Senate Pro Tem appoints Timothy Tardibono to OJA board

Senate Pro Tem appoints Timothy Tardibono to OJA board

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat on Wednesday announced his appointment of Timothy Tardibono of Oklahoma City to serve on the board for the Office of Juvenile Affairs.

Tardibono is the second of two appointments the Senate pro tempore makes to the OJA board following the enactment of House Bill 2479, legislation that was part of a government accountability agreement between legislative leaders and the governor. The bill gave the governor the ability to hire the OJA director, and gave OJA board appointments to the governor, House speaker, and Senate pro tempore.

“I’ve known Timothy Tardibono for many years and know him to be a man of integrity and honor. He’s a strong advocate for children and families, and his background and experience will bring great insight to the OJA board. I know he’ll do a great job working with OJA leadership to help transform the lives of children and help them transition back into society,” said Treat, R-Oklahoma City.

Tardibono serves as the executive director of the Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Advisory Council. He previously served as counsel to former U.S. Senator Tom Coburn. Prior to that, he served as assistant general counsel at the Oklahoma Department of Health, and was a policy analyst for former Governor Frank Keating. Tardibono earned a law degree from Regent University School of Law, a master’s in public policy from Regent University School of Government, and a bachelor’s degree in history from Oklahoma Christian University.

“I appreciate Senator Greg Treat’s leadership on criminal justice reform efforts and his work to reform and improve the state adoption and foster care system. I share his commitment to ensuring kids in state custody are kept safe and treated well and are given every opportunity to be a transformational generation in their families. OJA plays an important role in that effort. It's an honor to return to OJA after having started my career in public service there almost 20 years ago. Ensuring the flourishing of our youth is a critical component to our state's turnaround and I look forward to working with the OJA leadership and board to help our youth succeed,” Tardibono said.

Previously, Pro Tem Treat reappointed Warren A. “Tony” Caldwell to serve on the OJA board and last month the board elected Caldwell as chairman.

FPIO hosting scholar to speak on the Economic Impact of Natural Marriage

FPIO to host marriage scholar Brad Wilcox on the positive 

impact natural marriage has on economic success

 Contact: Timothy Tardibono, FPIO President at info@okfamily.org or 405.664.6514

OKC—The Family Policy Institute of Oklahoma will host marriage and family scholar Brad Wilcox in OKC on Tuesday, February 9 to discuss his latest research findings on why natural marriage matters for the economic success of states and the well-being of children.

Timothy Tardibono, President of the Family Policy Institute expressed excitement about Wilcox’s visit, “Professor Wilcox is one of America’s preeminent scholars on natural marriage and the positive impact intact families have on people, communities and states. At a time when Oklahoma’s budget continues to stagger, Professor Wilcox will elaborate on the economic benefits natural marriage promotes and why policymakers and community leaders should encourage natural marriage and stable father-mother parenting.”

Tardibono continued, “In fact, Wilcox’s new report--Strong Families, Prosperous States--finds that if Oklahoma enjoyed 1980-levels of married parenthood, its per capita GDP would be 2.5% higher, its median family income would be 5.6% higher, and its child poverty rate would be 8.5% lower. Wilcox concludes ‘What’s clear from the data is that Oklahoma’s economy would be in better shape if Sooner families were stronger.’”

Wilcox will be speaking at 2:00pm at MetroTech’s Springlake Campus at 1900 Springlake Dr. in OKC.

Also at MetroTech at 3:30pm, Professor Wilcox will be presenting the findings of his new book: “Soul Mates: Religion, Sex, Love & Marriage Among African Americans and Latinos.” “Soul Mates” is the first book to chronicle the vital role that churches are playing in contemporary America among Black and Latino families. Rather than focusing on what’s wrong with American families, Wilcox shines a spotlight on the many happy couples that are benefiting from their regular participation in a spiritual community. Wilcox’s findings demonstrate that couples who attend religious services regularly, regardless of denomination, are much more likely to enjoy strong relationships.

For more information and to register, visit: www.okfamily.org/events

Wilcox is a senior fellow of the Institute for Family Studies, a visiting scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, and a member of Oklahoma's Research Advisory Group where he provides guidance to the nationally respected Family Expectations and Project Relate programs and strategies.

The Family Policy Institute of Oklahoma is a non-profit, non-partisan organization which seeks to protect families and strengthen communities by advancing positive cultural and societal initiatives that will improve the well-being of Oklahoma’s children and families.