Democratic Party on Families & Children

	Democratic Party on Families & Children Party Platform

Support fatherhood via faith-based groups

It's time we stop just talking about family values and start pursuing policies that truly value families. We believe that all parents and caregivers--regardless of gender--need more flexibility and support in the workplace. We support passing the Healthy Families Act, broadening the Family and Medical Leave Act, and partnering with states to move toward paid leave. We must protect our most vulnerable children by supporting our foster care system, adoption programs for all caring parents, grandparents.

President Obama's administration has offered men who want to be good fathers extra support. We have bolstered community and faith-based groups focused on fatherhood, partnered with businesses to offer opportunities for fathers to spend time with their kids at the bowling alley or ballpark, and worked to help deployed dads connect with their children. We all have a stake in forging stronger bonds between fathers and their children.

Source: 2012 Democratic Party Platform , Sep 4, 2012

Family is the center of American life

Family is the center of everyday American life. Our parents are our first protectors, first teachers, first role models, and first friends. Parents know that America’s great reward is the quiet but incomparable satisfaction that comes from building their families a better life. Strong families, blessed with opportunity, guided by faith, and filled with dreams are the heart of a strong America. Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.27 , Jul 10, 2004

Expand Family and Medical Leave Law; end marriage penalty

Americans have benefited from the Family and Medical Leave law, now we need to expand it so that it covers parent-teacher visits and children’s medical appointments. We will extend the law to cover more employers. We should fix the “marriage penalty” so that parents can spend more time at home and less time trying to make ends meet. We should provide grants to faith-based organizations to help couples strengthen their marriage, become better parents, and reduce domestic violence. Source: 2000 Democratic National Platform as adopted by the DNC , Aug 15, 2000

Improve child-care and fully fund Head Start

Democrats believe in making child care more affordable through targeted tax cuts, in improving the safety of child care centers, in requiring accountability so that federal monies are used to provide quality in child care, in ensuring that children start school ready to read. We need both higher pay and higher standards for child care workers. It is a priority to fully fund Head Start. Source: 2000 Democratic National Platform as adopted by the DNC , Aug 15, 2000

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Page last updated: Feb 24, 2022