10 Jan
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Second Chances: A Proposal to Reduce Unnecessary Divorce – Download Audio

Second Chances:
A Proposal to Reduce Unnecessary Divorce

Friday, October 21, 2011, 9:30 – 11:00 am

The Brookings Institution,
Falk Auditorium, 1775 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC

There are two popular misconceptions about divorce: that it happens only after a long process of misery and conflict, and that once they file for divorce, couples don't entertain the idea of reconciling. But the majority of divorced couples report average happiness and low levels of conflict in the years prior to their divorce, and new research shows that in at least 10 percent of divorcing couples, both spouses are open to efforts to reconcile–and in another 30 percent, at least one spouse has interest in reconciliation. This research also suggests that the high divorce rate in the U.S. is not only costly to taxpayers and harmful to children, but that a substantial number of today’s divorces may be preventable.

On October 21, The Brookings Institution and the Heritage Foundation will host an event to release a new report from the Institute for American Values, Second Chances: A Proposal to Reduce Unnecessary Divorce. Co-authors Professor William Doherty and Justice Leah Ward Sears will present the report’s findings in a discussion moderated by Brookings Senior Fellow William Galston. Robert Rector from the Heritage Foundation and Theodora Ooms from the National Healthy Marriage Resource Center will offer their analysis of the report and its proposals.

After the program, panelists will take audience questions.

Moderator

William Galston
Ezra K. Zilkha Chair and Senior Fellow
The Brookings Institution

 

Presentation

William J. Doherty
Professor of Family Social Science
Director of the Citizen Professional Center
University of Minnesota

Leah Ward Sears
Former Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice
Partner, Schiff Hardin LLP

Respondents

Theodora Ooms
Senior Consultant
National Healthy Marriage Resource Center
Public Strategies, Inc

Robert Rector
Senior Research Fellow
The Heritage Foundation

To RSVP for this event, please call the Office of Communications
at 202.797.6105 or click here.

DOWNLOAD AUDIO HERE! 

timcooper

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