The Effects of Building Strong Families: A Healthy Marriage and Relationship Skills Education Program for Unmarried Parents

The Effects of Building Strong Families: A Healthy Marriage and Relationship Skills Education Program for Unmarried Parents

Published: Feb 01, 2012
Publisher: Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, vol. 31, no. 2
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Associated Project

Building Strong Families: Strengthening Unmarried Parents' Relationships

Time frame: 2002-2013

Prepared for:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation

Authors

Sheena McConnell

Andrew Clarkwest

JoAnn Hsueh

This article examines the impacts of Building Strong Families, a healthy marriage and relationship skills education program serving unmarried parents who were expecting or had recently had a baby. Results varied across sites, with one site having a pattern of positive effects (but no effect on marriage) and another having numerous negative effects. However, when impacts are averaged across all sites, findings indicate that the program had no overall effects on couples' relationship quality or the likelihood that they remained together or got married.

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