Marriage Education for Fragile Families

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Marriage Education for Fragile Families

• NGA Webcast
• August 31, 2004
• Brookings Institution
• Washington, D.C.

Dana Reichert TANF Executive Office State of
Louisiana
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Findings from Louisiana Fragile Families Study

• Magic Moment shorter than expectedonly 48 of
  couples survive pregnancy
• High hopes for marriage (over 60 want to get
  married), but ambivalent about benefits.
• Significant majority of both mothers and fathers
  (71 and 78) have children with other partners
• Money (64) and spending time together (54) most
  common source of conflict
• Nearly half express interest in marriage
  education and relationship skills services
  slightly over half express interest in service to
  help father get job/better job

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Top Three Predictors of Marriage Interest

• Fathers relationship capacity
• Listen, solve problems together
• Ability to compromise
• Support goals and aspirations
• Fathers employment
• Attitudes about marriage
• Marriage makes you happier, better for children

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Bang for the Buck Theory

• For those couples in committed relationships
  (co-habiting or visiting), greatest gains come
  when combining marriage education AND
  employmentnot either or.

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Weight in the Hammer Theory
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Service Model

• Identify existing on-ramps to serving
  individuals
• Identify ways to help couples identify themselves
• Present marriage education, relationship skills
  and workforce services

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Louisianas Curriculum for Fragile Families

• 3 TracksCouples, individual mothers, individual
  fathers
• Same skill set, designed for couples and
  individuals who may not have made decisions about
  future of relationship
• Explore marriage and relationships resulting in
  relationship action plan
• Explore ideas and perceptions about what marriage
  is, what it isnt, and unrealistic expectations
• Gender distrust, gender rolls, stereotypes,
  racial stereotypes
• Listening, conflict resolution (marriage
  education component)
• Qualities of a good relationship (marriage
  education)

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Five Things For Policymakers

• Be specific about your goal (reduce divorce,
  reduce fragile families, population, etc.)
• Supporting marriage education doesnt always mean
  starting a program
• Understand specific needs as it relates to your
  target population AND your goal
• Identify champions and partners
• Institutionalize your ideas