FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, August 11, 2004
Contact: ACF Press Office
(202) 401-9215
New Report on Strengthening Unwed Parents’ Relationships
A new report released today by HHS’ Administration for Children and Families (ACF) provides lessons relevant for planning and implementing marriage education services for romantically involved, unwed couples before or shortly after the birth of their child. The report, entitled Implementing Programs to Strengthen Unwed Parents’ Relationships: Lessons from Family Connections in Alabama, was prepared as a part of ACF’s Building Strong Families initiative designed to develop and evaluate programs that support the marital aspirations of unmarried couples expecting a child or shortly after their child is born out-of-wedlock.
The report examines Family Connections in Alabama (FCA), a demonstration project operated under a grant to the Alabama Children’s Trust Fund similar in vision to ACF’s Building Strong Families initiative.
Produced by Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., the report suggests that others can learn from the experience of FCA by recognizing the following:
- Unwed parents desire more information about healthy marriage.
- Using males as instructors and in other roles is important for increasing male participation in marriage programs.
- Participants value the involvement of married couples in the program as role models who can share from personal experience.
- Creative approaches are necessary to involve couples in the program and sustain their ongoing participation to completion. These may include providing child care or facilitating transportation.
- Small group settings are favored by participants, but alternative means of keeping couples involved are also important (e.g., home visits).
- Healthy marriage education programs can be helpful in identifying and providing assistance to victims of domestic violence.
Family Connections in Alabama ties into the goals of ACF’s Building Strong Families initiative, which is designed to help strengthen young families. This initiative is supported by the following research findings:
- Most unwed parents are romantically involved at the time of their child’s birth and hope to marry. Yet without help, they run a high risk of ending their relationship despite their aspirations for marriage.
- Viable relationships among unwed parents exist, and they desire to strengthen them.
- Children who grow up within the context of a healthy married household fare better on a wide range of developmental outcomes than children who do not.
“We provide all sorts of services to low-income families,” said Wade F. Horn, Ph.D., HHS assistant secretary for children and families. “One thing many unwed couples say they want more of is marriage education and services for strengthening relationships. This report provides valuable information about the hopes and needs of unwed couples expecting a child. The Bush Administration is boldly forging new ground to support the needs of low-income couples about to have a child.”
The FCA program and evaluation study were funded through a Special Improvement Project (SIP) grant from the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) within ACF. The $200,000 grant was awarded to the Alabama Children’s Trust Fund to pilot marriage strengthening activities for low-income parents. Auburn University conducted an evaluation study on both the implementation and impacts of the program and issued a separate report presenting those findings. For 2004, $1.5 million is available for SIP grants to help further national child support goals, including the establishment of paternity.
The 1996 welfare reform legislation included a mandate to promote and strengthen two-parent families. ACF has embarked on an initiative to encourage healthy marriage, especially within low-income groups. The Bush Administration has proposed establishing a $120 million annual competitive state grant program for marriage education and related services, and a $120 million annual fund for research, demonstrations and technical assistance primarily designed to support healthy marriage programs.
For more information on Building Strong Families, log on to www.buildingstrongfamilies.info. To view the report, go to: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/imp_pro_unwed/imp_pro_unwed_title.html.
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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at www.hhs.gov/news