Gov. Sam Brownback and about 25 experts from across the nation met this morning to “brainstorm” ideas for an upcoming state welfare agency initiative aimed at promoting marriage.
The meeting, held in a conference room of the SRS Learning in Topeka was closed to the press and public because it was not a policy setting discussion, said Michelle Schroeder, policy director for the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services.
“It’s just a brainstorming meeting, no policy is being made,” she said.
About 25 “scholars and researchers from across the nation were invited to talk about some initiatives,” Schroeder said.
The governor said though the meeting was private, he had considered holding a press conference about it but then decided that would be premature.
Schroeder said there would be public meetings concerning the agency’s marriage initiative once the plan is developed.
“Eventually,” she said, “when we get an idea and roadmap and get to specifics, there will definitely be public events.”
SRS Secretary Rob Siedlecki and the governor have indicated strong interest in developing social service programs that promote marriage, saying children benefit from two-parent households and that married households tend to have more income.
Siedlecki has said he plans to launch marriage and similar “faith-based,” initiatives without asking for additional state funding to do them. That prompted some questions and concerns from senators during his confirmation hearing because it was feared he would use money earmarked for other programs to finance the new programs.
Siedlecki and the governor offered assurances that the agency wouldn’t stray from legislative spending directives and Siedlecki was easily confirmed.
Siedlecki already has created a new division at SRS for promoting faith-based and community initiatives.
The new division is headed by Anna Pilato, who was a director at the federal Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives from September 2007 to January 2009.
She has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Nazareth College of Rochester, N.Y. and a master’s degree in counseling from Regent University in Virginia.
Pilato also worked at The White House for three years. Her first day at SRS was Tuesday.
The division is expected to lead a department effort to let faith-based organizations know that their social- service programs are eligible for state and federal funding.
Faith-based programs are eligible for government funding as long as the money is not used for religious activities.
Siedlecki told legislators to expect department-led campaigns promoting healthy marriage, fatherhood and adoption. He said they would probably begin later this summer or fall.
Siedlecki, an attorney, is a former senior counsel with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Task Force on Faith-based Initiatives. He came to Kansas after serving as chief of staff at the Florida Department of Health.