the Center was scheduled for the NCFR 2005 Annual Conference.

9 Leave a comment on paragraph 9 0 Read the July 26, 2005 NCFR Board of Directors Member Memorandum: National Healthy Marriage Resource Center & Member Concerns

10 Leave a comment on paragraph 10 0 At the October 6, 2005, Board meeting, the Board voted to withdraw from the NHMRC cooperative agreement. The NHMRC, when weighted in the balance, originally appeared to be a positive means to increase the visibility of NCFR’s policy and education expertise. The government made it extremely difficult, if not impossible, given NCFR’s mission and philosophy, to do what ACF required under the cooperative agreement. The government’s imposition of requirements that were not originally understood to be part of the cooperative agreement upon NCFR that led NCFR to have to terminate the cooperative agreement.

11 Leave a comment on paragraph 11 0 Read the November 2, 2005 letter to members announcing NCFR’s exit from the NHMRC agreement

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