Leadership for America

Protect America

Cultivating an environment in which the permanent institutions of family...

Read more about Family & Religion

Statement of Purpose

For example, the married family plays an important part in promoting economic opportunity: children raised by never-married mothers are seven times more likely to be poor when compared to children raised in intact married families. Meanwhile, religious institutions and individuals form the backbone of America’s thriving civil society, providing for the welfare of individuals more effectively than government programs. Yet the role of these institutions in maintaining ordered liberty is poorly understood, and policy and social developments have factored in undermining their important contributions.

Objectives

  1. 1.Cultivate an environment in which the permanent institutions of family and religion can flourish and fulfill their role in maintaining ordered liberty in America.

  2. 2.Develop the best research and accompanying rhetoric that will strengthen and unify the current pro-family constituency and win over new target audiences to preserve the institution of traditional marriage and restore the family to its central role.

  3. 3.Unite religious and economic conservatives more effectively around the goal of restoring the family to its central role, both legally and culturally, and reviving religious liberty.

  4. 4.Shape a healthy public discourse that appreciates the historic and continuing significance of religion and moral virtue in American civic life.

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Experts From This Initiative

  • Jennifer Marshall Jennifer Marshall

    As director of domestic policy studies at The Heritage Foundation, Jennifer A. Marshall oversees research in areas that determine the ch...

  • Ryan Messmore, D.Phil. Ryan Messmore, D.Phil.

    Ryan Messmore studies and writes about how religious commitment improves public discourse and strengthens civil institutions as research...

  • Robert Rector Robert Rector

    Robert Rector is a leading national authority on poverty, the U.S.welfare system and immigration and is a Heritage Foundation Senior Res...

OTHER LEADERSHIP for AMERICA INITIATIVES

  • First Principles First Principles

    Rediscovering our principles in order to reclaim our future.

  • American Leadership American Leadership

    Advancing American leadership and freedom in the world.

  • Education Education

    Strengthening American education by returning authority to the states and...

  • Energy & Environment Energy & Environment

    Advancing freedom and prosperity by unleashing free enterprise, protecting...

  • Enterprise & Free Markets Enterprise & Free Markets

    Eliminating barriers to enterprise and innovation.

  • Entitlements Entitlements

    Replacing the culture of entitlement with one of mutual responsibility.

  • Health Care Health Care

    Providing every American freedom of choice in health care.

  • Protect America Protect America

    Protecting America and Americans from freedom’s enemies.

  • Rule of Law Rule of Law

    Reestablishing the rule of law as the foundation for constitutional...

Our Work
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ABOUT The HERITAGE FOUNDATION

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Our mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense. Read More

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