Governments at all levels should examine tax codes and modify them to provide greater support for families with children and to eliminate marriage penalties. Public schools should be catalysts for widely based community efforts to strengthen families and encourage parent groups to make greater use of school facilities. The Commission developed an agenda for strengthening families and communities through court reform and increased community efforts to support families. The Commission received a broad charge to investigate a wide variety of issues that affect the best interests of children and provide recommendations to the President and the Congress. The Commission's expertise spans family law, children s issues, mental health, domestic violence, and child and family welfare.
Members have expertise in both research and delivery of services.
The Commissioners were sworn in on January 10,1995. Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Walter Broadnax advised the Commission to select its topics carefully so that in the brief time available it could focus on urgent priorities for children. In looking at how to improve outcomes for the Nation's children through better, more harmonious parental decision-making, Commissioners brought to the table their own expertise and specific concerns, which were then bolstered as well as challenged by expert and public testimony and staff research. The Commission sought information on parenting arrangements that were beneficial to children and looked for ways to reduce conflict. The focus on the well-being of children allowed this diverse group of Commissioners to address basic concerns and formulate a concrete set of recommendations.