Wade F. Horn is an American psychologist

Psychologist

Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...

 who received unanimous confirmation (under President George W. Bush

George W. Bush

George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....

) in 2001 as the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families. Before his resignation on April 1, 2007, he oversaw the function of the Administration For Children and Families

Administration for Children and Families

The Administration for Children and Families is a division of the United States Department of Health and Human Services . It is headed by the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families. It has a $58.8 billion budget for 65 programs that target children, youth and families...

, an agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Services

United States Department of Health and Human Services

The United States Department of Health and Human Services is a Cabinet department of the United States government with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. Its motto is "Improving the health, safety, and well-being of America"...

. He also served under President George H. W. Bush

George H. W. Bush

George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...

 as Commissioner of Children, Youth, and Families within the Administration For Children and Families.

Horn represents a key advocate for the re-envisioning and re-vising of the Federal Head Start program. A key proponent for family involvement in education, Horn served as president of the National Fatherhood Initiative

National Fatherhood Initiative

The National Fatherhood Initiative is a non-profit, non-partisan, non-sectarian organization that aims to improve the well-being of children through the promotion of responsible fatherhood...

. Horn is also a strong advocate for "abstinence education."

He received his Ph.D. in 1981 from Southern Illinois University

Southern Illinois University

Southern Illinois University is a state university system based in Carbondale, Illinois, in the Southern Illinois region of the state, with multiple campuses...

. He served as an assistant professor of psychology

Psychology

Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...

 at Michigan State University

Michigan State University

Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...

 and was an affiliate scholar at the right-wing think tank

Think tank

A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...

, The Hudson Institute

Hudson Institute

The Hudson Institute is an American think tank founded in 1961, in Croton-on-Hudson, New York, by futurist, military strategist, and systems theorist Herman Kahn and his colleagues at the RAND Corporation...

.

Secretary Leavitt praised Wade Horn for his leadership, citing his actions to "significantly improved the lives of vulnerable children and strengthened the American family as he led the Administration for Children and Families

Administration for Children and Families

The Administration for Children and Families is a division of the United States Department of Health and Human Services . It is headed by the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families. It has a $58.8 billion budget for 65 programs that target children, youth and families...

 (ACF) for the past six years."

He continued, "Under Wade’s leadership, we passed and implemented the next chapter of welfare reform, launched the first-ever healthy marriage and responsible fatherhood grants, began outreach to victims of human trafficking, helped increase the number of adoptions in America, connected children of prisoners with mentors, and created a strong partnership with faith-based organizations."

He also stated, "Wade and ACF played an especially important role in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita by making sure victims, uprooted from their homes and livelihoods, were quickly connected with the benefits they needed."

Pros and Cons Regarding His Tenure

Horn has been a supporter and participant in the Coalition for Marriage, Family, and Couples Education, an educational organization promoting healthy family life. This voluntary coalition is composed of individuals and organizations who wish to study, learn and pursue educational approaches which will promote both societal and individual benefit in the basic family unit. Participants include clergy, educators, social workers, psychologist, psychiatrists, family and societal counselors, and law enforcement who unite in the effort to both present and learn specific methods which will improve couple relationships and family health.

Horn has been criticized by Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood Federation of America , commonly shortened to Planned Parenthood, is the U.S. affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation and one of its larger members. PPFA is a non-profit organization providing reproductive health and maternal and child health services. The...

and other sexual health education organizations for his advocacy of abstinence programs.,. During his term with HHS, he oversaw increases in funding for both abstinence education and relationship education. Under Horn's administration, these programs are believed to have contained some misrepresentations regarding contraceptives, HIV and pregnancy.

Source

• US Department of Health & Human Service.