This article describes the HHS ACF effort to focus on programs that strengthen marriages, and ultimately, improve child well-being, and provides information on and links to recent studies that reflect the large-scale research agenda of the ACF.…

This policy brief explores the question of creating policies to encourage marriage in terms of TANF. The general agreement is made that federal and state policies should not penalize marriage. It explores the effect of TANF program rules on…

Authored by Jennifer Ehrle Macomber, Julie Murray, and Matthew Stagner. This Urban Institute report highlights key components of current marriage education programs, identifies opportunities and challenges for expanding services into other…

Authored by David J. Fein, Nancy R. Burstein, Greta G. Fein, and Laura D. Lindberg. This report has been produced by Abt Associates and is grounded in the recognition that interventions to promote healthy marriages and strengthen families with…

Issued by the Census Bureau, this article reviews marriage and divorce data from around the country. Among the data, researchers found that one in five adults has ever divorced, and first marriages that end in divorce last about eight years on…

This special report is on family structure and children's well-being. It provides family structure breakouts for five indicators selected from the Population and Family Characteristics, Health, and Education sections of America's Children.

This research brief outlines the "Building Strong Families" project, which aims at helping new, unmarried parents gain the skills necessary to build healthy marriages. The project was created with expected outcomes to enhance the wellbeing of…

From the DC Kids Count Collaborative, this fact book reports on the wellbeing of children and families in Washington DC. It includes a report card that compares data from 2004 and 2005. For 2005, 22 out of 40 indicators changed for the better for…

The proportion of married African-American couples has declined over the past years. This report seeks to identify the potential consequences to African-American families due to these low marriage rates and compare the consequences of marriage to…

Authored by Marcia Carlson of Columbia University, Sara McLanahan of Princeton University, Paula England of Stanford University, and Barbara Devaney of Mathematica Policy Research. This brief, the third in a series from the Building Strong…