With the latest U.S. Census Bureau data indicating that 40 percent of U.S. births are out of wedlock, the impact on the family unit is clear. For some time now researchers and advocates have expressed concern over the proportion of single head of household Black families and the impact on the development of Black children. A conference slated for tomorrow at Howard University will focus on building healthy marriages and the need for responsible parenting.

The “Healthy Marriages and Strengthening Communities, DC Metro Conference” will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Blackburn Center on the campus of Howard University. The goal of the conference is to provide information and resources needed to strengthen families in the greater Washington metropolitan area. The conference will include workshops on topics such as healthy marriage, responsible fatherhood, domestic violence, and finances. There will also be a special afternoon seminar for high school and college youth titled “First Comes Love, Building Self Esteem and Responsible Dating.”

The morning plenary speaker will be Roland Warren, President of the National Fatherhood Initiative, and Maria Kefalas, author of “Why Poor Mothers Choose Motherhood over Marriage,” will be the luncheon guest speaker. The play “Jump the Broom” will also make its debut in the Washington region.

The Conference is sponsored by the DC Strengthening Families Coalition, a partnership with a number of local not-for-profit organizations and government agencies, including the Administration for Children & Families (ACF) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Greater Washington Urban League, and the Howard University School of Social Work. The chairpersons for the conference are Diann Dawson, Director of the Office of Regional Operations for ACF and in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Maudine Cooper, President and CEO, Greater Washington Urban League.

The conference fee is $100.00 for adults and $50.00 for students. To register for the conference visit www.strengtheningfamiliesdc.org, send an e-mail to info@strengtheningfamiliesdc.org, or call 202.265.8200, ext. 250.