Relationship Education for Unmarried Couples with Children: Parental Responses to the Building Strong Families Project

An implementation study of the Building Strong Families (BSF) programs indicates that many unmarried couples are interested in services to strengthen their relationships around the time of their child’s birth. More than 5,000 couples volunteered for the BSF study across eight states. Although couples report learning from and valuing the program, they also have many life challenges, and practitioners must be proactive in supporting ongoing participation. Results from a rigorous evaluation of the program’s impacts on family outcomes are forthcoming.